If you are a beginner and you are studying on your own, you are certainly digging through the infinite pages of Google to find the perfect books about Islamic geometric patterns that will miraculously help you learn Islamic geometry.

Well, I have bad news for you. There are only a few books with step by step tutorials about this topic. And some of those few books have mistakes in them.

The good news is that if you follow my recommendations you are on the right path.

 

Instead of focusing only on tutorials, consider that books help you think and understand why something is done one way instead of the other. And don’t forget that there are so many different methods to draw the same pattern. The traditional method, grid method, you name it. They are all correct, but it’s fundamental to understand the difference.

That said there are many books about Islamic geometric patterns and Islamic art in general that I have listed here, but if you are uncertain about which one to buy here are my top 3 favourites.

 

1. ISLAMIC DESIGN: A GENIUS FOR GEOMETRY BY DAUD SUTTON

I’ve had the privilege to meet Daud last summer during the Islamic geometry summer school at Alqueria de Rosales (Spain).

Before that, I thought he was a small and old man with thick glasses. I don’t know if you have ever played the game when you say a name and you imagine what the person looks like. Or when you see someone, and you think what the perfect name for that person would be XYZ (which is never the real name of the person by the way). Well, that’s what I thought. With my surprise, Daud is young, tall and with long hair haha. I suck at that game anyway.

Talking about the book, this is a real gem. But don’t let its pocket size fool you.

In the book, Daud talks about the different Islamic art forms but especially about geometry.

 

2. THE ALHAMBRA WITH A RULER AND COMPASS BY MANUEL MARTINEZ VELA

Sandy goes on stage, shows the book and says “This book has 43 step-by-step tutorials” … DROPS THE MIC.

Yes, people, this book is as precious as its weight. More than 220 pages, with info, photos, symmetries… aaaaannnnddd TUTORIALS.

I know that this blog post is about the top 3 books but it’s worth mentioning that Manuel has another book with plenty of step-by-step tutorials The Royal Alcazar of Seville With a Ruler And Compass

 

3. DRAWING GEOMETRY: A PRIMER OF BASIC FORMS FOR ARTISTS, DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS BY JON ALLEN

The title of this book is longer than the book itself HA! But it’s full packed of valuable info. When I say that you should learn the basics before diving into complex geometry well this is one of those things.

In this book, Jon Allen guides you through simple geometry (the one you’ve learnt at school but no one remembers) and shows you how to divide a circle up to 15 equal parts.

 

Do you already have these books? what do you think about them? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

 

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