Golden Flower Art Challenge March 2025

The Golden Flower challenge comes to you again this year and yes it was meant to come out with the start of Spring, but the Spring is still going and I better late than no challenge at all!

As every year, the theme is different, but the essence is the same. This is an opportunity for us to draw and practice painting methods, preferably ones with gilding or illumination techniques.

This year we are back to the 17th century with this very charming flower study that I found on the Met Museum online collection and according to the Met: “this practice-sheet of sketches by an unknown artist reveals the care and meticulous study that went into the creation of Mughal botanical studies in the seventeenth century. Created by an artist under the reign of Shah Jahan (r. 1628–58), this page of drawings in ink depicts nineteen different flowers, drawn from nature. Some of the skillfully rendered flowers may be specifically identified including lily, narcissus, iris, tulip, Persian violet, carnation, poppy, anemone, Trillium, and campion.”

By the way, if you are not familiar with this challenge let me tell you more about. This is the ninth year of the annual challenge and it’s basically a free community activity, where I provide you with flower templates to paint to improve your brush-work skills and colour selection for 14 days. It is also a nice way to welcome the beautiful Spring season with all the flowers that will blossom soon.

Floral motifs have a very important role within Islamic patterns and you can see them highlighted beautifully in the Safavid, Ottoman, Mughal & Qajar periods. They were used before and after those periods as well, but my favourite examples come from those three.

Image from 2024 golden flower challenge:

Join me from Monday 21st April for 14 days

(until the 4th of May) to paint one flower every two days.

If you can't make time on these dates you can still join when it's good for you. I will still come have a look if you mention me or tag me.

Below are the floral templates you can paint.

Click to enlarge and save or print. Each flower should take you two days to complete, so try to be patient and don’t speed up heheh.

How to download these images?

  • Screen shot

  • Right click and save

  • Redraw it from screen

  • Google other ways.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a personal challenge and it should not be used for commercial gain. You can keep, gift or donate your paintings.

Painting Inspo Courtesy of ChatGBT

How to paint the flowers?

First thing you want to do is trace the design in pencil and then transfer it to a watercolour paper by turning the tracing paper onto the pencil side and trace again.

Once you have your design you can paint it in anyway you want:

  • I usually start with one layer of colours or gold

  • then outline the design in black ink and a brush

  • Then add secondary colours or shading.

You can do it however you want and I will be sharing process images on instagram if you want to do the same.

Here are also two more images of inspiration with beautifully painted flowers:

Art Supplies for the Golden Flower challenge: 

I highly recommend using what you already have at home, but if you really want to get something new or want to use the same things I will be using then checkout these recommendations below. You don’t have to buy new art supplies if you already have some. Always try to use what you have. You can also check your local art supply store for deals and other options.

Tools: Printed Flower Design, Tracing Paper, Pencils, brushes,  real gold or gouache gold, watercolours and/or gouache colours.

Share your golden flowers & find other participants on social media!  

Share your completed flower on instagram or Facebook and please tag me on @islamicillumination and add these hashtags so we can all find each other! #GoldenFlowerChallenge2025 #GFC25

You can also copy this caption if you like: 

This flower is part of the #GoldenFlowerChallenge2025 #GFC25 by Dr. Esra Alhamal @islamicillumination
We are painting one flower every two days for 14 days to practice our painting and illumination skills.
You can participate too by visiting www.islamicillumination.com   

Benefits of this Art challenge: 

  • Understand the floral language in Persian biomorphic patterns.

  • Practice your painting skills.

  • Practice ink and brush outlining.

  • Satisfy your soul with some art! (A golden flower a day keeps the doctor away?)

Things you can do with your flower: 

  • Turn them into a card
    and give them to your friends and family for all the upcoming occasions (perfect for the upcoming Eid!)

  • Hang them in your house
    I am sure any house would use a series of sparkly flowers!

  • Add them to other creative projects
    Golden flowers are so versatile and you can find some use for them or include them in other creative projects.

If you loved this challenge and want to improve your illumination skills further, you can get my new book: Islamic Biomorphic Patterns

Or join one of the recorded courses:

Islamic Illumination Painting Basics
£60.00
One time

Biomorphic Pattern Analysis Course
£120.00
One time

A Pattern Tour of Uzbekistan with Esra and Samira
A Pattern Tour of Uzbekistan with Esra and Samira
£120.00
Mamluk Manuscript Elements with Esra and Samira - Recorded
Mamluk Manuscript Elements with Esra and Samira - Recorded
£80.00

For more fun challenges and future announcements, please sign up to my monthly newsletter, where you will get notified about all my upcoming workshops, art plans and all my inspiring arty related things!

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