Join us for a soulful ten-week exploration of pattern, proportion and harmony, and our deep relation with them. Delight in the discovery of beauty through patterns of order that underlie all the universe, as we can observe it in the whole of nature and in ourselves.
Looking for a sense of beauty and clarity in your life? Journey through an introduction to the symbolic language of numbers and shapes and let nature be your inspiration.
This course is open to all seeking a contemplative container where head, heart and hand meet through philosophy, geometry, and introspection.
Overview
Programme type: Online course with live sessions
Topic: Contemplative geometry
Dates: Ten classes (of 3 hours duration each) once per week from 30th November 2024 through 1st February 2025
Language: English
Instructor: Daphne Charles
What is Contemplative Geometry?
Contemplative Geometry is the holistic study of the relationships between shapes and forms as they occur in nature, and as expressed in art, in design, and in architecture. The word ‘contemplative’ highlights that we are taking a reflective, investigative and philosophical approach to this exploration of shape and form. This includes our own place in the world of shape and form — how we are affected by the geometry of patterns, and how we can bring that awareness and sense of peaceful manifesting and creating into our daily lives.
Contemplative Geometry is also the foundation of contemplative/sacred architecture, and as such it is the starting point for explorations of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design in harmony with nature’s patterns and proportions.
"Come into the light of things;
let nature be your teacher."
— William Wordsworth
Who is this course for?
This course is accessible and open to all. Course prerequisites are a curious hand and a longing heart.
This course is suitable for you if:
You would like to learn about the patterns of nature and how they express themselves in number and geometry
You are looking to learn and gain experience using a compass and straightedge
You are looking to learn (or continue) in this restful craft
The idea of drawing patterns that have existed and have been used over a long period of time across traditions inspires you
You are looking to carve out a weekly touch-point for yourself to sit and rest in thoughtful material and inspiring discourse
You would like to be in a contemplative container with kindred spirits
You are an artist, designer or architect interested in contemplative/sacred traditions
Dates & times
About your facilitator
Weekly classes (held on Zoom) are scheduled for every Saturday at 9.30am IST (India Standard Time). A slight adjustment may be made to this timing to accommodate registered participants in different time zones.
Sample time zones:
Here are the timings in a few popular time zones:
US WEST COAST (PST/UTC-8): Fridays 8:00-11:00pm
DENVER (MST/UTC-7): Fridays 9:00pm-12:00am
GENEVA (CET/UTC+1): Saturdays 5:00-8:00am
DELHI (IST/UTC+5:30): Saturdays 9:30am-12:30pm
SINGAPORE (SGT/UTC+8): Saturdays 12:00-3:00pm
MELBOURNE (AEDT/UTC+11): Saturdays 3:00-6:00pm
What to do if you miss a session?
Participants will have access to video recordings of the live online sessions during the duration of this course. This is useful if you are unable to make one or more live sessions or if you would like to re-watch a session and/or redo your drawings.
Video access ends two weeks after the last Zoom session.
Essential equipment & supplies
A good drawing compass that can
hold its setting
make small adjustments
large enough to draw a 14cm radius circle
(examples: Steadler Mars, Rotring Master Bow, )
A ruler (suitable for working on A3 sized paper)
Range of pencils (4H-4B)
Eraser ( Zero Eraser or equivalent)
Colouring materials, e.g. colour pencils/markers
Masking tape
Drawing pens (useful to have, but not essential)
Paints and brushes (optional)
Paper of your choice (optional): You may choose to bring your own selection of cartridge / sketchbook / watercolour paper. Thick paper sufficient for use with your colouring medium of choice.
Tuition fee
Dharmalaya Institute is a not-for-profit charitable and educational organisation, and as such seeks to make its programmes accessible everyone. Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we are providing a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for each participant to give according to their means.
Total fees for this ten-week programme at each of the three tiers are as follows:
Standard rate
(For most participants)
Rs 10,000
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
Rs 6,700
The deficit inherent in this rate might be covered by participants who choose to pay the ‘Supporter rate’ to the right.
Supporter rate
(For those who can afford to help subsidize low-income participants)
Rs 15,000
Those who choose this rate will be supporting lower-income applicants to participate at the subsidized rate. We thank you sincerely for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone’s participation, so if you have exceptional financial hardship and cannot afford even the lowest subsidized rate, you can contact us to let us know your situation and your needs.
(Please note that the cost of purchasing the basic art supplies you’ll need for the course is not included in the tuition fee above; you would need to do acquire those supplies on your own.)
Application & registration
Space in this programme is limited. Participation is by application and is subject to acceptance.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Submit the application form using the button below.
STEP 2 — WATCH YOUR INBOX: After we review your application, we’ll contact you with instructions for making payment for the course.
STEP 3 — PREPARE: After we receive your payment, we’ll send you more detailed information about the programme and how to prepare for it.
We look forward to connecting with you!