Introduction to Hebrew Calligraphy

A course by Allison Barclay (Avielah) , Certified Hebrew Scribe (Soferet)

Certified Hebrew Scribe (Soferet). London, United Kingdom.
Joined August 2021

Create timeless letterforms by experimenting with calligraphy materials and exploring this ancient yet contemporary language

  • 98% positive reviews (62)
  • 1935 students
  • Audio: English
  • English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Dutch

Create timeless letterforms by experimenting with calligraphy materials and exploring this ancient yet contemporary language

The Hebrew alphabet combines proportion and space to achieve beautiful and timeless letterforms. Hebrew scribe and soferet Allison Barclay uses it to create everything from wedding contracts to exhibition pieces. She became the first woman in 250 years to be certified to write the bible the ritual way and also teaches Hebrew lettering to others.

In this online course, she guides you through the process of writing the letters of this ancient yet contemporary language. Learn the fundamental techniques needed to create a short text in black ink using Hebrew Square Script, and point the vowels in gold. Discover the mystery of this fascinating language and preserve an ancient art form.

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What will you learn in this online course?

14 lessons & 20 downloads

Materials
6 minutes, 45 seconds
The Layout Draft
15 minutes, 36 seconds
The Black Ink Layout 1
20 minutes, 26 seconds
Working on the Vowels 1
12 minutes, 38 seconds
  • 98% positive reviews (62)
  • 1935 students
  • 14 lessons (2h 45m)
  • 20 additional resources (8 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English
  • English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Recreate the 23rd Psalm in traditional Biblical Hebrew using black ink and point the vowels in gold.

Projects by course students

Who is this online course for?

This course is for anyone with an interest in calligraphy and the Hebrew language.

Requirements and materials

No previous experience is necessary.

In terms of materials, you will need black ink (or a color of your choosing), a clear ruler, a slim mechanical pencil, gold gouache, a calligraphy pen, and other materials specified by the teacher in the course.


Reviews

1935 Students
62 Reviews
98% Positive ratings

Allison Barclay (Avielah)

Teacher Plus
Certified Hebrew Scribe (Soferet)

Allison Barclay is a traditionally-trained Jewish scribe (Soferet), meaning she is authorized to write the bible. She grew up in British Columbia but currently lives in London, England, and has been creative since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Inspired by Fiddler on the Roof, she began teaching herself Hebrew letters from an encyclopedia at just 10 years old and experimenting with calligraphy for fun, before studying at Victoria College of Art and Camosun College.

Allison later trained as a soferet. Since then, she has been commissioned to copy poetry and prayers, write and illustrate Jewish wedding contracts, and create pieces for exhibitions. Allison also teaches Hebrew lettering to others and is the first woman licensed to restore Torah scrolls that had survived the Holocaust for the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    Learning the Basics

    • Materials
    • The Hebrew Alphabet
    • Feeling the Bones of the Hebrew Alef-Bet
    • Spacing and Pacing: The Key to Beautiful Writing
  • U3

    Composing the Text: Drawing Guidelines and Applying Ink

    • The Layout Draft
    • The Black Ink Layout 1
    • The Black Ink Layout 2
    • The Black Ink Layout 3
    • Working on the Vowels 1
    • Working on the Vowels 2
  • U4

    Additional Tips

    • How to Use a Feather for Calligraphy
    • Advice for Furthering Your Practice
  • FP

    Final project

    • Introduction to Hebrew Calligraphy

What to expect from a Domestika course

  • Learn at your own pace

    Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

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    Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

  • Meet expert teachers

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  • Certificates
    Plus

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  • Get front-row seats

    Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

  • Share knowledge and ideas

    Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

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FAQs

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Introduction to Hebrew Calligraphy. Calligraphy, and Typography course by Allison Barclay (Avielah)

Introduction to Hebrew Calligraphy

A course by Allison Barclay (Avielah)
Certified Hebrew Scribe (Soferet). London, United Kingdom.
Joined August 2021
  • 98% positive reviews (62)
  • 1935 students