• 60 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

Islamic Art Ideas

Three Islamic patterns per press, most with the grid or circles they start from.

Islamic Art Ideas

Show all 60
  1. Row of diamonds with a square inside eachDiagonal grid. Among the earliest shapes in the style and the plainest: ink a diamond, then a square within it.
  2. Vine coiled to fill one circle, leaves in the gapsOne compass circle. Spiral the stem to the center, then fit a leaf into each space left against the rim.
  3. Square tile holding a circle inside two squaresSquare grid. In every cell draw a square, a smaller square in it, and a circle in that. Repeat without gaps.

Next step Tilings that leave no gapsVine borders for a page edge

All 60 ideas

Stars from a circle 12

  • Eight-pointed star begun from five circles Five-circle grid: one circle, four more on its rim, two diagonals. Join every second rim point to get two squares.
  • Four-pointed star found inside the sharp eight-pointed one Five-circle grid. In the every-third-point star, ink the lines leaving four alternate points, up to where they cross.
  • Octagon with the two-square star nested inside Five-circle grid. Join neighboring rim points for the octagon, then every second point for the star within it.
  • One star drawn as a ribbon that weaves through itself Any star on this list. Double every line into a band, then erase at the crossings so it runs over, under, over.
  • Seven circles of one radius with the six petals inked The grid most six-point patterns start from: one circle, then six more centered on its rim.
  • Sharper eight-pointed star from every third point Five-circle grid, eight rim points. Skip two each time. The lines cross deeper and the points come out thin.
  • Six-pointed star cut into twelve small triangles Seven-circle grid. Join opposite corners of the star's inner hexagon; every piece is now an equal-sided triangle.
  • Six-pointed star from every second petal tip Seven-circle grid. Join every second point on the middle circle: two triangles cross, a hexagon sits inside.
  • Sixteen-pointed star from eight points halved Five-circle grid. Halve each gap between the eight rim points with the compass, then join every fifth point.
  • Ten-pointed star with every third point joined Neither grid here gives ten. Step 36 degrees around one circle with a protractor, then join every third point.
  • Twelve rim points joined into three overlapping squares Seven-circle grid, twelve points. Join every third point: three squares, each turned 30 degrees from the last.
  • Twelve-pointed star from every fifth point Seven-circle grid. Lines through the inner hexagon's corners add six rim points to the rosette's six. Join every fifth.

Repeating tiles 12

  • Eight-pointed stars and the crosses left between them Diagonal grid. Set two-square stars point to point in rows. Each gap is a cross with four pointed arms.
  • Four-leaf flowers from circles in square rows Five-circle grid carried on in rows. Four leaf shapes meet at every circle's center. Ink the leaves only.
  • Hexagon tiles with a six-point flower in each Hexagon grid: the triangle grid with six triangles outlined at a time. Cross two triangles inside every tile.
  • Octagons that each hold an eight-pointed star Square grid. Octagons side by side leave small squares between them. Put a two-square star in every octagon.
  • Rosettes repeated until the page is all petals Seven-circle grid carried on: add a circle at every crossing. Ink the petals and let the circles go.
  • Row of diamonds with a square inside each Diagonal grid. Among the earliest shapes in the style and the plainest: ink a diamond, then a square within it.
  • Six-pointed stars set point to point with hexagons between Triangle grid. The stars touch at their tips and the gaps come out as hexagons. Two shapes cover the page.
  • Square tile holding a circle inside two squares Square grid. In every cell draw a square, a smaller square in it, and a circle in that. Repeat without gaps.
  • Star-and-hexagon tiling with every line woven Triangle grid. Double each line into a band and pass it over one crossing and under the next, all the way.
  • Tile pattern that runs off all four edges Any grid. Carry the pattern past the page on every side. It is not built to fit inside a frame.
  • Twelve-pointed stars inside circles that touch Seven-circle grid for each star. Set the circles edge to edge and fill the leftover gaps with small shapes.
  • Vine layer drawn under a grid of stars Triangle or square grid. Ink the stars, then run leaves behind them. Pattern laid on pattern keeps the page flat.

Arabesque leaves and vines 12

  • Four scrolls turned around the center of a square Square grid, one cell. Draw one scroll in a corner and turn it three times. The square then repeats as a tile.
  • Leaves left white on a ground filled in dark Draw any vine from circles, then fill everything that is not vine. The contrast brings the plants forward.
  • Lotus bloom set in the center of a star tile Seven-circle grid. Stack pointed petals up from the middle of a six-pointed star, the tallest at the center.
  • Pair of split leaves closing into a bud shape Arabesque leaves are often stylized half leaves. Draw one curling to one side, mirror it, join the pair at the base.
  • Scrolling vine fitted inside a six-pointed star tile Seven-circle grid for the star. Let one stem enter at a point, coil once at the center and leave at another.
  • Single spiral stem with leaves along its outer side Start from one circle and wind the stem inside it. The leaves spring sideways from the stem, not from its end.
  • Stem that leaves the frame and comes back in Circles that overlap the page edge. Arabesque stems often show no end, so let one run out and return lower down.
  • Two spiral stems mirrored down the center line Two circles side by side, one stem coiled in each, turning opposite ways. Add leaves on the outside curves.
  • Two vines crossing over and under along a band Two rows of circles, offset. Double the stems into bands and take turns over and under at every crossing.
  • Vine coiled to fill one circle, leaves in the gaps One compass circle. Spiral the stem to the center, then fit a leaf into each space left against the rim.
  • Vine whose next stem grows from a leaf tip Circles of mixed sizes. End each stem in a leaf and start the next stem from that leaf's point.
  • Wavy vine along a strip with a leaf in every curve A row of touching circles. The stem passes over one and under the next, and each hollow takes one leaf.

Arches, domes and lamps 12

  • Dome from below with a star at its crown One large circle, twelve rim points. Draw the star small at the center and stretch its lines out to the rim.
  • Eight-sided fountain seen from above Five-circle grid for the octagon. Inside it put a ring cut into eight equal parts, and a square band outside.
  • Hanging lantern of pierced metal throwing star shadows Five-circle grid on each face. Cut the star as holes, then repeat the same stars, larger, on the wall behind.
  • Honeycomb vault of small niches, tier over tier Muqarnas. Draw a row of small pointed niches, then another row above that juts out over it. Keep stacking.
  • Horseshoe arch on two plain columns One compass circle. Keep the curve going below its widest line, so the opening narrows before the columns.
  • Pair of doors paneled in twelve-pointed stars Seven-circle grid, twelve rim points. One star per circle, the circles touching, thin strips of wood between.
  • Pierced stone screen of hexagons and its shadow A jali. Hexagon grid: thicken every line into stone, black the holes, then slant the same net across the floor.
  • Pointed arch from two compass arcs A base line and two arcs. Put the compass point on one end, swing up from the other, then swap. They meet at the tip.
  • Round brass burner pierced with patterns in circles A sphere drawn as one circle. Fit smaller circles on it, a geometric pattern in each, and black the holes.
  • Row of three horseshoe arches seen straight on Three equal circles on one line. Keep the columns thin so the round openings do most of the work.
  • Scalloped arch with seven lobes Step a small circle seven times along a half-circle guide. The name multifoil is kept for more than five lobes.
  • Upstairs window boxed in wooden lattice Square grid turned on its corner. A mashrabiya projects from the wall, so give the box a side and a base.

Borders and a page to fill 12

  • Bookmark with a star band between two vine bands Square grid down the middle strip, a row of circles on each side for the vines. Ink the stars last.
  • Border band of eight-pointed stars, tip to tip Square grid, one row. A two-square star in each cell, touching its neighbors. Half crosses fill the edges.
  • Border of six-pointed stars linked through each other Triangle grid, one row. Overlap each star with the next by one point and weave the lines where they cross.
  • Box lid with a whole star in the middle and quarter stars in the corners Five-circle grid at the center. Use the same radius at each corner so exactly one quarter of a star shows.
  • Full page of one pattern in three colors Any grid, edge to edge. Give every star one color, every gap a second, and the lines between them a third.
  • One tile drawn four times and turned to make a bigger one Square grid. Design a quarter with part of a star at one corner, then turn it three times around that corner.
  • Panel of cut paper stars mounted point to point Fold and cut six- or eight-pointed stars from paper circles, decorate each, and glue them with points touching.
  • Round plate with five circles in one looping line Draw a middle circle and four around it as a single line that never lifts. Put a small star in each outer one.
  • Rug design with a star field inside two borders Square grid in the middle for the stars, a vine band around it, then a narrow band of diamonds outside.
  • Three patterns traced from the same grid Lay tracing paper over one circle grid and ink only the lines of one pattern. Move the paper and find two more.
  • Two card templates traced until the page is full Triangle grid. Cut one six-pointed star and one hexagon from card and trace them in turn. They fit with no gaps.
  • Vine border that turns all four corners A circle at each corner and a row between. Run the stem around the corner circle so the curve never breaks.

How it works

Islamic pattern starts with a compass. A circle is divided, the division gives a star, and the star repeats as a tile. These 60 ideas run in that order. None draws a person or any lettering.

Read the full guide

Two circle grids start almost everything

Seven circles of one radius, six of them centered on the rim of the first, divide it into six: hexagons, six-pointed and twelve-pointed stars. Five circles, four on the rim of the first, lead to eight points: octagons and eight-pointed stars. Carried on, the first becomes a triangle grid and the second a square grid.

Islamic art easy to draw with one compass

The Easy group holds 21 ideas that need one grid at most and no weaving, such as Hexagon tiles with a six-point flower in each and Octagon with the two-square star nested inside. Draw the grid in light pencil and ink only the pattern.

  • Lock the compass. Every circle in a grid has the same radius, and one slip shows across the whole page.

Questions and answers

Is geometric Islamic art easy to draw?

The first steps are. A compass and a straightedge are the only tools, and a six-pointed star takes seven circles and six lines. It gets hard when the lines weave, or when stars with different numbers of points share one page.

What are Arabic designs easy to draw?

Start with the arabesque: scrolling stems with leaves, repeated along a band. Try Single spiral stem with leaves along its outer side, then Wavy vine along a strip with a leaf in every curve. This list has no Arabic lettering.

What are Islamic art project ideas for teens?

Ones that fill a whole page and reward patience: Rug design with a star field inside two borders, Star-and-hexagon tiling with every line woven, or Dome from below with a star at its crown.

What is an Islamic art project idea for a whole class?

Panel of cut paper stars mounted point to point. Everyone folds and cuts a six-pointed or eight-pointed star from a paper circle and decorates it. The stars are then glued to one sheet with their points touching.

What kinds of decoration does Islamic art use?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's teaching booklet on the subject names four: calligraphy, figures of people and animals, plant motifs and geometric patterns. This list draws from the last two only.

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