I can't remember a time when I didn't enjoy the act of writing. Early fond memories include pleasant hours of both writing and drawing. Pen and ink fascinated me in high school and college art classes.

As a young adult I was intrigued by the calligraphy styles I learned in a survey class. The intriguing thick and thin lines made by the special pen captivated me!

After years of classes and study I began taking on clients and students. I've been in business now for 30 + years, enjoying meeting new friends who come across my path because of calligraphy.

Zara Houshmand is an Iranian American writer, editor, and literary translator whose work crosses boundaries and cultural divides. She lives in the mountains of California.

All the translations you see of Rumi on our website were done by Zara Houshmand.

Architect by training, Interior Designer by profession, and a hobbyist artist!

My favorite aspect in all the creative fields that I have worked in, has been the interplay of design elements, colors and forms. My approach in design and art is to experiment and o􀆯er unique experiences that challenge the existing ideas. Working on projects, I learnt the value of component and detail, the work of each artisan, craftsman and team member needs to shine in its own capacity to create the most successful designs and spaces.

Writing is half the knowledge." (Prophet Muhammad S.A.W). Throughout my journey as a calligrapher, I have had many unforgettable experiences. There were phases of hard work, learning and making sure to be be up to date with todays competitive modern world. With each passing day, life unfolded new colours and rhythms, therefore I used these experiences to produce thoughtful pieces of art. My mentor, Mr. Ejaz Yousafi, gave me an insight to the different techniques and concepts of art. He helped me understand different colour variations and the diversity of nature. My work is a true depiction of my love for calligraphy and unorthodoxic imaginations about the galaxy, where the planets whirl with the rhythm of colours, and the huroof prance with the pulse as my brush touches the canvas. For me, these feelings are beyond expression, yet I try so everyone could feel the joy of my heart.

Calligraphy is always a divine inspiration for me and I started it from very early days of my student life. I started Calligraphy as profession in 1997. I always try to add new impressions in my work inspired from Quranic Verses and Surahs.

The Mashq (practice) when done in flow beautifies the canvas. I paint these in the form of a Catalytic Exercise. Multiple layers of Exercise creates an illusion. Names of Allah Almighty Creator and Quranic verses give me such an unexplained power which force me to create the variable fonts over with elegant silver and golden leafing. The negative spaces and Calligraphic Circles reflect the classicism of my paintings with colorful backgrounds.

Khalid Mahmood Siddiqui is the son of a famous calligrapher Mahmood Ullah Siddiqui, who was the student of the renowned pioneer of this new tradition in calligraphy (Lahori Nastaliq), Abdul Majeed Parveen Raqam. Having inherited the artistic gene from his father, it was inevitable that he would find the allure of calligraphy irresistible. He started practicing and learning traditional calligraphy along with his formal education.

He starting his professional career as calligrapher in 1976. His work is mainly classical, highlighting the traditional artistic form of Nastaliq. While he tries to stick to the classical compositions, but that doesn't hold him back from trying innovative ways to compose pieces if the text requires it.

(Zahid's Note): Khalid Siddiqui is a true master of Lahori Nastaliq. Knows all the intricates details and nuances. You can't get more authentic that being separated by only one generation from the calligrapher credited with developing the Lahori Nastaliq, Parveen Raqam. His work shows his pedigree.