1      Philosophy of Decorative Drawing in the Coptic Churches DR. Emad Adel Ibraheam Specialist of postgraduate and researches at Minia University Asaryelminia2012@gmail.com mu.edu.eg - emad.adel@s Drawing Decorative and Ornamental Art: Decoration relates to the production of beauty in art, in which the first principle to be considered is symmetry—the equal balance of two halves. The second principle is repetition. Decorative and Ornamental Art Decoration relates to the production of beauty in art, in which the first principle to be considered is symmetry—the equal balance of two halves. The second principle is repetition. Repetition may be considered as Simple, when the same unit is used repeatedly. As Alternate, when two units are used alternately. As Combined, when several units (each one different) are used. Conventional Design To conventionalize means to represent by symbol of some exact preconceived outline, rather than by an attempt to duplicate resemblance to a natural object. To conventionalize, for instance, is to produce an ornamental design of such a character that it may be made up of several different integral parts, each of which is copied from some natural object, such as a leaf or flower, but which has been formalized into the typical rather than the correct representation of the original. Or, to give another instance, it may be a leaf made to con- . form to some geometrical figure, such as the maple leaf drawn within the confines of a hexagon. Even in pictorial art, liberties are taken with nature to overcome the limitations of human efforts to make certain visible impressions by pictorial means. Ornament.—In the ornamental designs of the Greeks and the Romans, Repetition and Alternation were the chief resources. Modern ornamenters added Intersection, which means relieving Repetition and Alternation at intervals with additional forms or group of forms, and then continuing as before.