Learn Calligraphy & Brush Painting

Do you draw or do calligraphy on a regular basis? Writing calligraphy is a process and you don’t need to know the meaning of characters to do calligraphy. When kids first learn Chinese calligraphy, they model their drawings on historical master calligraphers’ writings even when they have no idea what some of the character or perhaps the entire page means. I see practicing calligraphy as a way to calm myself and relieve  my mind of stress. In this day and age, we want everything to be done boom! boom!-right away. Writing Chinese calligraphy one stroke at a time at a very slow pace could be difficult for many. I’ve seen people take almost a minute to write just one stroke.

First Step
 
When you buy practice papers (for example, http://goodcharacters.com/art/art3630.html) and books of sample calligraphy (for example, http://goodcharacters.com/art/art2242.html), you will see that they both have grids of nine boxes. When you practice writing calligraphy, the first step is to try to copy the characters exactly as the masters wrote them. The grid helps you to place each stroke or dot at the exact place. So don’t write hastily, but do spend time to do it carefully.

Second Step
 
After you are able to write exactly like the sample calligraphy, which might take days or weeks practice, you are ready to test your skill by using the same type of paper but without looking at sample calligraphy. The goal of this step is to be able to write exactly without looking at the samples.

Third Step
 
The next level is to write on a blank paper without a grid. You should be able to write exactly like the master without looking at the sample since you have it in your heart.

Final Step
 
Once you are able to write like the master on any blank paper without looking at the sample, you should be ready to write any character, not just same characters from the sample book, and retain the style and spirit of the master. Since all Chinese characters are based on a limited set of dots and strokes, you can apply what you have learned to any new characters.

Yan Liu
 
Most students start out by learning Yan Zhenqing’s and Liu Gongquan’s calligraphy. (http://goodcharacters.com/art/calligraphy-books.html) Master Yan’s writing (http://goodcharacters.com/art/art4009.html) is thick (fat) and solid. Master Liu’s calligraphy (http://goodcharacters.com/art/art4016.html) is thin but strong. It is said that once you master these two fundamental styles, you have the base for creating your own unique style.

Real Beginners
 
For real beginners, you might want to take the baby first step by getting practice books or papers that have character outlines in red. For example, Book of Sample Calligraphy for Beginners 1 to 4 (http://goodcharacters.com/art/art4027.html) and Beginner’s Calligraphy Practice Paper Set 1 to 3 (http://goodcharacters.com/art/art3388.html).

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions about drawing or calligraphy, please let me know.

The difference is that an ink stone is designed for grinding ink. The ink stone has a deeper end to store water and a shallow flat surface that is commonly used for grinding ink. An ink well is designed to be used with premade ink since the entire surface is the same flat level. However, some people opt for using an ink well to grind their ink as this is ok to do so as well. We appreciate your questions and I hope that I was able to help.

Fu-Qin-Jie Kuai-Le

• Fu Qin (pronounced fuu cheen) is a father.
• Jie (pronounced jee-eh) is a festival day or holiday.
• Kuai Le (pronounced kwie-luh) is happiness, joy, pleasure, delight, or rejoicing.

Father’s Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide:

• United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, UK: Third Sunday of June
• China and Taiwan: August 8 (八八, ba ba, 爸爸)

More at Good Characters

Things you might need to write Happy Father’s Day in Chinese:

• Leopard Pattern Wolf Hair Brush Large $6
• Nature Color Bamboo Brush Mat $6
• Elegant Style Bottled Ink Medium $7
• Blank Bamboo Practice Paper (50 Sheets) $9.95
• Beginner’s Calligraphy Practice Paper Set $9.95
• Red Fabric Border Blank Wall Scroll Medium $24.95
• 4 Inch Round Inkwell $17
• Shitajiki Felt Mat Small $4

This is a sequel to The Making of Wishing Brush 1 article. 

Figure 7. Master Lin combines hair

Master Lin arranges the combined hairs on a straight edge by blending the hair. He continuously dampens the hair with lime water. He then inspects the hair and makes sure that they are smooth, flat and uniformed. 

Figure 8. Brushing out hairs with cow bone comb

Master Lin takes grasp of the hair and brushes it out with a cow bone comb. This will better mesh the hair and will help avoid knots and flyaways.

Figure 9. Rolling the hair

After combing the hair Master Lin places the hair atop a layer of dampen goat hair and then carefully rolls the hair together. The goat hair will remain as the outer layer. 

Figure 10. Tying the rolled hair

Master Lin makes about a dozen brushes at a time. He ties the rolled up hair with white thread at the bottom thickened end. He ensures that the hair is fastened together firmly with the thread. Tying the rolled up hair is a crucial step when binding together. The hair must be properly tied to avoid it falling out.

Figure 11. Cutting the rolled hair

After binding a dozen or so hair rolls, Master Lin individually cuts the hair rolls and sets them apart.

Figure 12. Attaching the hair to the ferrule

Master Lin attaches the hair to the ferrule using sea weed glue.  He ensures that the hair is in place and intact.  In traditional brushes the ferrule is made of water buffalo horn which is stronger than bamboo by itself.  The ferrule binds the hair to the bamboo handle and ensures a stronger grip on the hair. Using water buffalo horn for a ferrule also gives the brush a different feel.

• Wishing Brush No. 1 
• Wishing Brush No. 2 
• Wishing Brush No. 3

Wishing Brushes are sold exclusively by Good Characters outside of Taiwan.

Four generations of traditional brush making have long survived in the Republic of China’s grand capital, the city of Taipei. Lam Sam Yick, our exclusive calligraphy and painting brush supplier, is a family owned company established a century ago. They are famous for their development of high quality brushes by using all natural products. Their number one top seller is the Wishing brush which has been in the making for the past 96 years. What distinguishes this family’s success in the brush making industry is locked in their secret technique of creating their brushes. Their system entails using an exact percentage of different hair types to create a perfect brush. These brushes present the calligraphy artist with higher quality by maintaining its original shape during and after usage, as well as allowing the artist different characteristic in their script. Pictured below you will see Master Lin assembling the very favored brush.

Wishing Brushes are sold exclusively by us outside of Taiwan.

• Wishing Brush No. 1 
• Wishing Brush No. 2 
• Wishing Brush No. 3

Figure 1. Materials for brush

Traditional calligraphy brushes are crafted by using all natural products. The shaft is crafted out of bamboo, the ferrule is composed of water buffalo horn and the brush hair is gathered using various types of animal hair like goat and weasel (traditionally known as wolf).

Figure 2. Goat hair

Figure 3. Goat hair

Master Lin begins by dampening goat hair with lime water. He then lines up the hair on a straight edge and evens it out on the flat surface. He continues to dampen hair with lime water while flattening it out.

Figure 4. Lining up goat hair

Figure 5. Lining up goat hair

Master Lin pulls the goat hair with a needle like tool and aligns the hair on one side of straight edge. He makes sure the hair is even. 

Figure 6. Master Lin aligning hair

Master Lin proceeds with this same process for all five layers of different brush hairs that will be used to create the special Wishing brush. He ends up with five different layers of hair in varying lengths. The heart of the brush is composed of weasel hair that will allow the brush to have greater flexibility. The outer layer is composed of goat hair.

Continue to Figure 7-12.

 
Art-0013

Many artists we talk to say the process of grinding the ink is like meditation; it takes time but it also gives them time to think and calm their mind. The repetitious movement gradually takes the mind away from ordinary, daily distractions and clears the mind. Also, the ready-made ink is consistently black, somehow too perfect. The ground ink has gradients that give the calligraphy or brush stroke more character. That is what the art is about. The process and the unique result. Slow, imperfect, and yet totally human. Art.

1. Flow Brush Large
2. Flow Brush Extra Large
3. Orchard Bamboo Brush Medium
4. Silver Mountain Brush No. 2
5. Shitajiki Felt Mat Large
6. 3 Inch Engraved Inkstone
7. 6-Brush Brush Rest - Limited

1. Purple Haze No. 3 Brush
2. Special Writer’s Brush Large
3. Beginner’s Calligraphy Practice Paper Set 3
4. Student Grade Inkstick
5. Shitajiki Felt Mat Medium
6. 6-Brush Brush Rest - Limited
7. 3 Inch Engraved Inkstone

We have a fabulous new product to add to our line of quality handmade scrolls, a medium-sized red damask fabric blank wall scroll. Dimensions: Outter 12″ x 46″ and writeable area 9″ x 27″

The scroll is designed for your calligraphy or shui-mo or sumi-e paint work and will elegantly display on any wall.

The scroll has a woven string that can be used for hanging or to tie the rolled scroll when not displayed. This beautiful scroll also makes a great guest book and can be used for weddings, graduations, birthday parties, Chinese New Year’s parties, or for any special occasion.

The scroll is weighted on the bottom with a solid wooden dowel. A beautiful gift box is included.

The white paintable center is made of fine paper and measures 27 inches long and is 9 inches wide.

The scroll measure 46 inches long and is 12 inches wide. That is almost 4 feet tall when hanging!

In stock for immediate delivery. $24.95 ea.

Also pictured:

• Extra Extra Large Combination Brush
• Five Inch Brass Ink Box