Shodo -Way of Writing VII

The work of the day reads "the bible."

Inspired by "The Book of Eli" that I just blogged about.

And I tried this one again, and I think I did a better job than the last time. See any improvements?

And some stuff I did just for fun: a path of flowers under the moon. And I rather like how it came out.

Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing VI

My choice of the day:

Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing V

Here is the piece of the day:


Reads "Milky Way".

Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing III

It's Tuesday morning, and that means it's time for my weekly calligraphy practice! And this time, I decided to write more simple characters with less strokes than before: Sky and Earth.

The way my master wants it done is this: I write 20 or so papers with the same characters on my own, and select one that I think I did the best, and bring it to him to criticise and correct whatever should be corrected. So it's a lot of work of solitude for the most part. But I think I did a rather nice job.


My pick was this one:



Until next time,

Sak

Shodo -Way of Writing II

I haven't reported on my new hobby lately, so let me give you an update on that.

The mater's words were that I might want to try smaller letters instead of the regular, one-or-two-letters-on-a-sheet, style, like the one I tried on the outset. He said that I might even have a talent for cursive caligraphy (like in the trace-and-practice book shown below), because I am more creative and liberated than traditional and precise in terms of expression.


So I've been practicing scaled-down versions lately; four vertical letters instead of two, which for me is a bit harder to place on a piece of paper, but, as the master expected, is easier and more fun to do.

Here is my first try.


The four letters mean, from the top, spring, summer, autumn and winter. I like the first letter; it feels feminine, and I like its shape when writing.

Caligraphy is turning into a very interesting hobby of mine that I did not honestly expect to enjoy so much. It's like this zen-like art that needs my focus and attention to details. Want to practice more.


Until next time,


Sak

Shodo -Way of Lettering

Ever since I came back to Japan three years ago, I wanted to take lessons of some sort of thing. I semi-started going to French class but after awhile the schedule didn't quite fly for me. I looked into kimono lessons, but couldn't find anything available during my time off. I really wanted to do horse-back riding, but it was way above my budget.

And guess what, though! I just started taking a calligraphy lesson.

It's something I always was fascinated, yet didn't quite think of actually trying simply because I didn't know where to begin. I did learn it at school when I was 10 or so? but the main thing I remember is that I liked the smell of the ink and the yet-to-be-used brushes felt really nice on my cheek and back of my hands. I also remember having the hardest time writing my name with a brush so much that I believe that my childhood loath for my name had partially been due to being calligraphi-cally challenged.

I was shown some works of Japanese calligraphy of late, and was immediately fascinated. Like drawing that I am partial to, it's art on a piece of paper. The letters come alive and they can mean so much more than what it reads, or tells a story more strongly than what it means. I loved that. So I was offered a lesson to try at home, and I took it.

We practiced lettering "a path of cherry blossoms" upon my request to use the letter cherry blossoms for the starter. The master said it's easier to start with two letters instead of one, so we added "path".

The first one being the master's, of course. He did that in a matter of 20 seconds or less. The second one mine, on my first try. Took me like 3 minutes.

"You have a good feel," he said kindly, "but you DO suck at lettering your name." Well, thanks. I just have to practice, then.

I've found another hobby, I'm afraid.

Until next time,
Sak