Highly recommended
Chinese characters are hugely popular for everything from tattoos to interior design. I’ve always loved the symbols and have tried to copy Chinese lettering a few times for artwork or greeting cards, but I’d never looked for instructions on the proper technique until I found The Simple Art of Chinese Calligraphy.
In The Simple Art of Chinese Calligraphy, artist and calligrapher Qu Lei Lei presents illustrated step-by-step instructions and explanations of the technique for producing Chinese calligraphy. The photographs and diagrams are extensive and make the process clear and understandable.
From movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, I’d glimpsed the hand position on the brush, the meditation quality of calligraphy, and the beauty of Chinese Running Script. Qu explains how deeply calligraphy is revered as an art form by the Chinese, and he put the concept of fine lettering into a new light for me. How often do you rush to grab your paints and brushes for your artwork and set up as quickly as possible? In the West, we usually want to get straight to the artwork and waste as little time as possible on peripheral exercises. With Chinese calligraphy, the preparation process is just as much a part of the artwork, and is a calming meditation to be savoured. I found this perspective humbling. The materials used in calligraphy are called the Four Treasures: Brush, ink, paper, and ink stone, and Qu gives advice and explanations on selecting these. Stiff-haired brushes are easier for beginners to use, but experienced calligraphers will appreciate the flexibility of softer brushes. Holding the brush will take a lot of getting used to if you’ve never tried it before – but it is a lot of fun to try.
The ink and ink stone were also new to me. A solid stick of ink is used, traditionally made from soot and glue, together with an ink stone for grinding and holding the ink. Different colours are available made from natural pigments and all presented in stick form. It is possible to use bottled ink, and perhaps even paint if you’re just wanting to practice, but Qu recommends learning to grind the ink stick because of its ritualistic and meditative qualities.
For the calligraphy practice itself, Qu illustrates each stroke of the learning characters with diagrams and photographs. Every step is explained, including the starting point and movement of the brush, with examples of different characters using the stroke being practiced. You can also use a graph guide to start with, or for precise reproduction of a symbol.
A good portion of the book involves beautiful projects to make using your new calligraphy skills, from decorated fans and greeting cards, to wooden and stone paper weights, and even a t-shirt. The final section includes popular English first names written in Chinese script, as well as poems, proverbs, and phrases to copy.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Chinese symbols and art. This book makes it easy to learn a complex art form and produce true Chinese calligraphy.
The Simple Art of Chinese Calligraphy by Qu Lei Lei is available from Amazon.com
