Learning Chinese Calligraphy
It's ubiquitous – especially in Chinese eating places and never mind how many of them you see around, each one is still a thing of beauty. We know that each bit of writing stands for something but for those of us who can't understand, it is a beautiful, work of art. So beautiful that so many of us want it to adorn our walls, our skins by way of tattoos and our bathrobes too maybe to add an exotic touch. The great thing is, never mind if it is such an exotic mysterious art, you can learn it too and you can create some beautiful pieces of art as well.
The history of Chinese calligraphy can be traced back to the third century B.C. when Li Szu , the then Prime Minister, fixed on 3000 Chinese characters that could be used in writing. There are five different styles in which Chinese calligraphy can be done and they are - li-shu, zhuan-shu, xing-shu, cao-shu and kai-shu. So since there are five, each Chinese word can be rendered in five different ways. The final work of course depends on the person who is wielding the brush. It all boils down to the way the stroke is applied, the unique way each line is drawn and whether the person wants it to be exact, formal, fluid or whimsical. Through the ages, you see the wonderful art that the masters have given the world and you realize that each one has its own powerful strokes of expression. Though the characters are really just words, in an artistic hand, it can be elevated to the level of abstract art.
What enhances the calligraphy is the material on which it is done. There are traditional materials of choice that most of the masters usually use and these are silk textiles and rice paper or the traditional Chinese paper. The brushes are also special and made of sheep or rabbit hair. You find that various brushes are used so you have one for the line drawing and others for depth, flow and rhythm. The balance of the finished work is a combination of all the factors coming together including the contrast, density, depth and texture. The color is usually black though the artist could add color to express different moods.
The beauty of Chinese calligraphy is not just in how well the letters are done – it is the wonderful use of space. Sometimes, even a minimalist brush stroke character can stand out in an empty background as a thing of incredible beauty. In fact, one of the rules of Chinese calligraphy is that nothing should look overcrowded or placed awkwardly. The final work must be a superbly confident and artistic piece with the placement and the strokes just right, flowing gracefully, signifying depth and style and yet, absolutely simple. Yes, if you do get into this art form and get totally hooked, it will be because you discover just how beautiful being simple can be.