Yesterday afternoon I attended a calligraphy class supported through the Alliance program. The 老师 (laoshi), or teacher, was a very funny and skilled artist. He began the lesson by explaining that calligraphy uses traditional Chinese characters, not the simplified version I have been learning. He also made it very clear that you do not use your left hand when writing calligraphy. Sorry lefties! I was surprised at how easy it was for me to make the switch from my left to right hand though. This may be due to my extensive right hand training in manipulating and using chopsticks.
Pro-tip: Learn to use chopsticks with your right hand or else you’re doomed to a life of being a nuisance.
He also showed us how put the 墨 (mo), Chinese ink, onto the brush and apply it to the rice paper. We practiced a lot and after an hour and a half I finally got the hang of it. It seems to help if you put the right amount of 墨 on your brush while being equally distributed throughout all sides.
I was not able to keep my practice sheets—it’s probably for the best. However, here is my finished product! After one class, I was able to write this in traditional Chinese characters with my right hand.
For this design, you read it right to left. It says Meiguo Yi Fan. Meiguo meaning America and Yi Fan is my Chinese name. The class meets only once a week but I’m already looking forward to next Wednesday to learn more!
0 responses to “Calligraphy”
Your gonna be making a fan in no time!!!! Great job joining the rest of society I. The right side!
Hey Bean,
I am assuming you will be keeping all your calligraphy papers but if you were not please do if possible! I got an awesome idea how to incorporate their images into a cool project. If you can not keep all, photos will probably work.
Today at the hospital we had an unexpected visit from the inspectors but it was triggered by a lame compliant from a visitor or someone like that. We were fine. But still need to go through the BIG inspection! Ugh!
There is a new young lady working at the hospital coffee shop who is Asian. I talked with her and found out she is Korean. I told her about you in China. She told me she has a brother who has a girlfriend who is Chinese but he can not speak Chinese and she can not speak Korean so they speak to each other in English!!!! How cool! Love and language prevail!
How are you doing sweetie?
Let me know when it is convenient for you to Skype again! Sunday morning I will practicing my driving but will be back be 1 pm my time. Saturday I will be home all day.
I am so glad you are having this experience!
Love you,
Mom
Hello Eva, It is funny you have to paint (write) with your right hand when you are left handed. A long story short, summer before I started four grade, I broke my left arm in two places. I too am left handed. Since the cast(s) would be on for a very long time, they made me right, and use scissors and stuff with my right hand. However, when the cast(s) came off, I immediately when back to writing with my left hand. To this day, I still use scissors and have to write on Chalk / white boards with my right hand???? Not sure how or why. While I am left handed. Cindy will tell you I do everything with my hands backwards. 🙂
It sounds like this class will is very fun and interesting. I am so glad you are having a great time and learning so much.
Much love,
Aunt Terrie