Calligraphy is an important part and essence of traditional Chinese culture. It is the artistic form of Chinese writing characters, and blends several traditional fonts, such as regular script, seal script, official script, cursive hand and running hand. Today, when learning Chinese calligraphy, you will be usually taught the regular script and running hand. After attending a calligraphy class in China, you will be able to appreciate its unique aesthetics manifested in simple lines and strokes. Besides, you may master the skills of Chinese calligraphy and show others your beautiful hand-writing.
Chinese painting and calligraphy are almost always mentioned in the same breath, and both of them are favored by international travelers addicted to Chinese culture. Chinese painting is widely regarded as the highest form of traditional Chinese art and reflects the profound philosophy.
If you are interested in learning Chinese calligraphy and painting when traveling in China, TCT can arrange you an introductory Chinese calligraphy or painting class in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Yangshuo and other cities. With the assistance of the teachers, you can learn about the professional methods and techniques. The Chinese painting and calligraphy lessons are also good activities for family with kids and educational tours for the students to have fun, learn something new, and let their imaginations run wild on the xuan paper full with creations.
Chinese calligraphy introductory and basic techniques
1. The preparation – Prepare with the tools for Chinese calligraphy lesson, including desk, chair, the four treasures of study, brush, ink-stick, untreated Xuan Paper, ink slab.
2. The correct sitting posture – shoulders back, spine straight, spread your feet the width of your shoulders, stare straight on the paper, concentrate but relax
3. How to hold a brush – Here below is a reference picture. Also remember to hold steady but flexible.
4. How to wield the brush – At a lesson, teacher will show you the way to wield the brush with the strength of your fingers, wrist and elbow.
5. Know the right timing of the alternation of lifting a bit the brush tip and making a pause to press on the paper.
6. Imitate – Copying a calligraphy work is the first step of learning it. Follow a known style, practice, and later you may have your own style.
Chinese painting introductory and basic principles
1. Prepare with the tools for Chinese bush painting lesson, including brushes of different sizes, lampblack ink-stick, treated Xuan Paper or silk (for experienced painter), ink slab with cover, paint classified into plant color (transparent and mellow) and stone color made of ore, etc.
2. The same way to use and wield brush as calligraphy mentioned above
3. Learn the essential techniques, like drawing the intersection lines, round lines, weaving lines, as the lines are the basis of Chinese painting. Different from Western painting focusing on the balance of light and shadow and the structure, traditional Chinese painting stands out with the perfect combination of lines and boundless artistic vision.
4. Copy an ancient Chinese picture. It can be the original or a replica. This is the fastest and one of the good ways to learn and master the techniques of Chinese painting.
5. For the beginners, it is better to learn freehand brush work with subjects of flowers and birds at first, as it is relatively easier. And you can finish a painting quickly at a lesson.