Learning calligraphy involves a process from imitation to innovation. Lin Tie, that is, copying stele inscriptions, is a calligraphy method that imitates and learns the pen techniques of predecessors or others, practices pointillism and writing, masters the frame structure, and is familiar with the style characteristics and other basic skills. This is the only way to go and is widely used by those who are interested in the art of calligraphy in ancient and modern times. In the process of copying, the deeper the understanding and mastery of copybook templates, the stronger the foundation will be, which will also lay a solid foundation for future innovation and creation.
1. Selection of Calligraphy Calligraphy
The most important thing to avoid when learning calligraphy is blind self-practice. You must choose a teacher and follow it. If there is someone around you who has solid basic skills in calligraphy and specializes in the art of calligraphy, beginners can learn from him. This is called direct apprenticeship. When there is no one around to teach you, it is the most economical, convenient and practical way to become a "teacher" by choosing a good textbook and teaching yourself. This is indirect learning from a teacher
The so-called good textbooks are also They are copybooks by famous calligraphers that can stand the test of history, have always been recognized by calligraphers, and can truly be used as models for practice. Regular script such as "Duobao Pagoda Stele" and "Qinli Stele" by Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan's "Xuanmi Pagoda Stele", Ouyang Xun's "Jiucheng Palace Stele", Zhao Mengjia's "Dangba Stele", etc.; running script such as Wang Xizhi's " "Lanting Preface", Yan Zhenqing's "Manuscript of Nephew Memorial", Huang Tingjian's "Songfeng Pavilion Poems", Mi Fu's "Shu Su Tie", etc. These calligraphy have been highly praised by famous calligraphers and enthusiasts for thousands of years and are recognized as A good calligrapher uses these calligraphy as a model and practices it. He follows the right path of calligraphy, with a high starting point and a good style.
In addition, when selecting posts, you should also choose "posts that are suitable for yourself." The so-called "good calligraphy suitable for oneself" refers to a good calligraphy that is suitable for you. In other words, it is a copybook that you like, that is in line with your interests and hobbies, and that you have chosen, rather than a copybook that is imposed on you by a teacher or others. You must love to read and learn from the copybook that you like. , you can learn the copybooks that suit your own interests easily, and you can learn the copybooks you choose with twice the result with half the effort. This is the "personalized calligraphy method", which is a good method that can fully cater to the interests of calligraphers and develop the personality potential of calligraphers
2. Read the copybook
After selecting the copybook template, you need to read the copybook first. There is a "three-step reading method" for reading posts, which is to observe, think, and act.
(1) Observation, after selecting a good copybook model, do not rush to start writing, but first read the copybook carefully. This is a necessary process for understanding the copybook. To identify the calligraphy style of the copybook, roughly classify it to see which style type it belongs to, then discover the structural characteristics of the character Fan to see what makes it unique; finally find out the characteristics of the strokes of the character Fan and see what it is. What is its shape and appearance? After reading the copybook several times, you will have a general understanding and impression of the copybook in your mind, which will be of great benefit to the next step of studying.
(2) Thinking is the most important part. How well you write depends entirely on thinking, that is, enlightenment. Only by understanding can you write well, so practicing calligraphy is not about writing but understanding, and understanding is more important than practicing. Observe the shape of the strokes of Fan characters and think about how to use the brush to meet the requirements. Try to think clearly about how to start the pen, how to move the pen, how to close the pen, where to pause the pen, where to lift the pen, where to light it, where to weigh it, etc.; what issues should be paid attention to in the structure of a certain character, how to avoid it, how to intersperse it, How to keep the center of gravity stable, how to achieve balance between left and right, etc. must be understood clearly.
(3) Hands-on, that is, after the observation and thinking process, start to express what you see and think about on paper with pen and ink, and strive to be basically consistent in shape with the model characters on the copybook (i.e. similar in shape). Deeply understand the techniques of using pens, rules of using ink, rules of structure, etc., and then compare the copybooks to find gaps and correct deficiencies. If you repeat this many times, you will definitely make progress.