Teaching from the origin of calligraphy to the evolution of calligraphy, then understanding the four treasures of the study, and then learning the pen holding posture, and finally starting from dots and strokes.
Ten important steps to learn calligraphy:
1. Start practicing from the most basic strokes, solidify the basic skills, have a comprehensive understanding of calligraphy, and regard calligraphy as a kind of art. Use hobbies to cultivate your own sentiments.
2. Learn to appreciate calligraphy. If you don’t have the most basic aesthetic appreciation of calligraphy, there is no need to learn calligraphy at all. Therefore, when learning calligraphy, you must be good at pondering those inscriptions recommended by predecessors, and distinguish which calligraphy is truly good work on the basis of eliminating the false and preserving the true. Then selectively start copying copybooks and enter the basic stage of learning.
Third, we must understand the connotation of fonts and compositions from the copybooks, as well as their unique characteristics. Each calligrapher's font has his own style, as people often say, "The words are like the person they are."
Choose a style of calligraphy for targeted practice, gather your own writing habits, use your imagination in strokes, and write your own style. There is no need to follow the rules.
Fourth, practice calligraphy based on your own personality characteristics and create your own calligraphy style. Calligraphy is an art. The literary and art circles hope that those who are good at it will be better than those who are good at it. The same is true for calligraphy. It is best to be able to write in official script, seal script, regular script, running script and cursive script. Only one style of calligraphy can write at a high level, so that you can be versatile in one specialty. .
5. To learn calligraphy, you need to have a comprehensive understanding of the evolution history of ancient Chinese characters. For example, what style of writing did seal script evolve from, and what style of writing did regular script evolve from.
These need to be understood during study. Only by understanding these common sense can we grasp the correct brushwork and structure from their structure and strokes when copying.
6. We must correctly understand the difference between the fonts of the inscriptions and the fonts of the copybooks. The stele calligraphy is a rubbing made by ancient calligraphers. The engraver carved the fonts on the stone stele. It is generally difficult to grasp the strength and movement of the writing at that time. Therefore, one must be good at finding out the flesh and soul of the fonts from the stele calligraphy.
7. Be good at understanding the artistic conception of the entire work at the time of creation from the composition of the calligraphy style. For example, Ouyang Xun's "Jiucheng Palace Liquan Inscription" was created under what background. Also, what was the environment and background when Wang Xizhi's "Lanting Preface" was created.
If we find out the reasons for the stories from these long-lasting inscriptions, it will be of great benefit to us in appreciating and copying the works.
8. Always practice those difficult strokes, skillfully control fonts with complex structures, and write fonts that combine public aesthetics. Do not be unconventional or put the cart before the horse, as this will lead you astray and end up writing the wrong fonts. The font is divorced from the origin of calligraphy.
9. It is necessary to practice the charm of calligraphy, rather than every stroke being exactly the same. As long as the form is similar, it will be enough. If it can be written with both form and spirit, it will be another realm.
10. You must pay attention to the composition. If you write well but do not pay attention to the composition, you will be like a straggler. The composition is the highest expression of the structure of calligraphy. Only by comparing the written fonts in a relatively complete composition can the overall skill of calligraphy be seen.
Extended information:
Chinese calligraphy art began in the production stage of Chinese characters. "Sounds cannot be transmitted to different places and stay in different times, so words are born. Writers, so they are Traces of meaning and sound" (Yu Chu "Shu Lin Zao Jian", compiled by Ma Zonghuo) Therefore, writing was produced. The first works of calligraphy were not words, but carved symbols, hieroglyphs or pictorial characters.
The engraved symbols of Chinese characters first appeared on pottery. The initial characterization symbol only represented a rough concept of chaos and had no exact meaning.
The evolution of calligraphy generally refers to the evolution of calligraphy fonts. Generally speaking, the Wei and Jin Dynasties were not only the end period of calligraphy style, but also the period of integration of calligraphy techniques.
Chinese calligraphy has a long history, the style of calligraphy has evolved, and the art of calligraphy is fascinating. From oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions to large seal script, small seal script, and official script, to the cursive script, regular script, and running script of the Eastern Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties, calligraphy has always exuded unique artistic charm.
From hieroglyphics to oracle bone inscriptions, the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the Spring and Autumn Period, and the Han Dynasty's bamboo and silk ink and red ink handwriting, Tang Kai's legal code, the Song Dynasty's Shangyi, the Yuan and Ming Dynasty's Shangtai, and the disputes over stele and inscriptions in the Qing Dynasty.
Reference material: Baidu Encyclopedia-Calligraphy