In the teaching of calligraphy copying, it often happens that individual students write as soon as they pick up the copybook, and there is no original copybook at all; Some students are serious about copybooks, but they still don't like them, and they can't grasp the root. The former can be called "copying copybooks". Its essence is to copy the words on copybooks according to one's own writing habits, ignoring the formal beauty of calligraphy works and having no teaching significance. The latter is serious, but because of the wrong method, the observation is not comprehensive and the copying is not thorough. If it is not solved, it will affect the enthusiasm of learning calligraphy. Both of them have the same characteristics, reflecting the lack of good calligraphy observation ability. Calligraphy observation ability is of great significance in calligraphy teaching, which directly affects students' appreciation of calligraphy works, personal skills training and creation. There is a saying in the book spectrum: "Those who observe it are fine, while those who imitate it are expensive", which shows the importance of observation ability in calligraphy training. It is the premise and important guarantee of calligraphy learning. When we pay attention to the Integration of College Calligraphy Textbooks published by China Academy of Fine Arts, we find that it is unique in that it plays an important role in cultivating the ability of calligraphy observation, which is one of the differences between it and ordinary calligraphy textbooks. Cultivating students' ability to observe calligraphy is an important goal of our calligraphy teaching. We believe that ordinary calligraphy learning is not only a skill learning, but also a temperament cultivation. We pay more attention to the significance of calligraphy teaching in cultivating students' abilities in all aspects.
In psychology, ability is defined as: ability is the personality and psychological characteristics needed to successfully complete an activity. Have general ability and special ability. The former is suitable for all kinds of activities, including all kinds of understanding and practice. The latter is suitable for some professional activities. (Note 1) Calligraphy observation ability is naturally a special ability, which is the ability to observe, compare, analyze and summarize calligraphy works and find out their characteristics and laws. Of course, the objects of observation also include words written by yourself or others. (Not necessarily called calligraphy) Calligraphy observation ability is different from ordinary observation ability, and people with good ordinary observation ability may not have good calligraphy observation ability. For example, a foreigner, due to different cultures, lacks practical experience and necessary theoretical guidance in calligraphy. Even if he has good observation ability, his observation and understanding of a calligraphy work can't be too profound and comprehensive, and it is more a fragmentary instinctive superficial feeling.
First, the factors that affect the observation ability of calligraphy
In order to study the factors affecting the ability of calligraphy observation, I made the following experiments with about 30 freshmen in a small class (age from 15 to 17):
Step 1: Ask the students to open the copybook "Tang Yan Zhenqing Yan Shu Qin Li Monument" and observe the word "Guang" in "Guangting" (Figure 1, which refers to this word below unless otherwise specified). All students can speak freely and summarize the characteristics of this word for ten minutes.
The second step is to enlarge the word "light" on the 17 inch color TV with a physical projector, so that all students can observe the word and summarize its characteristics for ten minutes.
The third step is to enlarge two pictures of the word "light" processed by the computer on the 17 inch color TV with a physical projector, so that all students can observe the word and summarize its characteristics for ten minutes. One picture is a straight auxiliary line, and the different colors are "light" calligraphy and painting (Figure 2);
[Reprint] [Calligraphy Jianghu Blog Information] Cultivation of Calligraphy Observation Ability
[Reprint] [Calligraphy Jianghu Blog Information] Cultivation of Calligraphy Observation Ability
The other picture is some strokes filled with different colors. (Figure 3)
[Reprint] [Calligraphy Jianghu Blog Information] Cultivation of Calligraphy Observation Ability
The fourth step, on the basis of the third step, observe according to the following requirements and describe the characteristics of the word "light" in words:
Type A: With the reference of the word "light" in European style (Figure 4) and the word "light" in Chu style (Figure 5), compare and observe the different characteristics of the word "light" in Yan style.
[Reprint] [Calligraphy Jianghu Blog Information] Cultivation of Calligraphy Observation Ability
[Reprint] [Calligraphy Jianghu Blog Information] Cultivation of Calligraphy Observation Ability
[Reprint] [Calligraphy Jianghu Blog Information] Cultivation of Calligraphy Observation Ability
Chapter two: put the word "light" on the whole monument for observation. Taking the European-style word "Guang" (Figure 4) and the Chu-style word "Guang" (Figure 5) as a reference, the characteristics of word spacing and line spacing of Yan-style word "Guang" were comparatively observed.
C-knot: divide the word "light" into two parts horizontally, and compare their proportions; In fig. 2, the relationship between the left and right of the word "light" is compared with the green vertical line as a reference.
D pen: In Figure 3, observe the characteristics of the vertical hook of the main pen, observe the characteristics of other strokes, and pay special attention to the shape of the horizontal vertical hook. In Figure 2, the horizontal inclination of the word "light" is observed with the horizontal line below it as a reference; Compare the lowest point of skimming with the lowest point of vertical hook.
E Counting white as black: From the perspective of counting white as black, observe the black-and-white relationship of the word "light" in composition, writing and pen use, and pay special attention to the interest formed by the blank outside the strokes.
The fifth step is to compare the copied works with the model essays on the copybook, then copy and sum up the experience.
Taking step one as the control group, the experimental results have the following characteristics: the observation depth of students in the five steps is directly proportional, and the effect of step four is particularly good. Through the experiment, we can draw the following factors that affect the observation ability: first, changing the size and color of model words is helpful to the in-depth observation; Second, the use of linear auxiliary lines and other auxiliary means helps to deepen observation; Third, timely summary is helpful for in-depth observation; Four, under the guidance of scientific theory, observation has been significantly improved.
Third, the method of cultivating calligraphy observation ability
As an ordinary calligraphy teaching, we should not only expand students' understanding of calligraphy, deepen their understanding of traditional excellent culture, master the methods of learning calligraphy and train their personal calligraphy skills, but also attach importance to using calligraphy to train students' abilities in observation, imagination, imitation and creativity. Needless to say, the ability to observe calligraphy is of great significance to the appreciation of calligraphy works, personal skill training and creation. Therefore, we propose the following methods to cultivate the ability of calligraphy observation:
First, use scientific theories and methods to cultivate the ability of calligraphy observation. Scientific theories and methods play a key role in cultivating calligraphy observation ability and avoiding personal blindness and one-sidedness. A foreigner mentioned above, even if he has good observation, can't observe and understand a calligraphy work too deeply. One of the reasons is that he lacks the necessary guidance of calligraphy theory, so that his knowledge and understanding only stay at the superficial level. Modern teaching emphasizes that students are the main body, teachers play a guiding role, introduce the latest research results into teaching, and guide students to guide calligraphy learning with scientific theories and methods, that is, "teach people to fish." Some of the methods I used in the above experiment originated from Mr. Qiu Zhenzhong's theory. Mr. Qiu systematically discussed his theory of spatial form of calligraphy and its application in his works, such as Form and Interpretation of Calligraphy, Calligraphy and Composition, and China Calligraphy: Technique Analysis and Training. The theory of calligraphy spatial form plays an excellent role in teaching, especially in appreciation and skill training, and its operation is simple and intuitive. Under the guidance of the spatial morphology theory of calligraphy, our observation is more systematic, clear, diverse and multi-angle. Overcome the disadvantages of being partial, one-sided and at a loss caused by superficial and simple perceptual observation. Students can acquire good calligraphy observation ability through training, and can consciously use the above methods in extracurricular study. Guiding theory also includes pedagogy, psychology, sociology and so on. Many children's calligraphy educators can use children's developmental psychology in practice and explore some effective methods to cultivate children's calligraphy observation ability in combination with the characteristics of calligraphy. For example, the calligraphy teacher of the Youth Palace in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, when teaching children to learn the basic strokes, radicals, knots and other contents of regular script, according to the characteristics of students, they teach students to observe by means of image metaphor, ballads and gestures while talking, thus cultivating students' good calligraphy observation ability.
Second, cultivate the ability of calligraphy observation through flexible and diverse means. We should be good at mobilizing all kinds of favorable factors, strengthening the stimulation of human subject and cultivating the ability of calligraphy observation. For example, make a straight auxiliary line for the copybook model, circumscribe the axes of polygons and words, draw a line of side outlines of calligraphy and painting, and fill the model with different colors. Good at using advanced teaching equipment and multimedia courseware. In Chen Zhidong's "Illustrative Art History of China, Calligraphy of Shang, Zhou, Qin and Han Dynasties" published by Bashu Calligraphy and Painting Publishing House, we saw that black and white rubbings were printed in different colors, which was refreshing and exciting. In the colorful rubbings, we found some new feelings about those seal scripts. Inspired by it, I used computer technology to make pictures of ancient stone tablets in different colors, and projected them on a physical projector or played them on a computer. Using FLASH and other software, the classic calligraphy works are processed into animations that move in the order of writing strokes, so that students can observe and understand the characteristics of calligraphy works during the movement. I scanned the copybook into the computer, processed it and made it into an auxiliary VCD for calligraphy teaching. It can be played on computer CD-ROM, VCD and DVD. Its picture quality can reach the definition of a physical projector, and it can be equipped with voice explanation and background music, and it can be enlarged when paused, which is very helpful to improve the observation quality and cultivate good calligraphy observation ability.
Third, practice and summarize. As a special ability, calligraphy observation ability needs theoretical guidance, correct methods, and constant practice and summing up experience. Under the guidance of teachers, some students can overcome their personal shortcomings and copy well, but after a period of time, they return to the original partial, one-sided and overwhelmed observation state, which requires repeated practice through correct methods, and finally form a good calligraphy observation ability. Some students can observe carefully before copying, but rarely compare their copied works with the original inscriptions, nor do they think about the essentials of observation. This is the deficiency of the summary. By checking and comparing the gap between the copied works and the original inscriptions, we can find the shortcomings of personal observation and find some shortcomings in time, which is an extremely important and easily overlooked link for beginners. Nowadays, there is often a page in the calligraphy professional newspapers and periodicals that copies works and personal experiences. From these works and articles, we can see the importance of practice and summary in cultivating observation ability. Of course, copying contains more things, such as the author's learning purpose, aesthetic orientation, methods, observation, imitation, means of expression and so on. From the perspective of calligraphy observation ability, we can see from these works that some influential calligraphers, especially young and middle-aged calligraphers, have unique copying works and can sum up their copying experience well. Not as sharp as their eyes, or their ability to observe calligraphy. You may not be able to do it if you see it, and you may not be able to do it if you don't see it. It is long-term practice that makes you sharp-eyed, sensitive to copybooks and deeply understand works. We often have this experience: when we appreciate and copy a post, we have some new experiences, which feel good, but we can only understand it inexpressibly, but soon we don't feel that way. Therefore, it is very important to capture the spiritual spark of that moment with a pen. As the old saying goes, as the sun approaches, there is a new understanding. It is extremely valuable information to record the knowledge and experience at that time in short words or even one sentence. The process of summing up in words is also a process of combing and sorting out ideas.