How to learn calligraphy without confusion

Calligraphy is a rigorous skill. If you want to write it well, you must follow certain rules. Don't be fooled by the so-called "Jianghu calligraphy".

Most friends who are new to China's calligraphy are confused, which leads to slow progress. So how do you learn? What's the order? Let's talk today.

First, learn from official books.

To learn calligraphy, you must first choose what style of calligraphy you like. It is usually recommended to start with what you like, but the premise must be official script (seal script). Why? Because these fonts are neat and standardized, their glyphs are correct, their stippling is clear, and they have their own strict statutes in structure and brushwork, so they can't be too casual. In fact, the purpose of starting with books is to lay a solid foundation, exercise the stability and strength of stroke lines, and accurately grasp the knot. These are the basic skills that must be passed. It is more efficient and easier to learn cursive script after learning the main book. If the cart before the horse, learning will be meaningless and futile.

Second, from Hong Miao to Linlin.

What should I do after choosing my favorite book? I believe many friends will start writing at once, but they will find that the lines written are crooked, which really hurts confidence. Copying is a traditional calligraphy method. Copying refers to description, that is, looking at copybook writing. This is a process from shallow to deep. At first, tracing simulated characters on the red copybook is conducive to mastering pen control, becoming familiar with the characteristics of strokes and knots, and gradually becoming familiar with them, forming muscle memory. With a certain foundation, it will be easier to recite copybooks again, and the confidence in writing good words will be enough. Pro and tracing are a mutual process.

Third, words from big to small.

After choosing a copybook, you should pay attention to the size of the words you write. Many people like the exquisite flying head fine print, which is really beautiful but not suitable for beginners. Instead, it should be the most appropriate to choose the words 6 cm up and down like large letters. Why? First of all, only in this way can the details of strokes be fully displayed, which is more helpful for the study of brushwork, and the structure space is properly arranged and easy to observe; Secondly, the works preserved by Yan Zhenqing and other regular script writers in the Tang Dynasty are similar in size, which can better feel the writing state of calligraphers; Finally, calligraphy pays attention to the use of wrist movement skills, and the fine print relies on the fingers to force it, which is easy to become rigid. When the basic skills of big characters are practiced, it is natural to learn small characters.

Fourth, the writing speed is from slow to fast.

Maybe many people have the misconception that writing fast is very powerful. Actually, it's not entirely correct. The style of a book determines the speed of writing. Such as seal script and official script, the pen speed is relatively slow, so as to show the round and even lines on the front in place; Regular script, faster writing speed, more obvious twists and turns; It's faster to walk on the grass, and you don't have to be tired. Where's the novice? Don't be greedy at first, honestly write every stroke in place and master the brushwork. When you get familiar with it, you will get faster and faster. If you write quickly from the beginning and the strokes and lines are not strong at all, then you are not writing calligraphy.