How to Make Japanese Calligraphy Art
If your walls are begging for an Asian touch, this guide will help you decorate like the Far East on a shoestring budget.
Instructions
- Step 1: Choose a character Choose an easy Japanese character, like the character for an emotion or an adjective that contains between three to six lines or strokes.
- TIP: Avoid complex sentences or passages from poetry or music -- often the translation isn't exact and can make for an awkward meaning.
- Step 2: Find a work area Find an open work area free of any obstructions and don your smock in case you spill ink.
- Step 3: Prepare work station Fill the suzuri with ink and then lay out a fresh sheet of rice paper using the weight to hold it in place as you work.
- TIP: Use a different medium, such as pottery, garden stones, or different colored inks.
- Step 4: Practice writing Practice writing the character several times on scrap paper, especially if you're trying it for the first time on pottery or a personal item.
- Step 5: Recreate character Recreate the character by studying the strokes or lines it took to make it, and then repeat. Be careful and be patient.
- Step 6: Frame and hang Frame your masterpiece and hang it anywhere. You may also group several characters together on one page to create variety and interest.
- FACT: Japan has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 99 percent for all residents over the age of 15.
You Will Need
- Japanese character
- Workspace
- Smock
- Suzuri ink stone
- Sumi ink
- Rice paper
- Heavy stone or paper weight
- Medium-sized calligraphy brush
- Scrap paper
- Patience
- Frame
- Pottery (optional)
- Garden stones (optional)