Shodo Board #2



Welcome to the second installment of the Shodo Board. This month once again features two guest artists, though not the same two as last month. Marc and Matthew have gone twice now during their stay to practice shodo with me at Harano sensei's house in Shingu. In the course of only two weeks, sensei was more than a little pleased with their progress. Out of the large stack of inked 和紙 (washi= Japanese paper) we chose a representative piece to mark our progress. Matthew took to Shodo like a frog to water, quickly mastering the important first stroke "一" (ichi= one). It took me months to write "一" half that well. Marc's contribution "山" (yama= mountain) is remarkable not just for it's balance, but he managed to produce it at all in spite of it being written under the close supervision and incomprehensible tutelage of three older women who were also practicing that day who repeatedly adjusted his grip, posture and patience. My contribution is the fifth of seven sheets, each containing six strokes or kanji using the basic strokes, that I was given to work on before I can move on to more difficult strokes. This particular piece is a corrected version that I am particularly proud of, as there is usually significantly more orange corrective ink on the sheets I turn in.
Marc and Matthew will be returning home with the materials needed for doing shodo back home. I hope, for everyone's sake, that they do.
Thank you for tuning in to another edition of Shodo Board. Until next time.

Posted: Wed - August 17, 2005 at 05:36 PM        

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