A New Way to Enjoy Writing with Ink and calligraphy Brushes

Discover the Joy of Japanese Shodo Made Easy
Handwritten by KONOKA（香風）

- Afflictions are the source of youthfulness -
Afflictions are weeds grown on the small paths of life,
If they grow too much they obstruct walking
And poisonous insects lurk,
But a desert without weeds would be bland.

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in this book.

I love the act of writing characters with a brush, but I felt there could be an easier, more practical way.

Writing ink characters with a brush allows you to express your thoughts and feelings not just through the font style, but also through color, which I find enjoyable. Writing on your favorite stationery or postcards lets you make new discoveries unlike traditional calligraphy.

I sincerely hope this book becomes a new source of enjoyment for you.

To help improve your skills, this book includes links and QR codes under each character to videos of the instructor actually writing them.

The videos include slow motion and shots from the instructor's perspective. Watching the variations in brush speed, brush tip movement, and more can serve as useful references. Please enjoy them along with the book.

What is Ink Calligraphy?

Japanese people have studied calligraphy since childhood.

In traditional calligraphy classes, students would grind solid ink sticks on ink stones to make their own ink, then use large and small brushes to write on rice paper. Grinding the solid ink was seen as an important, calming ritual.

"This Kanji represents SUZURI, meaning "ink stone" in Japanese."

However, nowadays for efficiency people often use pre-made bottled ink for brush writing practice. The ink stone is just used to hold the ink and control the amount on the brush.

This kind of traditional calligraphy practice, originating long ago, is still commonly done today both by adults and in community centers around the country.

So why only black and red ink?

I love the act of writing characters with a brush, but I felt there could be an easier, more practical way.

So I wondered if using ink to write with a brush could allow self-expression not just through font style, but also through color. This led me to name it "ink calligraphy."

Writing on your favorite stationery, postcards, or blank paper is a different kind of fun from traditional calligraphy, resulting in something more personal than printer output.

Using a variety of inks as a form of individual expression could further expand creativity.

In art, paint is used with brushes, but using ink for calligraphy opens up new joys beyond variations in black ink tone.

For example, when traveling, a small bottle of ink and brush are easy to carry. Capturing sights and feelings in suitable colored letters could enhance the travel experience.

Slowly and casually add color and enjoyment to daily life.

Won't you join me in the fun of "Adult Ink Calligraphy"?

I've included examples on various papers using various inks.
Please enjoy them freely.

I have one request - please go easy on critiquing the freeform poems and such.

The purpose is to have fun. Consider the amateurish examples as just that.

Let's focus on enjoying our time together through the shapes and methods of writing, not competing.

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