Shodo (Japanese calligraphy)

In need of some kind of artistic release/expression, I've started studying shodo, or Japanese calligraphy. It sort of found me because one of my students at Hello School is a shodo master and asked me if I'd like to try it. I did, and I love it! It's amazing how you can communicate so many emotions through one Kanji. It's also really helping me with my line quality and I've started practicing suibokuga (painting with just the Japanese black ink "sumi").

I'm very luck to have found Junko (my sensei) and her husband Yoshichi, they've been like my host family here. They are very generous and always willing to teach me new things about their culture.

kin (gold) moku (ground)
hana (flower)

Junko sensei

Some of Junko's brushes. You can't tell from the photo but they are about 2 feet long and cost around $2000.

practice


kokoro(heart) yumi (dream)