Friedrich Zettl

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calligraphy in blue

Your opinion please!

experimental calligraphy

There are many good artists here on WordPress and I find the work of quite a few of you very exciting. I know, of course, that most of you have not studied the art of Chinese calligraphy very intensively. So I would be all the more interested in whether the work I’ve been doing lately works can be appreciated by art lovers who do not come from that culture.

This is no “fishing for compliments”, but in times of Covid-19, exchanging thoughts on the internet is particularly helpful I think. So not the technical part of the brushwork but the question of whether the optical appearance is visually appealing and arouses interest or if is considered strange, weird, or no interest.

Thank you and happy work for 2021!

more such works in the calligraphy category. related posting

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Comments

25 responses to “Your opinion please!”

  1. China Dream avatar
    China Dream

    Hi. I understand, personally I like the abstract of what you do.. not all or every one appeals to me, but because i am partial to ab abstract art, I find what you don must interesting. We are all unique in how we express ourselves.. You combine, words and pictures, allowing for another version of what IS.

    Reply
  2. zettl.fr avatar
    zettl.fr

    Thank you so much for your kind remarks! All the best for 2021!

    Reply
  3. Janice Scott avatar
    Janice Scott

    I have no training in Chinese calligraphy but I can definitely appreciate the skill it takes to create the work that you do. I love the fluidity of the lines and the intricate construction of the words. I find looking at this work very inspirational and I really hope that you do a lot more this year! Maybe you could do a video/YouTube demonstrating how you make your art. I have watched videos of people painting fish and dragons with one brush, which is fabulous to watch.

    Reply
  4. Friedrich avatar
    Friedrich

    Thank you so much, Janice, for yor kind words! Much appreciated! Yes, a video sure would be useful. I will get me a new homepage/theme on wordpress with a more modern touch which makes using other media easier.

    I check your nice works from time to time and always find it inspiring to look at other people’s artrork closer. As mentioned I do traditional Chinese calligraphy since decades ( even studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing). But for many years I did not see modern Chinese calligraphy that struck me – but the Japanese, yes.

    Sure I will do more and will add some from time to time at my homepage. Good luck! f

    Reply
  5. artcraiglongmuir avatar
    artcraiglongmuir

    Hi Friedrich,
    It was great to see you were interested in my art. Can I say I’m a real fan of ink brush drawing and I like the way you manage the thick and thin lines in your calligraphy, it shows confidence and control. I also like your compositions. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    1. zettl.fr avatar
      zettl.fr

      Hi, thank you! The first of your works which struck me was the landscape with ink only. Wonderful light! I have to learn from you 🙂 Not sure if you checked my landscape paintings. You might find one or the other worth looking at it. One series is at https://zettl.blog/landscapes-iv/ Have a great time ahead!

      Reply
      1. artcraiglongmuir avatar
        artcraiglongmuir

        Hi Friedrich, I’ve just seen your landscape ink paintings. I liked your brush work a lot and the way you manage ink and water together. Your Chinese mentor taught you well. I get my Hahnemuhle Sumi-e paper online: https://www.artifolk.co.uk/hahnemuhle-sumi-e-80gsm-paper-pad-24-x-32cm-89638.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZDRLjnH2LkWrn8ZAVpvVnHZthYWq4TmeyEnAeqdvVHdiWmV3np-Z7hoCAVkQAvD_BwE
        I tried to attach a link, but if you google search there are quite a few sites.

      2. zettl.fr avatar
        zettl.fr

        Thank you very much! The link works fine and I will order. I actually have tons of paper whcih I bought ich China 30 years ago 🙂 But sure you know that trying a new kind of paper is always fascinating. Thanks and good luck! Friedrich

    2. SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ avatar
      SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ

      Dear Friedrich Zettl 狐胡,

      I very much concur with Craig. This is almost as if you are conducting a poll on what your readers like or dislike about your chosen nine calligraphic works here. Since I have both painted a great deal and also practised Chinese calligraphy (diligently for about 13 years in my youth), I shall offer some feedback to you.

      Seven of them do appeal to me in their style and composition, which are executed with confidence and authority. The one in the middle is my most favourite; and the one to its right is a close second. The first two works are my third and fourth favourite respectively.

      The two that do not appeal to me are at the bottom left and bottom right, mainly due to the kind of painted backgrounds that you have chosen — backgrounds that in these particular cases happen to poorly gel and significantly interfere with the Chinese words above them visually, texturally, compositionally and aesthetically. Nevertheless, the aforementioned seven fare very well and are quite appealing to me.

      I would be delighted if you could kindly reciprocate in kind by submitting a comment to my post entitled “🖼 Illustrating Paleolithic Emotions; Medieval Institutions; and God-like Technology 😱🏰🚀” in the service of providing your personal and professional opinions regarding my ten illustrations there. The post is published at

      https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2022/01/24/illustrating-paleolithic-emotions-medieval-institutions-and-god-like-technology/

      Thank you in anticipation.

      Yours sincerely,
      SoundEagle🦅

      Reply
      1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
        Zettl Fine Arts

        Thank you so much, SoundEagle 🦅, for your helpful feedback! As already mentioned, it’s a very old article that shouldn’t have resurfaced. I can do “better” calligraphy now, but I was playing around with a challenge and should have communicated that better in my article.

        Kind regards and all the best! ❤️

    3. SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ avatar
      SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ

      Dear Friedrich Zettl 狐胡,

      I forgot to mention that the ten illustrations in my said post entitled “🖼 Illustrating Paleolithic Emotions; Medieval Institutions; and God-like Technology 😱🏰🚀” can be individually enlarged for better viewing by clicking on each of them. They are all produced in ultrahigh resolutions, and their actual sizes are much larger than even a desktop computer screen.

      Yours sincerely,
      SoundEagle🦅

      Reply
      1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
        Zettl Fine Arts

        Dear SoundEagle🦅 Thank you so much for the link to your wonderful article, which I just commented on. Yes, medieval thinking. Even more so, prehistoric, because we are still hunters, gatherers, and trappers. We are particularly adept at the latter (from the advertising industry to cosmetic surgery; internet scams alone demonstrate an impressive range of “traps”): All the best and thanks again!

  6. hacked 2 times in 1 day

    […] Part II of hacked 2 times – your opinion, please – short question on video […]

    Reply
  7. David Milligan-Croft avatar
    David Milligan-Croft

    Hi Friedrich,
    Although I’m no expert in Chinese calligraphy, I do appreciate the aesthetic, regardless of whether I understand what they say. I particularly like the first one with blue in. The way the ink moves from light to dark and the strokes from thin to thick. They contain an energy (flow) to them. But I like them all.

    Reply
    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
      Zettl Fine Arts

      397
      Thank you so much, David, for your kind words! Actually, this is a very old article and shouldn’t have reappeared. I’m currently fixing bugs on my blog – orphaned pages – and it seems the article reappeared in the process. I hope my readers haven’t received any others as well. Sometimes WordPress does strange things… Best regards and all the best!

      Reply
  8. Misky avatar
    Misky

    I am drawn to “Calligraphy in Blue Ink”. If I were a customer, that’s the one I’d buy. White background sets the characters into a sort of levitation; sends them off dancing. The “wet” appearance of the others is less appreciated by my eyes. I’d love to see more like Calligraphy in Blue Ink. ❤️

    Reply
    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
      Zettl Fine Arts

      Thank you so much, Marilyn, for your kind words! This is yet another WordPress trick: this ancient article shouldn’t have reappeared – very embarrassing. I’m currently fixing errors on my blog – orphaned pages – and it seems the article has reappeared in the process. I hope my readers haven’t received any others as well. Sometimes WordPress does strange things… Best regards and all the best! ❤️

      Reply
      1. Misky avatar
        Misky

        Laughing!! I’m in a hotel room overlooking the Seine, and replying to orphaned posts from the past. I love it.

      2. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
        Zettl Fine Arts

        Ha ha! But overlooking the Seine sounds great! Enjoy your stay! 🙏🎶☀️🍷

  9. Ashley avatar
    Ashley

    You might have posted this in 2021 but the post is still relevant for me, especially as I also read the comments from others. Is calligraphy a thing of the past…is it still relevant today in 2026? YES & YES & hope you are continuing to practice. Best wishes, Ashley 🌿

    (Is there something in the air besides pollen, as this is the 2nd post I’ve read today about Chinese calligraphy. Is it a sign?)

    Reply
    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
      Zettl Fine Arts

      Thank you so much, Ashley, for your kind understanding! I think I know now why that happened. Yes, I still practice calligraphy and will intensify it in the summer. I bought an incredibly beautiful inkslab in Yunnan and haven’t tried it out yet.

      When Chinese calligraphy is in the air, that’s certainly more pleasant than pollen 🙂

      Best regards and all the best!

      Reply
  10. julianeus avatar
    julianeus

    La meva filla és molt amant de la cal·ligrafia xinesa i li agradaria. Particularment a mi, ho trobo molt visual artísticament parlant.

    Reply
    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
      Zettl Fine Arts

      Moltes gràcies! M’alegro molt que la teva filla estigui activament interessada en la cal·ligrafia xinesa!

      És un exercici molt important, similar a aprendre un instrument musical difícil. Salutacions cordials des de Viena!

      Reply
  11. Stan Stewart - muz4now avatar
    Stan Stewart – muz4now

    I enjoyed seeing this in my notifications. I don’t care that you wrote/painted it in 2021. These are lovely pieces. No need for me to choose. I’ll just enjoy them all!

    Reply
    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar
      Zettl Fine Arts

      Thank you for your always kind words and understanding! Next time I will show better ones but first I should fix my wp issues. All the best, Stan! 🎶☀️🍷

      Reply

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