abstract composition with four objects

painted calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy and modern expression

Since I’m not Chinese, one might wonder why I attach so much importance to this aspect of art. There are essentially 3 reasons: I consider traditional Chinese calligraphy to be one of the most challenging and superior art forms. Only after years of diligent practice can you reach a level that is satisfactory for yourself and for the trained viewer.

Probably no living calligrapher, whether Chinese or Westerner, is enough to match the former great Chinese masters. The challenge for living artists is to create something that at least honors the old ideas and also conveys modern content.

overpainted calligraphy

Another personal reason is that calligraphy itself is a challenge, with the mastery of which I can see in myself whether and how far I am developing. This can best be compared to classical music. For years you play certain pieces by Bach, for example, and based on the theoretical and practical implementation you can see whether there is progress or you are standing still.

traditional calligraphy

And thirdly, for me personally, it is the ideal medium to explore the new territory of abstract art from my earlier years of figurative painting. In addition to this modern work, I also try to advance in traditional calligraphy.


More of this in calligraphy Related posting

Comments

24 responses to “painted calligraphy”

  1. Ashley avatar

    There are a good many “likes” but no comments for this amazing post. Why?
    I find your expression of honouring the old ideas but conveying modern content, to be perfectly acceptable for moving forward in any creative form. I’m reminded of a book by Stephen Addiss “The Art of Zen” and wish I could follow your example of calligraphy, both traditional and as a modern expression.

    1. zettl.fr avatar

      Thank you Ashley for your kind words. Yes, Stephen Addiss “The Art of Zen” is very good and there are a number of other important books on it. I’ve been dealing with it for over 40 years now and have got the impression that topics like Zen in general arouse interest in western art lovers, but the philosophy behind them is too difficult to understand. If you haven’t done the calligraphy yourself, you can only understand part of the subject. Even with paintings, we usually cling too much to colors and themes …..

    2. SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ avatar

      Dear Friedrich Zettl 狐胡 and Ashley,

      I have enjoyed very much your many conversations conducted here and also elsewhere in this and other blogs.

      I concur with you that the art of Chinese Calligraphy (書法) is akin to writing traditional Chinese characters with a paintbrush. It is a very difficult skill to master, often requiring ten years or more for one to become a decent expert. In any case, Friedrich, I enjoy the quality of your samples of rather traditional calligraphy that you created recently.

      My own foray into Chinese Calligraphy can be seen in my following post entitled “Strong Wind Knows Tough Grass“:

      https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2020/11/11/strong-wind-knows-tough-grass/

      In addition, one wonders whether you would be able to identify what school of Chinese Calligraphy mine belongs to. In other words, I would like to ask you for a favour, expressed in Chinese as follows:

      敬請指點我的毛筆字。請到標題是“💨 Strong Wind Knows Tough Grass 🌾 疾風知勁草”的那篇文章留言,讓聲鷹知道該文章開端展示的書法是顏體,歐體,字柳體,還是魏碑。如果您不確定,請麻煩您徵詢漫遊者和希琳娜或其他人的意見。謝謝!

      You are welcome to leave your respective answers by submitting your comment to my said post. I would be very delighted by your identification of the style of my Chinese Calligraphy. Please feel free to critique other aspects of my said post.

      Happy November to both of you!

      Yours sincerely,
      SoundEagle

  2. Asgar Molla avatar

    Very nice drawing

    1. zettl.fr avatar

      Thank you so much, Asgar! Your kind words mean a lot to me! All the best!

  3. Anand Bose avatar

    Dear Sir, Thank you for introducing me to Chinese Calligraphy. Your work is beautiful to peruse.

    1. zettl.fr avatar

      Thank you so much Anand! I am so happy to hear this….

      1. Anand Bose avatar

        You are welcome Sir

  4. Anam Gour avatar

    I need your help me please🙏🙏

    1. zettl.fr avatar

      Sure, please let me know how I can help!

      1. Anam Gour avatar

        Mail please🙏

  5. King kong avatar

    Do you have Instagram account?

    1. zettl.fr avatar

      I think I have one 🙂 But I never use it because I cannot post anything from my PC anymore. Seems possible only from cell phone. Stupid system 🙂

  6. King kong avatar

    no Its possible on pc

  7. zettl.fr avatar

    I tried several times….When I opened an account 3-4 years ago it was possible to post from my PC. A few month ago I tried again (several times) – nada. I asked a friend and he also said not possible. The function “posting” does not work. I will try again…..

    1. King kong avatar

      hmm ok

    2. King kong avatar

      here its my account…..m.kingkong321

  8. King kong avatar

    ok goodbye i’am gonna sleep now …so goodbye take care ….

    1. zettl.fr avatar

      you too! GN

  9. zettl.fr avatar

    I am following you now – no problem at all. I hust cannot post anything….

  10. SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ avatar

    Dear Friedrich Zettl 狐胡 and Ashley,

    This is my second attempt at submitting this comment.

    I have enjoyed very much your many conversations conducted here and also elsewhere in this and other blogs.

    I concur with you that the art of Chinese Calligraphy (書法) is akin to writing traditional Chinese characters with a paintbrush. It is a very difficult skill to master, often requiring ten years or more for one to become a decent expert. In any case, Friedrich, I enjoy the quality of your samples of rather traditional calligraphy that you created recently.

    My own foray into Chinese Calligraphy can be seen in my following post entitled “Strong Wind Knows Tough Grass“:

    https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2020/11/11/strong-wind-knows-tough-grass/

    In addition, one wonders whether you would be able to identify what school of Chinese Calligraphy mine belongs to. In other words, I would like to ask you for a favour, expressed in Chinese as follows:

    敬請指點我的毛筆字。請到標題是“💨 Strong Wind Knows Tough Grass 🌾 疾風知勁草”的那篇文章留言,讓聲鷹知道該文章開端展示的書法是顏體,歐體,字柳體,還是魏碑。如果您不確定,請麻煩您徵詢漫遊者和希琳娜或其他人的意見。謝謝!

    You are welcome to leave your respective answers by submitting your comment to my said post. I would be very delighted by your identification of the style of my Chinese Calligraphy. Please feel free to critique other aspects of my said post.

    Happy November to both of you!

    Yours sincerely,
    SoundEagle

    1. Zettl avatar

      Thank you very much! I am so happy to see someone else doing Chinese calligraphy! Yours is very beautiful and I will comment in your site shortly.

  11. SoundEagle 🦅ೋღஜஇ avatar

    Dear Friedrich,

    Hello! I have just submitted two comments a few minutes ago and they have disappeared, probably mistakenly identified as spams. Please kindly unspam it from

    https://zettl.blog/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=spam

    The comment needs to be unspammed and also requires your approval before it will show up properly. Thank you.

    This comment relates to my Chinese Calligraphy.

    Yours sincerely,
    SoundEagle

    1. Zettl avatar

      朋友你好,

      首先,非常感谢您的客气话和金额!

      Your answers should now be visible to everyone. I’m sorry for the delay in activation! Since I live in Austria there is a time difference.
      I have now also seen some posts on your blog, thanks for that. The article depicting the Tang Empire in particular was very instructive for me.

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