Calligraphy

[robinturner]

I've just watched a video Nalan took of her calligraphy teacher, Doğan Çilingir, in action. I had no idea Arabic calligraphy was so precise - every line and curve is measured against itself and the others by pen-widths. While watching someone write a line very slowly sounds only slightly more interesting than watching paint dry, I was enthralled. Nalan wants me to try it, but I doubt if it's possible for left-handers: even though for once I'd have the ease of pulling a pen instead of pushing it, I think all the angles would come out wrong.

Although I generally enjoy my generalist lifestyle, sometimes I envy those people who can do one thing really well.


"Maşallah", from Doğan Çilingir's website.

Comments

[vret.livejournal.com]

Very nice.

Didn't you used to do chinese calligraphy?

[solri.livejournal.com]

Yes, though not very well - partly the left-handedness problem again, and partly the fact that I lacked the patience to spend several months learning to write a single straight line.

Maybe one day I shall devise a special alphabet for left-handers. I could call it "sinister script".

[subbes]

Please do.

[asteriskhere.livejournal.com]

I'm left-handed too.

Hey! Generalist lifestyle! THAT'S what I am, a generalist. I feel much better now. :)

[hfx-ben.livejournal.com]

I've had the pleasure of seeing two masters do caligraphy (both Japanese), Eido Roshi and Shibata, Sensei (20th generation samurai and bow-maker to the Emperor). Both times I was impressed by the, ummmm, elan, the vigour with which they did the deed ... tempted to say "the energy with which they attacked" but it wasn't at all agressive; it was as though an exhilirated gusto.
I think of the Arabic (and the Christian, for that matter) as being a good deal more dispassionate ... technical.