PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 337
I picked up a fude brush pen to mess around with writing some kanji. I see there are some videos available on learning Japanese calligraphy but they use a traditional brush. Are the techniques the same as when using a smaller brush pen? I think the techniques are transferrable(how to manipulate the brush to create the different stroke endings, etc) but I just want to ask someone who has experience in the matter. Thanks.
rich_f
Member
From: north carolina
Registered: 2007-07-12
Posts: 1708
Fudepens are generally stiffer and harder to use to get good strokes out of than real brushes. You'll probably find that a real brush is a lot easier to use. Get the right tool for the job. In this case a decent $15 brush is better than a $25 fudepen.
If your goal is to learn 書道, then find a good teacher/group (there are some great teachers in NYC! OMG!), get a brush (doesn't have to be a $100 brush), and get cracking.
If you just want to make your RTK reviews more interesting (no crime in that), then a fudepen is fine. Just don't expect miracles, because fudepens have artificial hair, which is much stiffer than the hair in a regular brush.
PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 337
Actually, the fude pen I picked up is a disposable one I got for $5 at Kinokuniya in NYC. I think that if I got a caligraphy set that I'd just make a mess of things without proper instruction (the ink would be all over the place :>). If I ever get the time, I'll look up a teacher like you suggested. I found some books on using a fude pen on Amazon Japan. Though I haven't seen any tutorial like videos on the net. If anyone knows of any. please let us know. I really like the set of videos by the NHK on regular handwriting.
edit:Thanks kainzero for the video link!
Last edited by PotbellyPig (2012 April 26, 3:51 pm)
rich_f
Member
From: north carolina
Registered: 2007-07-12
Posts: 1708
TV Japan did a piece about an excellent 書道 teacher in NYC. Totally forgot her name, but I have it on my DVR. I'll dig it up and post the info if you're interested later today. She's an excellent calligrapher, and seems to be a nice person, too.
I've had a lot of fun studying both Chinese and Japanese calligraphy in group settings. Not formal group classes per se, but just groups of people that get together for calligraphy instruction where it's offered. I like the teachers I'm working with now, because they're different, with different approaches, and the people I meet are generally pretty laid-back.
I've been studying for around 6 years now, and I've gotten a lot out of it in the sense of meeting interesting people and having fun trying to get better at something that is at times really freaking hard. But it also improves my appreciation of the language. (Right now, I'm also taking some lessons from a nice person who's teaching me how to write poetry in hiragana, and we're doing the lessons all in Japanese. Two or three birds, one stone. Poetry, calligraphy, and Japanese. Woot.)
vileru
Member
From: Cambridge, MA
Registered: 2009-07-08
Posts: 750
@OP and fudepen veterans
What books/resources have you found most helpful? Since writing letters is such a big part of the culture here, I'd very much like to learn how to write with a fudepen. Nonetheless, although I admire calligraphy using the traditional tools, I can't be bothered with all the supplies, preparations, and cleanup involved. I suspect there's others like me, so please come forth and share!
PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 337
I agree wih you. Seems a fudepen is quicker and cleaner, especially if you have not been properly trained. I found this book on amazon.co.jp http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%9B%B8%E3%81 … amp;sr=8-6 White Rabbit Express also recommends (and sells) this particular book for using a fudepen. There are a few other books related to it on amazon. I haven't seen a good tutorial video that goes through the basic strokes.
rich_f: The calligraphy sessions seem like they would be fun but I would need a lot of free time to devote to it. I'll keep it in the back of my mind for the future.
Last edited by PotbellyPig (2012 April 27, 10:10 am)
