3 Benefits by Good Characters

Recommended Calligraphy and Sumi-e Paper

Administrator — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:14:31 +0000

Special Top Grade Calligraphy and Painting Paper Roll Small: Approx. 50 feet long and 12 inches wide. Use it for your daily practice or group project like this. You can crop it to any length you desire.

Our bamboo paper, also known as Maubian (毛邊) paper, is made from real bamboo. It’s superior to regular paper because bamboo paper absorbs the ink, doesn’t bleed through, and gives a single brush stroke many tones and gradients. 50 sheets/pack. 6 boxes/sheet. It is great for practicing calligraphy and painting.

This felt mat is called “Dianbu” in Chinese and “Shitajiki” in Japanese. This mat provides a comfortable surface to work on that also prevents ink from bleeding on your work surface by aborbing ink.

Fancy Brushes

Administrator — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:00:57 +0000

Are you looking for fancy looking yet high quality brushes? Many retail stores sell fancy but low-grade brushes. They are fine if you want to display them rather than use them. However, real artists with trained eyes know that these types of brushes simply are not worth the money saved. The following are some of our best and most unique looking brushes. The prices of our high-grade brushes are better than the cost of some of the lower-grade brushes sold in retail stores because we eliminate middle men and our office and warehouse space costs less than an expensive retail store front. Many beginners opt for cheap brushes thinking they will buy better ones when their skill improves. However, a low quality brush does not perform and it will hinder your efforts and can even discourage you from continuing. In many ways it’s more important for a beginner to have a good brush that will make learning easy.

Bamboo. Bamboo.

Combination Dipper Brush Large

This is a combination brush with a long tip and medium hardness. The bamboo handle is made of natural bamboo with two or more grooves. No two brushes are identical. Ideal for Xing (semi-cursive writing), Grass (cursive writing), and Kai (standard writing).

Combination Dipper Brush Small

A smaller version of the above. The tip is about an inch shorter. This is also considered a long tip, medium hardness, combination brush. The bamboo handle is made of natural bamboo and has multiple grooves. No two brushes are identical. Ideal for Kai script (standard writing).

Destiny Brush Large
Destiny Medium
Destiny Small

A series of long tip, medium hardness, combination brushes. The bamboo handle has grooves and water buffalo horn ferrule. Brushes are made of natural bamboo and no two brushes are identical. Ideal for Xing (semi-cursive writing), Grass (cursive writing), and Kai (standard writing).

Dragon. Dragon.

Dragon Brush Large

Dragon Brush Medium

Fluid Dragon Brush Small

These 3 brushes have dark handles that look mysterious and bring to mind a black dragon. The brush includes ox ear hair. These are 3 of the few brushes we carry that have ox ear hair.

The Emperor and I.

Royal Brush Large

Royal Brush Medium

Royal Brush Small

These are 3 medium tip, combination, hard brushes. Unique brush handle colors are red and dark brown, inspired by the royal brushes used by emperors. Good for writing Kai, Xing, and Grass scripts.

Hopelessly Romantic.

Romantic Poetry & Painting Brush Large

Romantic Poetry & Painting Brush Small

These are two brushes designed for poets or artists who are hopelessly romantic. The color tone of the brushes is soft and creamy. Ideal for writing as well as drawing.
Small and Beautiful.

Prosperous Writing Brush Medium

Long Life Pine-Crane Brush Small

These two brushes are similar in style and very fine in grade. The water buffalo horn ferrules hold the brush tip better than imitation plastic ones sold by others.

The Treasure of Shaolin.

Shaolin Treasure Brush Large

Shaolin Treasure Brush Medium

Shaolin Treasure Brush Small

Not related to Shaolin Temple in China. These are unique brushes; the entire handle is made of horn with natural pattern and crack lines. Don’t confuse this collection with cheap imitation brushes that have handles made of plastics or acrylics.

What’s with the grid?

Administrator — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:07:35 +0000

The grid you’ll notice behind the Chinese characters is used by school children learning calligraphy.

Chinese Alphabet?

Administrator — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:59:47 +0000

There is no such thing as Chinese alphabet. But, just for fun, I have selected characters that that can be used like code.

Once you learn how to use this writing system, you no longer have to worry about others reading your diary or other secrets! The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean can read it, but the combination of characters won’t make sense to them. And people who cannot read Chinese won’t even try to read it. Isn’t it cool?

How are these symbols selected?

Symbols are selected based on their visual similarity to corresponding English alphabet letters. Only real Chinese characters are used. Only characters that are positive or neutral in meaning are included.

Click the following links to see Chinese Alphabet.

Links:

Our Most Popular Symbol Stamp: Love

Administrator — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:58:22 +0000

Chinese, Japanese kanji, and Korean hanja symbol for LOVE. This high-quality self-inking stamp is completely self-contained in an impact-resistant, durable case that assures a long, trouble-free operating life. It will make thousands of clear impressions before the first inkpad replacement.

Stamp Dimensions .9″ x .9″ x 2.6″
Imprint Size .5″ Diameter
Availability Usually ships in 3-4 business days

Buy it now:
http://goodcharacters.com/chinese.stamps.html

Feb 19th ArtHop at Good Characters

Administrator — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:34:14 +0000

5 PM to 8 PM at 7638 N. Ingram Ave., Suite 109, Fresno, CA 93711. FREE. This is probably the smallest ArtHop studio you’ll visit in Fresno. And it may also be one of the most unusual. What you’re going to see and do are very simple. You will see some of my works. Everything I do is related to Chinese symbols, also adopted in Japan as kanji and in Korea as hanja. But, more interesting, I’ll show you how to grind ink with an inkstone and an inkstick, you’ll learn how to hold and use a Chinese calligraphy brush (you might think it’s harder than holding chopsticks!), and you will practice writing Chinese symbols such as the character for Love. I will answer questions you might have. In essence, this is less about what I do and more about introducing you to the world of Chinese calligraphy. It’s a casual workshop and a hands-on experience.

Above: True Characters of Love. Blend of ancient and modern art forms and styles and Eastern and Western thought carries timeless message. Traditional red-bordered scroll has large modern Chinese character for “love” formed by the skillful composition of small, traditional characters that spell out the true meaning of love from the Bible (1 Corinthians 13).

Books of Sample Calligraphy

Administrator — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:04:23 +0000

Calligraphy sample book serves as a learning model for learning to write characters. Liu Gongquan (柳公權) and Yan Zhenqing’s (顏真卿) are two great masters of late Tang Dynasty and often referred as “Yan-Liu” for their styles of calligraphy. Their books are recommended as models for learning Kai calligraphy.

Year of Ox

Administrator — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:25:41 +0000

“Dear Good Characters,
Could you please send me calligraphy for Year of the OX?
Thank you. –Robert Turgeon”

Yes. The Year of the Ox starts January 26, 2009. A good phrase to write in Chinese calligraphy is 牛年大吉 (niu nian da ji), meaning Best Wishes for the Year of Ox!

牛 (niu) is cattle.

年 (nian) is a year.

大 (da) is big or great.

吉 (ji) is auspicious.

Chinese living in the south use water buffalo to work in the rice fields. Therefore, for southern Chinese, the cow is traditionally viewed as hardworking and the most loyal animal, similarly to the way people in the West view their dogs or horses. For this reason, some Chinese don’t eat beef. Imagine eating a dog—that’s the same emotion they would have about eating beef.

In Taiwan, becoming vegetarian or abstaining from beef is often believed to be a way to reduce one’s sin or to receive blessings from the gods. Interestingly, Taiwan is famous for its tasty beef noodle soup, and the city of Taipei calls itself the “World Capital of Beef Noodles.” Taipei hosts a couple annual Beef Noodles Festivals.

Happy Year of the Ox!

Happy New Year

Administrator — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:13:34 +0000

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Studies show that making your resolution public and having a supportive friend reminding you of it will increase your chance of keeping the resolution. This is your opportunity to do just that. Send us your New Year’s resolution and we will make it public for you. It will be a reminder and driving force to keep you motivated to get it done. All of our good characters are very supportive, and we might gently ask you about your progress from time to time. So come on, share yours with us!

Chinese New Year’s Eve is Sunday Jan. 25th, 2009

Administrator — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:11:47 +0000

It’s the custom to call or visit friends on the lunar New Year’s day, which is Monday, January 26 this year, and say Gong Xi Fa Cai (pronounced goong ssee fah tsign) or simply Gong Xi Gong Xi (goong ssee goong ssee).