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Heart of the Brush by Kazuaki Tanahashi
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Heart of the Brush

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Heart of the Brush by Kazuaki Tanahashi
Paperback $39.95
Feb 02, 2016 | ISBN 9781611801347

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  • $39.95

    Feb 02, 2016 | ISBN 9781611801347

    Buy from Other Retailers:

Product Details

Praise

Heart of the Brush is many things, and all of them astonishing: a rich historical compendium; a subtle object of contemplation; an inspiring instructional manual; a profound spiritual practice; a true artist’s testament; a stunning work of art. And it’s become a companion, as well. The book now lives on my work table, and every morning I turn at random to a different character, taking a moment to study the form and meaning, and then letting it inspire me throughout the day.”—Ruth Ozeki, author of Tale for the Time Being

“I have always felt the power of a single ideograph by a master hanging in a zendo, but I understood little else.  This book is a gift, illuminating the approach, the meaning, the possibility, the actor and the action; the stroke, the mark, the dancer and the dance.  We become rooted in calligraphy’s history and then carried beyond that–smack into the present moment. Kaz Tanahashi and his work are a transcultural treasure.”—Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones and The Great Spring

“There are several books on how to do East Asian calligraphy, but Heart of the Brush by Kazuaki Tanahashi is clearly the best. His explanations are clear and lively, his multitude of brushwork examples are thorough and generous, and he demonstrates how to do each character stroke by stroke. In addition, he makes the availability of different scripts an exciting opportunity rather than an overwhelming burden. In effect, Tanahashi invites us into many aspects of the dynamic and wide-ranging world of calligraphy, and we can understand why it has been considered the highest of all art forms.”—Stephen Addiss

Table Of Contents

Contents:

Preface
Introduction to East Asian Calligraphy
What Is Ideography?
Evolution of Styles
Shall We Begin?
Brush Movement
Basic Strokes
Applied Strokes
Aspects of Ideography

Master Samples and Study

Inside Calligraphy
Aesthetics in Formal Script
Aesthetics in Cursive Scripts
Heart of Creativity
Contemporary Art / International Art
Continuous Practice
Mounting Artwork
Online Studies

Appendix
List of Radicals
List of Compounds
List of Technical Terms
List of Ancient Artists
Recommended Supplies
Selected Bibliography

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