Japanese calligraphy or “way of writing”, also known as shodō (書道), is the artistic expression of the Japanese language using a fude (brush), sumi (ink), suzuri (inkstone) and washi (mulberry paper). You might also have heard of the term shūji (習字), which describes the neat and balanced penmanship often taught in Japanese schools. Historically Japanese calligraphy was based on the Chinese art, before the introduction of hiragana and katakana allowed Japanese calligraphers to develop the unique styles you might be familiar with already.
These days, you can buy affordable and convenient fude pens (ink brush pens with cartridges) that are a useful tool for calligraphy, lettering, sketching and illustrations, as well as many other artforms.
What better way to celebrate World Art Day on 15 April, by using your fude pens to practice calligraphy and create your own masterpieces? Check out our interview with renowned calligrapher Rie Takeda, for inspiration.
Image: Artsmith