Japanese Calligraphy is an old art. Its origin can be traced back to as early as the 7th century. Throughout the centuries the technology for Shodo practice had been simple; paper, ink, and brush. Things haven’t changed much. Even today, that is basically all you need to practice Shodo. Interestingly though, today, only about 30% of everything I create for the studio is made … [Read more...] about Tech Journey
Articles
Three Diamond Calligraphies
On August of 2013 I uncovered three diamonds. They came unannounced and certainly unexpected. They were left at my front door by the mailman, carefully placed inside a folder so they wouldn’t bend or wrinkle. They came with a letter from a dear friend who I’ve known for many years. When I read the first sentence of his letter I had to sit down. I did so on my porch steps with … [Read more...] about Three Diamond Calligraphies
Connecting Mind and Brush
I never rush my commissions. Commissions are done on a first come first serve basis, so I have to work on them in the order I get them. However, that doesn’t mean if I finished one commission Thursday night that the next one will be brushed on Friday night. Each calligraphy represents a moment in time of my mind connected with the brush. That moment happens once and it doesn’t … [Read more...] about Connecting Mind and Brush
Inside Zen
I drove by a building with a sign that read: Zen Real Estate Group, with the slogan “peace of mind”. What the hell is so Zen about Real Estate? Yes, I know, you can find Zen in anything. There is: The Zen of cooking. The Zen of house cleaning. The Zen of selling real estate. The Zen of whatever it is you want to make Zen of. Zen is a term used as a marketing tool. We … [Read more...] about Inside Zen
The First Time I Sat in Zen Meditation
Chicago. July 1998. I was 17 years old. I've never been on an airplane and away from home. On a Friday night, I arrived in Chicago to train in Aikido for the summer at Tenshinkan Dojo, headquarters of the Aikido Association of America led by the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan. I spent the weekend acclimating to the new environment. I had a bit of trouble understanding English, but … [Read more...] about The First Time I Sat in Zen Meditation