Do you know anything about Japanese calligraphy?

I have posted articles about calligraphy several times before (http://www.japanstyle.info/?p=7242, http://www.japanstyle.info/?p=5598), I had the opportunity to meet a calligraphy teacher and talk to her. So let me introduce about the meeting.

 

Her name is Rimi. While she works at an advertising design company in [W:Shibuya, Tokyo], she teaches calligraphy.

I met her at a fashionable café in Shibuya.

 

 

 

She looks like this. (She drew a self-portrait.)

 

 

She doesn’t teach in a class, but she joins events held on weekends to perform her work for the visitors.

So, Rimi’s style is more of a combination of calligraphy and modern art than traditional calligraphy.

 

Now, let me introduce a few of her work.

 

This is a Chinese character, the style is typical of calligraphy.
The character means ‘street’ in English.

 

 

There are 2 Chinese characters; meaning Tokyo.
The first character is hard to read, but it is the main point of this work.

 

 

These characters are Rimi, her name written in Chinese character.

 

 

A drawing of a girl holding a temari ball.

 

 

A drawing of a woman.
She looks like the girl holding a temari ball above ^^

 

 

This is her work she did for 50th anniversary of an event.

 

 

 

Here is the report of the interview with Rimi.

 

Q1: How long have you been practicing calligraphy?
A1: I have started practicing calligraphy when I was 5 years old. I got qualified as a grand master in 2000 and here I am. So, I have been practicing it about 30 years.

 

Q2: Most of your work’s style is more a combination of calligraphy and illustration than a traditional calligraphy. How did you get into this style?
A2: Since I work in an advertisement design field, I thought I could create interesting work by combining the art and calligraphy.

 

Q3: What is the process of your work?
A3: Usually I don’t make the design what it is going to be. I first think the message and form, and gradually it becomes into a piece.
I usually draw between 50 and 100 pages per work. It usually takes about 10 days before it gets into a shape.
I use photoshop on a colored-work.

 

 

Here are a few more of her work.

 

Warm pink and the word match well.

 

 

She created this to make a post card. Speaking of summer, it is the sea.
The character gives you an image of a wave.

 

 

This work has a powerful touch.

 

 

 

*******

 

That is all about Rimi.

Rimi’s work, an encounter of traditional calligraphy and modern art, is very inspiring and fun to see! 😛

She is going to teach parent-and-child classes at calligraphy events next month. I expect great things from her in the future.

 

Rimi’s Blog (Japanese): http://ameblo.jp/rimi-ameblo/

 

This is JAPAN Style!

 

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