Brush, Ink, and Smiles: A Wonderful Shodo Workshop Today!

Hello everyone!

Today we had another wonderful Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) workshop, and my heart is very full. The energy in the room was fantastic, and I want to share a little bit about our beautiful time together.

This workshop was extra special for us. We recently went back home to Japan to catch up with our family, which was so lovely. While we were there, we visited some of the best traditional stationery stores in Japan and bought brand new, high-quality calligraphy brushes.

Today was the first time using them, and the students were so excited! Many of them even wanted to purchase their own authentic brush straight from Japan to keep practicing at home, which made me very happy. Having the right tool makes such a big difference.

When students first arrive, I always love watching them look at the clean tools laid out on the tables. The smell of the black ink is very earthy and calming, and it helps everyone leave their busy day outside and get ready to focus.

We started the session by learning how to sit properly and breathe. In Shodo, your energy flows down your arm, through the brush, and directly onto the paper. It is very important to have a quiet mind. We practiced the basic strokes first. At the beginning, many people held the brush too tightly because they were nervous about making a mistake. But after a little bit of practice, their shoulders relaxed, and the new brushes started moving so smoothly. It is always a joy to see my students' confidence grow.

The best part of the day was the final project. After practicing many times on regular paper, I gave everyone a special, thick art board. I asked them to choose one word that had a special meaning to them right now—many chose words like "peace," "dream," or "harmony."

The room became completely quiet. Everyone took a deep breath, dipped their brush in the ink one last time, and wrote their final piece. When they finished that last stroke and lifted the brush, you could see such proud smiles on their faces. They did not just write a word; they created a piece of art from their own heart to take home.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us today. You all did a brilliant job, and I am so proud of your beautiful artwork. I am already looking forward to our next time together!