Skip to content

Art Groups

Heartful Zen Calligraphy for Autumn

Heartful Zen Calligraphy for Autumn

Moving into autumn we had a theme of empathy with the heartful Zen phrase dōji 同事 (どうじ), which has a meaning of thinking about others, and their heart. As a common Japanese word it simply means ‘the same’ ✨ In the kaisho style the two… Read More »Heartful Zen Calligraphy for Autumn

Natural Inspiration and Simplicity Brushing Tsuyu 露

Calligraphic simplicity brushing tsuyu 露

After the summer break our Saturday morning class in Glasgow and our online Monday evening group met to relaxingly ease back into shodo calligraphy practice. Brushing the single character for dew or open air, Tsuyu 露, which in Zen writings has also had a meaning… Read More »Calligraphic simplicity brushing tsuyu 露

Natural Inspiration and Bold Tenkoku Seal Engravings

Natural Inspiration and Bold Tenkoku Seal Engravings

At our June Japanese Tenkoku stamp making workshop we had a lively group of enthusiastic carvers and busy stampers! This was a full afternoon session creating unique seals from scratch – forgive the Tenkoku pun! Everyone was able to cover the essential techniques of this… Read More »Natural Inspiration and Bold Tenkoku Seal Engravings

Practicing Writing Shodō in Regular and Cursive Styles

Practicing Writing Shodō 書道 in Regular and Cursive Styles

At our last Shodō workshops before the summer break, we enjoyed some relaxed yet inspiring brushing and our inspiration was calligraphy itself! We brushed the kanji characters of the word Shodō 書道, meaning the Way of Calligraphy or Path of Writing, or simply Japanese calligraphy,… Read More »Practicing Writing Shodō 書道 in Regular and Cursive Styles

Welcoming spring with lively Shodō brushing!

Welcoming spring with lively Shodō brushing!

At both our online and in person Shodō groups, which have been buzzing in recent months, we brushed the two kanji characters of the word Shunjū 春秋 . Shunjū means Spring and Autumn, or the seasons more generally, or the length of time passing. There… Read More »Welcoming spring with lively Shodō brushing!

Bristol University Japanese Calligraphy Workshop

Bristol University Japanese Calligraphy Workshop

In the Arts Complex of Bristol University at the end of April, Blair presented two taster Japanese Shodō calligraphy workshops with a Zen theme, for the Buddhist Studies Day in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, with schools and staff participating. This was part of… Read More »Bristol University Japanese Calligraphy Workshop

Meditative Shodō calligraphy - Zazen

Meditative Shodō calligraphy – Zazen

We had energetic and fun Shodō groups at KSD in Glasgow, as well at Zen Brush (online), brushing the two kanji characters of the word Zazen 座禅, meaning zen seated meditation. The za means sitting and the zen has meanings including meditation and awareness. Everyone… Read More »Meditative Shodō calligraphy – Zazen

Brushing the Way of Enlightenment

Brushing the Way of Enlightenment

At the end of last month and start of March we brushed the illuminating kanji characters of the word Godō 悟道 , meaning the way or path of satori/ enlightenment. It was great catching up with everyone at the monthly Shodō Japanese calligraphy groups in… Read More »Brushing the Way of Enlightenment

Celebrating life with the shodō brush

Celebrating life with the shodō brush

At the end of January and start of February we ran two sessions, our monthly group at KSD centre and the other a special group for students in the west end of Glasgow. One of the phrases we brushed was 福寿 Fukuju – which can… Read More »Celebrating life with the shodō brush

The ladder for kami in Yin and Yang calligraphy

The ladder for kami in Yin and Yang calligraphy

🍂 Thanks for taking part in our last Japanese Shodō calligraphy groups of the year at Kagyu Samye Dzong Glasgow, as well as online Zen Brush in November. We brushed the mysterious kanji characters of the word Inyō 陰陽, better known in Chinese as the opposite… Read More »The ladder for kami in Yin and Yang calligraphy