By Ren Xingzhi
In mid-February, at the award-winning works exhibition of the First Shanghai Hard-Pen Calligraphy Competition, I was deeply moved by the dazzling array of hard-pen calligraphy pieces on display. These award-winning works were not only unique in style and brilliantly conceived, but also distinctive in their choice of pen and paper — a testament to the authors' painstaking effort. Many hard-pen calligraphy enthusiasts at the exhibition were keenly interested in the tools and materials behind creative hard-pen calligraphy work. Here I have compiled my own creative experience for reference.
As is well known, Fuzhou Road in Shanghai is the famous Four Treasures of the Study street, lined with shops selling calligraphy-related supplies: brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, seals, copybooks — you name it.
I. Hard-Pen Calligraphy Paper
I personally enjoy selecting my preferred textures and colors at specialty paper shops, then cutting them to the size needed for each piece (if cutting yourself is inconvenient, some paper shops have professional cutting machines and will cut to your specified dimensions for a 10-yuan processing fee).
The paper discussed here falls into two usage categories: thick cardstock and writing paper. Those who have made folded albums (ceye) know that thick cardstock forms the album's base layer; the finished calligraphy sheets are then mounted one by one with double-sided tape onto the cardstock to complete the album.
Cardstock
Weight: around 230 gsm is ideal. Size: 109 cm x 80 cm. Price: 2–8 yuan per sheet, with domestic and imported options. Two reminders: it should not be too thick (hard to fold) or too thin (flimsy structure).
Writing Paper
Weight: around 120 gsm. Size: 109 cm x 80 cm. Price: 2–8 yuan, varying by thickness and material.
Alternatively, ready-made colored copy paper is available: typically A4 size, about 80 gsm, around 30 sheets per pack, about 10 yuan. There are also simple gridded practice sheets: A4 size, about 60 gsm, roughly 50 sheets, about 10 yuan per pad.
II. Hard-Pen Calligraphy Writing Tools
While good calligraphy is not absolutely dependent on the pen, choosing the right writing tool makes the process much more fluid and enjoyable. Common hard-pen writing tools include fountain pens, ballpoint pens, gel pens, and marker pens. Gel pens are probably the most popular choice among calligraphy enthusiasts — they are smooth, convenient, and available in a variety of options. Gel pens come in tip sizes from a fine 0.35 mm to a bold 1.0 mm, and in many colors: black, red, white, gold, silver, green, and more. In current hard-pen calligraphy creation, white gel pens seem to be the favorite — perhaps because white delivers the strongest visual impact and also evokes a stone-rubbing effect.
White gel pens are sold at stationery shops on Fuzhou Road for about 10 yuan each. Two imported brands I recommend: GELLY ROLL 08 and Pentel k108. They may be cheaper on Taobao, but beware of counterfeits.
Besides making my own hard-pen calligraphy paper, I also like using ready-made commercial hard-pen calligraphy paper to save time and effort. Below are trusted Taobao sources for reference:
China Hard-Pen Calligraphy Online Taobao Store: http://ybsf.taobao.com/ — Pinhantang and Fengxingtang hard-pen calligraphy paper, A4 size, ~0.3 yuan/sheet; 1.0 mm white/gold/silver gel refills, 2 yuan each.
China Hard-Pen Calligraphy Jianghu Taobao Store: http://ybsfcs.taobao.com/ — Pinhantang, Shenbixuan, Ma Gongyu, Fengxingtang, Jianyi, and Sankuai series paper, A4 size, ~0.3 yuan/sheet; 1.0 mm white/gold/silver gel refills, 2 yuan each.
Due to my limited experience, these buying suggestions are for reference only. May everyone find the paper and pen that suit them best and create even more wonderful works.