I wanted to share just a bit about the Chinese Pictographic Script. It was originally used to carve religious text foretelling the future on bone and tortoise shell. These are known as oracle bones. We know the script was used 4000 years ago and 5000characters have been found about half of which are readable. Research indicates that the characters were painted on with a brush before being carved. After being carved the pictographs were filled in with black, brown or red color to make them readable.
Rainbow Pictograph - ATC
Last night I decided to work on some ATC paintings. I wanted to reforce the shape of some of the characters I find beautiful. I used my watercolor crayons for the colored backgrounds. The symbol above is the one for rainbow. I think I will combine cloud, rain and rainbow in a slightly larger painting soon.
Self Pictograph - ATC
Cloud Pictograph - ATC
I also did two ATC’s based on practice work I showed yesterday. As I said, I am fascinbated by the association the ancient Chinese made between the breath and an individual life so I had to do Self. I also wanted to play around with the symbol for cloud since I will probably use it for my first multi-symbol painting. This is really fun and I am going to write the history on the back of the ATC’s before I give them to family as gifts.
I also wanted to share the name of the book I am using. It is The Complete Guide to Chinese Calligraphy by Qu Lei Lei. It includes the most amazing thing. It includes a pad of Magic Paper. This paper has sample symbols for each script printed on it and you use plain water to practice. When the water dries. The paper is again pristine. I also have used it to practice characters that are not included in the samples. I just write over the top and then they disappear! It is great!!!
Linda Halcomb's Blog 
Hi Linda,
Glad you are enjoying the book and history so much! Isn’t that magic paper the best thing? If you need more, you can probably find some on eBay – I did.
I’m enjoying your creative approach to the calligraphy and look forward to seeing more. Also, I enjoyed your irises – lovely colors!
N
Thank you Naomi. You have inspired me! I really like the ink and brush paintings of iris you’ve been doing. I thought it was an interesting coincidence that we were both working on the Iris.
You have taught me that there are more characters than I knew about. If I understand correctly, the writing and the symbols have changed over the years?….and you are investigating all these different forms of ancient writing? Fascinating!
I like the cloud pictograph, above. You made it look as though the sun was shining through from behind. Can’t wait to see what you do with the cloud, rain and rainbow painting!
I think this so interesting. There are five scripts in the book and they are covered in chronological order. The script most of us know is called standard script and it is one of the newest (still not NEW!) The scripts seem to build on each other and there is a section in the book that shows comparisons and similarities in sample words. Very cool!
I find the cloud pictograph beautiful. I like the colors you used a lot too. Can’t wait to see the larger piece with multiple pictographs.
Hi Linda, thanks so much for finding my watercolor doodle and taking time for the nice comment! Your work is lovely! I love that you are delving into ancient Chinese pictographs, very beautiful artwork you are producing through your research!