Online Chinese Calligraphy Workshops

My purpose is to be a bridge to one of the most complex languages through the art of Traditional Chinese Calligraphy and to embrace our shared humanity through understanding of cultures

"Rayna was very patient and explained things so well. I like the incorporation of history and culture and the hands on nature of the event."

- Participant from Waltham, MA

"I liked bonding with fellow employees and sharing cultural experiences."

- Participant from San Diego, CA

"New activity with no pressure for perfection!"

- Participant from Billerica, MA

"I liked seeing different people in [company] that I otherwise would not have gotten to meet. I also like that it simplifies the character making process."

- Participant from Boston, MA

"VERY informative and entertaining!"

- Participant from Merrimac, MA

"Really fun activity, learned a lot about Lunar New Year and Chinese symbols."

- Participant from Waltham, MA

"I found this unique experience rewarding, relaxing, interesting and educational!! It was really nice to feel like I could wind down step away from 'work' and allow myself to enjoy being told to 'take a deep breath,' 'practice,' and most of all to just move forward rather than try to go back and correct what you feel is a mistake!"

- Participant from Groton, MA

"Great, high quality supplies!"

- Participant from Waltham, MA

"The kit was great. Being able to follow along was key."

- Participant from Waltham, MA

About This Online Workshop

Taught in English. Learn the fundamentals of Chinese calligraphy and discover your calligraphy style! In this live online, step-by-step workshop, you will:

Learn how to write a traditional Chinese character
Learn simple illustrative visual cues to enforce character and meaning association
Learn etymology and culture
Learn traditional tools and techniques
Make your own custom greeting cards with your calligraphy art
Go behind the scenes with artist Rayna Lo on her art process
Practice mindfulness with the art of calligraphy

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get supplies?

Supply kits, which include:

Black sumi ink (2oz)
Hanshi rice paper pack (100 sheets)
Kumanofude Calligraphy Brush (Calm Waves 1/4″ x 1″ Model)
Blank card and envelope sets for DIY card making

are available in my shop here. No need to purchase supplies if you already have them. No need to have a specific brand of supplies, either.

Supplies will be shipped to you prior to start of workshop and will last you beyond the workshop. They can be used again for future workshops as well! Calligraphy guides in pdf format will be emailed to you, along with Zoom login details. If you need paper copies of calligraphy guides but not the kit, contact me below or send me an email at Rayna@raynalo.com and I can mail paper copies to you at no charge.

Please be sure to order the supply kits prior to start of the workshop. For US domestic shipments, kits are shipped Priority Mail via USPS. However, please order the supplies at least a week prior to start in the event of shipping delays, weekends, and holidays.

Do I need to have any art skills?

Absolutely not. No experience necessary. Just an open mind to learn!

What will set up look like?

Stable Internet connection is required. If joining via mobile, the Zoom app will need to be downloaded. Please sign into Zoom prior to class to make sure all plug-ins are downloaded. You will also need the following:

Cup/jar of water for brush dipping
Small saucer for the ink
Paper towels
Newspaper/scrap paper to prevent ink from bleeding onto your table surface (washes off with water)

Here is an example of what my set up looks like:

Chinese Calligraphy Workshop with Rayna Lo - learn how to write the character for dragon

*Color will not be used for the traditional Chinese calligraphy workshop
*That is a rhinoceros beetle encased in resin and is a paper weight

Can I request characters to write?

Absolutely! I would limit the character choices to 1-2 characters due to complexity. You will be learning more than 2 characters, however, due to the radicals and strokes in which some are characters by themselves. Please send me an email at Rayna@raynalo.com and I’ll see what we can do!

Will simplified or traditional characters be taught?

Traditional Chinese characters will be taught.

Where else can I purchase supplies?

If you’d like to purchase from other sources, please check out:

Amazon:
Ink
Paper
Brush

In case there are any allergies, what are the supplies made of?

Product information based on information provided by Yasutomo (American KUSA Corporation).

Sumi Ink
Water-resistant sumi ink is permanent and made from high quality vegetable soot. Ink contains a small amount of shellac, which allows for unique glazing capabilities. The bottle opening is wide enough to load ink for most brushes and its cap conveniently doubles as a brush rest. Ink can easily wash off surfaces with water. Empty container is recyclable. Made in Japan.

Hanshi Rice Paper
Rice paper is made with very long fibers from the mulberry tree making them very strong, yet lightweight and durable. Size is 9 1/2” x 13” and is recyclable. Made in Japan.

Calligraphy Brush
Set in bamboo, the brush is made with a combination of horse, badger, and sheep hair. Other branded brushes can be made of wolf hair.

How do I care for the brush?

After each use, gently run brush under warm water and lay out flat to dry or hang dry before storing. Brush also comes with a loop for hanging.

Are private workshops available for corporate events?

Yes! Please refer to the corporate events page for more information!