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I have done my final project on a bookmark. I chose this because I love to read and write, and it makes me feel like a better person! The two symbols mean knowledge and wisdoms, both of which you gain from reading. Reading brings joy and creativity and knowledge into people’s lives. Reading will be and has been carried on through generations. These symbols and bookmark mean a lot to me because reading has brought me very far in life and is part of who I am today and in glad I could portray that through calligraphy.

-Noah Jackson

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For my final project, in standard script I wrote “Beauty of Strength”. I chose this phrase as I believe there is a sort of beauty in being strong, not just physically but also mentally. This year has been full of ups and downs I was not prepared for and I found this phrase to help me when dealing with everything. I chose this paper to write on with the birds flying away as to me it signifies freeing yourself from negative thoughts like the phrase helps me to do.

-Edynn Avina

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For my final project, I decided to the character for family, in Standard and Square word script. My family is a big part of my life and shaped the way I lived my life. I can't imagine living as an only child or living without any cousins. My family has influenced in so many ways, I chose what to do for the rest of my life because of them. They have always showed me support no matter what I do. The only reason I decided on Reno for my university because my cousins and my sister came here. I chose to do both in Standard and Square word to represent the past and present in my family. My parents, aunts and uncles all had very different lives from me, my siblings, and cousins. They all lived on ranches in a very small town. They worked with animals and worked on a farm. Most of my aunts and uncles didn't even finish high school because they had to work on the ranch. Even though we all had very different lives we all are family and it is only like that because of my grandma. She held the family together and ever since she passes away, it feels like my extended family is slipping away from each other. I still love all my family and hope we will stick together in the future.

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I chose this character because to me because it was the first character I learned it was the most important one to me just because as I went throughout the class, I kept trying to get better at this one character over and over and although it may not be the best I enjoy doing the strokes for this specific character And it brings me relaxation to do it and I have enjoyed the time I’ve spent in this class practicing this character, and I have also appreciated the time I’ve gotten learning in this class. So when it came to my final presentation, I thought it was only fitting that I should end it where it started with that first character. And I picked the bookmark so I can gift it to other people just because I feel like it’s one of those easier things to gift - juan Villeda

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I chose to do my final on a fan because I liked the shape of the fan. It’s like a cloud and for what I wanted to do, it suited my vision. I also really liked the handle and how sturdy it is. The letter I decided to do was the word for Dragon in Seal Script. Regardless of what word I was going to use, I chose to do it in Seal Script because that was the script that intrigued me the most. Just the way the lines look like a drawing and just so much different than Standard Script makes it so interesting to me. It’s so much more free flowing and less rigid.

In terms of why I chose the word Dragon, I chose it for a multitude of reasons. For starters, it’s currently the Year of the Dragon right now so that was one of my inspirations. It’s also why the fan is decorated with specks of red and gold paint. But I also chose the word Dragon because I’ve always had a fascination for them ever since I was young. Dragons are so important to Chinese mythology and just stories in general. They’re also a symbol for good luck which is why I used that character in the bottom right. Overall, I chose it for my fascination for both the script and the meaning behind it.

— Angie Portillo Lopez

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I chose to do my final project on a bookmark as it resembles the parts of Chinese Calligraphy that I found to be the most endearing, the grounded and human-scale aspects of the artwork. Additionally, I chose it for a rather selfish reason of, I like to read and I believed it would be nice to have.

In terms of the writing on the bookmark, I decided to write characters that remind me of one of my best friends, who started a band and used calligraphy for it. The phrase doesn’t translate perfectly into Chinese, but in English it means “Blush Hour”, a time of day that exists in perfect bliss without regard for the bad that came before or may possibly follow. I felt like the message behind it would fit with what we have learned in the course previously, so I ran with it.

-Brandon Pearson

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The symbol I chose for this project is on the top part of my art work and it means forever or for eternity. The reason I chose this character was because it perfectly represents what nature is, has been, and what it will always be. We humans will all die, but nature will always be forever.

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For my final project, I chose a gold scroll because I found it to be the most visually appealing option. I decided to paint the words joy, wisdom, and peace on the scroll, hoping that these qualities would come to life for the person I would be gifting it to. To enhance the scroll's design, I included a tiger, which not only adds to its aesthetic but also symbolizes strength and bravery—qualities I admire in the person receiving it. I incorporated a stamp that represents good fortune to unify all the wishes I wanted to convey. Additionally, I outlined everything in gold paint after seeing a peer use this technique, as it added a refined touch. To complete the piece, I included the date and my Chinese signature as a personal finishing detail. Thank you for an enjoyable and insightful semester!

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I chose to do my final calligraphy showcase on a bookmark. One of my biggest hobbies is reading, but I recently I have been mostly reading on kindle so I hoped having a pretty bookmark would encourage me to read more physical books in the future. I chose to write in cursive script, as I love the look of it but also I like that it requires you to write faster so you don’t overthink it. The characters I chose were “爱自己”. “爱” meaning love and “自己” meaning yourself. I chose this for a couple reasons, primarily because it’s the title of one of my favorite songs, and it also had a nice meaning to see every time I read.

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I chose to use a scroll as it reflects the Chinese calligraphy aesthetic for wall art without needing a special frame. As for the text I chose, it is an excerpt from ch 33 of the Dao De Jing (or Tao Te Ching) by Laozi. It reads “To conquer another is strong, but to conquer yourself is mighty”. I believe this is a philosophical reflection on self-discipline. The style I chose to write is simply one that came naturally in order to philosophically reflect upon the core fundamentals of Daoism as the text from which I pulled this saying is the foundation of that philosophy.

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For the final, I chose to use a bookmark because they are an item that I commonly use since I like reading. I wanted the character to be the main focus. So I chose this bookmark design because I loved how simple it is but still had a pop of color with the pink tassel. For the character, I decided to go with 知 (knowledge) because I have always believed books are the key to knowledge. I decided to write the character in the running script because, to me, it looked the prettiest and was the most comfortable for me to write. As for my calligraphy work, I think I did pretty well. Compared to how my calligraphy skills were at the beginning of the semester, this is amazing. I first tried to write 知 on the other side of the bookmark, but the surface was too silky. In the end, I am proud of my work and will be using it as I read.

- Julissa Valdez

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I chose a fan because I considered it to be the most functional item, especially since we live in the desert where the summer heat often exceeds 100 degrees.

On my fan, the main character says An, meaning "peace" and "harmony" in Confucian belief. The reason I chose this is because it represents the idea of staying calm in moments of adversity. Alongside it, the symbol for strength reminds me that I must remain resilient in the face of challenges. This combination of symbols serves as a reminder that no matter what I’m going through, I should stay in harmony and keep pushing forward, regardless of the problem.

The clouds added to the fan beautifully complement these symbols. In Chinese culture, clouds represent good fortune and blessings. Together, these elements make the fan a symbol of resilience, hard work, and prosperity.

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For my final, I wanted to combine the beauty of Chinese calligraphy with my identity as a believer in  Christ. I chose the idea of love as my subject because one of my favorite verses in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This verse captures the idea of what perfect love is and what it means to love. To me, this verse reminds me just how much Jesus loves me, and it encourages me how to love others the way Jesus would. I decided to only use one Chinese character because I wanted to invest in the quality on the character rather than the quantity of characters.

I then decided to put it onto a book mark because I plan to give it as a gift to someone that I love. I hope that this bookmark serves to remind them the love of God that I believe in.

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I decided to do a bookmark because I felt like it would be something that be would useful and for the phrase I wrote is wu wei 無為 do nothing or act without acting. It's a daoist phrase that I like because it makes everything in life sounds nice. It means basically that the dao has a plan for everyone in life and if you just let it lead you you'll lead or best life.

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I decided to use the scroll as the medium for the final project. When I was looking at inspiration for the “Curator of the Day” project, the artwork I had chosen involved both a painting of a flower & some calligraphy in running script paired with it. The artwork made me inspired to do something similar, though with a different flower and different script. Recently, I’ve been really interested in roses, so that’s what I decided on for the flower I’d be painting. Roses look very beautiful when in a bouquet or by itself, though I decided to go with painting just one rose as I thought it’d be appropriate in conveying the appreciation of how much I’ve enjoyed this course. A singular rose often is said to be related to intimacy and new love. Adding on to the previous sentence, the color of a rose is significant in meaning as I decided to surround the rose I had painted with gold ink and the streaks of gold around the flower represent it’s petals falling as well as a gold shine around the top of the rose. A gold rose has multiple meanings related to wealth, luxury, opulence, status, joy, & eternity. But, for this project, I wanted to use the meanings of joy mainly to show how happy and content I feel when doing calligraphy in class. So, a singular golden rose shows how much I’ve loved learning about Chinese calligraphy as it’s something I haven’t really done before. The word that I chose was the Chinese character for “rose (玫瑰)” as well, but I decided to use the seal script version for this character. The reasoning behind this is because I’ve always been really intrigued by how seal script looks very formal and elegant, much like roses. I wanted to go the simple route when choosing what I should write with the rose because using one rose is also very simplistic, so it ties well with the choice I made in writing just “rose (玫瑰)”. I also included the month and the Chinese name I had chosen previously, Lin Tian (林天), with a gold square I had painted on to symbolize a seal you would stamp on.

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For my final I chose to use a small red and gold scroll. For my writing I put 上善若水 which in English translates to "The best is like water", which is a quite popular saying. To be "like water" means you can adapt to your surroundings like how water can take shape of the cup it's in. It also means to not resist with the flow/ current in life and be as you are. Water is a key for survival and gives all living things life, but can also be very strong like oceans and rivers. I chose this writing because I agree with it pretty heavily and I think it is also very deep when you start to really think about it. This class has tought me multiple different Chinese concepts and ideas that I think are very interesting and have/ will use in my life like this one. I am very happy I took this class and how it introduced me to calligraphy and Chinese culture.

-Wyatt Renner (任良哲)

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I chose to use 龍(long) as my subject because I really like how dragons looked in Chinese culture. I like how long and mythical they looked so I decided to create one myself. I wanted to capture a free and wild dragon because I believe that dragons are the most free creatures in the world because they can fly. I got inspiration from Chinese dragon dances and seeing how the dances are so wild inspired me to create such a wild looking dragon. For the text, I wanted it to match the dragon characteristics. That's why I chose running cursive script because that style is the most free flowing. It matches the energy of the dragon. I added clouds to add some detail to the drawing and to make sure the audience knows that the dragon is actually flying and not just floating.

-Caiden Pham

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This keychain is something I made for my Chinese calligraphy project. On it, I painted the characters “保卫” (bǎo wèi), which mean “to protect” or “to guard.” I chose these characters because they symbolize protection, like keeping yourself or something important safe.

The background has cranes flying, which are a symbol of peace and good luck in Chinese culture. I thought the cranes went really well with the idea of protection because they’re also seen as bringing safety and calmness.

I made this keychain not just to look nice, but to also be a little reminder of protection. Whether it’s for protection in school, life, or even just staying safe, it’s something small you can carry with you. I hope it brings whoever has it a feeling of peace and strength.

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For my final showcase, I chose the word “幸福” (Happiness) and illustrated it on a fan surrounded by bamboo, regular leaves, delicate golden leaves, and a panda. Deciding what to pair with the concept of happiness took time, but eventually, the idea came to me. Pandas have always been a symbol of peace and joy in my life, evoking a sense of innocence and comfort that connects me to my childhood. From a young age, I’ve adored pandas, they always could brighten my mood with their gentle, playful nature. One of my fondest memories is from a trip to China, where I had the privilege of seeing pandas in person. I can still remember the excitement when my mother bought me a panda plush during a show after I begged her, a small, thoughtful gesture that has remained a cherished reminder of that time. The golden leaves I included hold a deeper symbolic meaning. They represent the “golden moments” of my past, the fleeting yet precious times that shine brightly in my memory. Together with the bamboo and the panda, they create a story of happiness that ties together my younger ages and the universal appeal of simple, peaceful joys. Through this fan, I hoped to capture the idea of happiness and the nostalgic warmth it brings when I reflect on some of my most meaningful moments in life.

Justin Gu

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I chose to write the phrase, '爱屋及乌' (ài wū jí wū) which loosely translates to live a house and love its crows. Crows are not a remarkable bird, and they don't have a particularly special meaning. They are an everyday Bird, and in the west they are seen as a bad omen or annoyance. This phrase reminds the viewer to appreciate even the mundane parts of their life, and shows that if you really love someone or something, that love spreads to even their undesirable traits, like the birds on your roof. I think this is a catchy four character phrase, but it is also a true saying that is useful for everyday. --Sarah Jongsma

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I chose the idiom寧靜致遠[níng jìng zhì yuǎn] "Tranquility Leads to Greatness" for my calligraphy practice and to hang in my study room because it embodies a meaningful life philosophy—that by cultivating inner peace, one can achieve far-reaching accomplishments. In today's society , where the environment is often filled with anxiety and uncertainty, this idiom serves as a comforting reminder for me to stay calm and collected, no matter what life throws at me. It helps me maintain my inner peace, stay focused, and strive to be my best self amid the chaos.

-Lingling Chen

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Looking through the different characters, we have practiced throughout the semester, I thought about writing one that was intricate and complex. Yet for some reason, the complete contrast, the character for strength, was the one that stood out to me the most. I reflected on the character and believed that even though it was such a simple character, it had immense meaning to me. As the final days of my first semester in college begin to conclude, I find myself stronger than I have ever been, being able to push through my unfamiliar terrain to reach where I am now. As I pondered about what resembled strength, I thought of a dragon soaring through the night sky, passing by the moon. The dragon itself resembles a fish with many fins as I called back upon a story within Chinese mythology, "The Legend of the Dragon's Gate." The story describes a school of golden koi fish who swam up the Yellow River in China. As the fish arrived at a large waterfall, many of the fish became discouraged. The ones that remained were intrigued by the gods, so they tested the determination of the fish. Finally, one koi succeeded, leaping over the top of the waterfall. The gods being impressed, rewarded the koi, transforming it into a majestic dragon. From then on, the dragon soared into the heavens as a symbol of strength and resilience. So, my dragon similarly resembles a fish to call back to that story, displaying the dragon's origins. The text to the left of the fan is a Chinese poem titled "Dragon", by an anonymous writer. It transcribes to "A hidden dragon soars in clouds, / Its journey stirs the winds and rain." I believe that such a poem is short, yet meaningful enough to truly allow for those to read to know the strength of a dragon. In essence, this piece symbolizes my journey of growth and resilience, embodying the strength of the dragon as a reflection of my perseverance and determination throughout my first semester in college.

- Hopson C. Tan

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For my final showcase, I chose the phrase “ Nan de hu tu.” The literal translation is “ difficult to be muddled.” The saying comes from the philosophy of intentionally not knowing everything, sometimes seen as a way to avoid stress and conflict. I like this phrase because it’s a reminder that sometimes, you just need to let life happen and enjoy it. It’s okay to not always be in control and it’s okay to not always know what comes next. I chose to put this on a fan as a way of following whatever comes next seeing where the wind might take me. The saying originated in the Qing Dynasty.

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For my final showcase, I decided to blend artwork with my calligraphy choice. On the fan, I wrote the word 旅行, translating to “journey.” Surrounding the central word are delicate birds in flight and blooming cherry blossoms, each element representing progression, growth, and the passage of time. The birds symbolize freedom and the courage to explore new paths, while the cherry blossoms evoke beauty, renewal, and the fleeting nature of moments as we move forward. I wanted this combination to create a harmonious balance, expressing the idea that every journey is full of transformation and hope. These elements express the symbolic nature of the calligraphy, as birds take on journeys every day, and the flowing petals of cherry blossoms eventually leave their branches. I decided to write this specific word, because it really embodies what I have gone through in this past year. I wanted to portray the beauty of being on a journey, and how it is so integral to life. Overall, I wanted to create a harmonious piece that blended both the calligraphy and its symbolism.

- Sylvie Volkhardt- Allstead

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I chose to design a fan for my final project. I used the gold ink to inscribe the title of one of the poems that I wrote. The text says "tears and roses forever" along with designs of rose vines to fill in the blank areas of the fan. I used standard script to write the characters because of the controlled nature along with the complexity, which compliments the image of a rose. The poem itself reads "Roses, Stab me with your thorns, Poses, Distract me from mourns". The symbolism of the roses and tears together represents that love and pain are eternal emotions, sticking with a person for life and influencing their decisions. The rose vines convey the sharp yet captivating nature around roses, their sharp thorns concealing the beautiful flower. The same is true with love, how it can sooth pain while at the same time causing the most when it's gone. My final goal with this project was to combine one of my favorite art forms in poetry with what we had learned in class, using the beautiful forms of calligraphy to tell the message behind one of life's most powerful emotions.

- Luke Wright

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For my final project, I wanted to create something simple that I could carry with me as I experience life. I chose a fan for the foundation of my memento and I decided to write the simple phrase “good luck” or “fortune” as that is something I wish to have with me at all times. As much as I wanted to let my creativity take over for this project, I found beauty in keeping it simple and letting the character speak for itself. Though I may not ever know what it is like to be ethnically Chinese, I appreciated the aspects and philosophies of Chinese culture that I could resonate with.

Danika Molina

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I chose to write on this paddle because I wanted a fan for next semester when it gets hot, and also because I wanted to write large. I wrote the Chinese character for dragon, “Long,” because I feel it is a beautiful character, and I like dragons. I wrote in a semi-cursive script after researching what the Long character actually is: a crown on the left and a dragon on the right. After learning that, I wanted to try connecting the character in a way that made sense to me, and tried to make the crown look like the one I have a depiction of in my head. I also gave a signature on the right, but I didn’t do it very well.

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For my final project, I chose the phrase “Let Your Aspirations Soar.” Unfortunately, I feel I could have done better, as the texture of the bookmark was challenging for me to work with. However, this quote deeply resonates with my current journey: going back to school and pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse at the age of 34. I am finally following my aspirations and allowing them to truly take flight.

This class has taught me so much about the philosophies and art within Chinese culture. Learning calligraphy has been an essential part of understanding that history, and I am grateful to have gained skills that I can carry forward, particularly its meditative qualities. Thank you so much for this meaningful experience!

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I chose to write my final project on a scroll because I wanted to be able to use it to decorate my apartment. I chose to use the phrase "shi fu ling jin men, xiu xing zai get ren". This Chinese proverb means "Teachers open the door, you enter it by yourself". I chose this proverb because it showcases how teachers give you the knowledge you need to succeed but you are the one that needs to apply it. I think knowledge and learning are very important and when I found this proverb it resonated with me.

In my work, I used standard script because I didn't want to take away from the beautiful blue and gold background and I also wanted to be able to look at it when I am struggling with coursework and be able to read it. I wanted it to be something that I could remind myself what I am doing everything for.

-Brooke Dingle

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I chose the expression "be patient and good things will come'' and changed it to be "work hard and good things will come" I did this because I believe that being an advocate for ones own future is essential to achieving their goals. Hopeful optimism and patience while important I believe the more important contributor is by having the grit to work hard even when things are hard. I chose the scroll to hang up in my house large and proud to embody the meaning and remind myself to keep working hard to achieve a good future. And that if you continue to work hard you will be rewarded.

I chose gold to highlight the characters to show how although daunting now it is really beautiful and rewarding like gold.

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For my final project, I chose to create my work on a fan for my mom since she loves using fans so I wanted to create something that could be useful, it’s also sturdy material similar to a canvas for painting. I love painting at home so I felt that it would be best to use a material that I’m more familiar with. My main point here is a specific quote , it’s the golden rule by Confucius where it’s basically said to not impose something on others that you wouldn’t wish upon yourself. This quote connects to me because I feel like from a young age I would always get told treat others how I would like to be treated and it’s something that we should all go by. Simply because causing harm or going out your way with ill intentions towards others does nothing but cause problems for both yourself and that person. If you wouldn’t like something to be done to you then much less would you do it to someone else. I believe that if you go on about your life without causing harm on others, life truly becomes peaceful. Living a happy positive peaceful life is one of my goals so I always try my best to keep a light heart with certain situations, life is so unexpected and there will always be rocky roads and events in which we wish would’ve never happened, however it is mostly out of our control so the best we could do is how we react to it. I also chose to draw pandas alongside the quote because pandas are known for friendship and peace in the Chinese culture, which I believe a peaceful life comes from positive attitude. The red flowers are added because they’re sooo cutesy obviously , and I felt that red ink from the flowers as well as the stamp adds balance onto the black. I added gold on the handle because it’s fun and so carefree, I love small details such as that.

- 𝒜𝓂𝑒𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶 𝒽𝒾𝒹𝒶𝓁𝑔𝑜

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For my final project I chose to represent the word dream on a bookmark. I love to read so this was the obvious choice of medium for my project. I chose the word dream because of its major significance in my life. I have always had very vivid and specific dreams since I was a child. My morals also align with heavy influence of living life to achieve your dreams. When I came across this translation of the word shown in Chinese calligraphy I couldn’t help but take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Although I might not have done the word or art justice from my shaky hand, I did try my best to incorporate my knowledge of brush strokes and lines into my realization of the art. I chose to accomplish this piece with regular script as it has been easiest for me to replicate and practice throughout this semester. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to participate in this class and take home knowledge about Chinese culture and calligraphy as well as this bookmark, a tangible reminder that if I can dream it, I can do it.

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For my final project in Chinese calligraphy, I chose to write the characters 幸运, which mean “Good Luck.” These characters symbolize fortune and positivity, qualities that I believe are essential in life. By presenting this on a beautifully crafted bookmark, I aimed to blend traditional Chinese culture with a modern, practical design.

I chose 幸运 because it reflects my hope to bring luck and happiness to those who see it. Creating this piece was a meaningful experience, as it allowed me to practice the balance, precision, and mindfulness required in calligraphy. This project has deepened my appreciation for the beauty and cultural significance of Chinese calligraphy, and I hope it inspires others to explore this timeless art form.

-Moji

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I chose to pick a fun word and that is 龙猫 (lóng māo), meaning chinchilla. The traits of a chinchilla are what I wanted to showcase in my final project for this calligraphy class. This includes their affectionate, gentle, and intelligent nature. I feel these traits fit calligraphy perfectly with the patience and skill needed for such an art. In this way, I feel that the chinchilla is the embodiment of my calligraphy journey in this class as I grew these traits throughout the year.

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For my piece I decided to write the symbols “read” “rest” and “peace.” I wrote all of these on a bookmark because I love to read. It is how I rest at the end of the day and bring peace into my life. Calligraphy has been an amazing way for me to relax and take a beat in a stressful college environment. I wanted to combine my love for reading along with the love I have grown for calligraphy into one project for my final showcase. I wrote the first two symbols with a lighter touch because I felt the final symbol of peace brings them together. By writing them lighter, it made a statement that they are important but the ultimate goal with both is to bring peace into life.

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This bookmark has words I chose: calm, reading, and book, because they remind me of the things people want to focus on while reading. I picked these words because reading is a time to feel peaceful and relaxed. The gold specks in the background stood out really well under the ink which is why I picked this color. I think it makes the bookmark look simple but really nice at the same time, giving it a quiet elegance that matches the mood I want when I read. It’s not just a bookmark, but something personal that adds to the reading experience.

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For my piece, I decided that I wanted to draw mountains in nature, with the Chinese calligraphy symbol for “Taoism” in the top left, and a calm sun beaming down in the top right. I have loved learning about the Daoist and Buddhist aspects of calligraphy while taking this class, so I wanted to make a piece that embodies the Dao.

The Dao is all about harmony, nature, and the flow of energy and spirit of the the universe. I think mountains represent the Dao perfectly, as they are strong and stand tall, but still change over millions of years. Mountains, and all of nature, are part of the earthly and universal flow that Daoism is about. Mountains, water, dirt, etc, are symbols of balance in nature. A key aspect of following Daoism is to align yourself with nature’s rhythms and wu wei (acting without acting). These mountains are aligned with nature, and have endured all the weather and changes thrown at them, embodying wu wei.

-Dominic Evans

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I chose a bookmark as my final showcase, and chose the calligraphy phrase “卧虎藏龙”, translated as “Crouching tiger, hidden dragon”. This is the name of a movie starring Michelle Yeoh, but the original phrase itself is an idiom meaning “Talents that aren’t yet recognized.” Honestly, this somewhat describes my experience in this class, because I wasn’t too sure about my ability in calligraphy. I could have been called a “crouching tiger” at the time. But since I draw as a hobby, once I learned about traditional art and its incorporation into calligraphy, that could be considered the “hidden dragon”. I included both my improved calligraphy characters in this class, and traditional Chinese painting techniques inside my final showcase because I feel that’s where I was really able to show my creativity.

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I chose to create my final project on this red paper with gold accents. I chose this for my final because it reminded me of a Lai see (Chinese red envelope). Lai sees are an important part of Cantonese culture, symbolizing good luck and usefulness. The red color symbolizes warding off evil spirits, luck, joy, and happiness, while the gold color signifies wealth, prosperity, and royalty.

Lai sees are red envelopes filled with money given during the Chinese Lunar New Year or other celebrations. Married people and elders give Lai see to young children and unmarried adults to bring good luck. 祥呈鳳龍 written on the Lai see means a journey of good fortune and prosperity brought by the dragon and the phoenix. 祥 means lucky and auspicious, 呈 means journey, 鳳 represents the phoenix, and 龍 represents the dragon.

-Shayla Joe

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I chose to create my final project on a fan because of its sturdy material and unique shape. I enjoy drawing, and when given the opportunity, I wanted to combine my love for drawing with the art of calligraphy as well. In honor of my grandfather, and as a gift for my mother, I chose to write my grandfather’s name. I wrote his Chinese name, 黄任龙 (Huáng Rèn Lóng), accompanied with a golden dragon, because that is what his name means when translated from Teochew to Thai.

I used standard script for my writing as I wanted to keep the name clear and bold, followed by an elegant dragon to symbolize my grandfather. I don’t usually paint animals, but given the creative nature of the dragon, I really enjoyed making this piece because I could paint whatever I felt was suitable without worrying about capturing realism. I got to experiment with the unique viscosity of the gold ink, and how beautiful the shimmer is under the light, just like a dragon’s scales would be. I first created the silhouette of the dragon using the gold ink, then I added details with our usual black ink to make the dragon more apparent. In the end, I was able to create a simple, but meaningful artwork for my family and I, and that sentiment is infinitely valuable to me.

- Pattra Gulbag

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I selected a keychain for my final project, as I spend most of my time outside my house and wanted something I could take with me rather than hang on a wall. I decided to model my final project off of page 8 of our week 12 handout. This page depicts the characters for harmony (和), serenity (静), strength (力), honor (荣), happiness (高), and knowledge (知) in running script. Though I think running script is absolutely gorgeous, I actually preferred learning about and writing oracle bone script. Oracle bone script, as the earliest recorded instance of Chinese language, is much more pictographic than later versions of Mandarin. I decided to write these characters in oracle bone script in an attempt to depict the base human nature of these values. I like thinking people are essentially good, and these words written in their earliest forms are a sentimental reminder to have faith in that base nature of humanity - that people are harmonious, serene, strong, honorable, happy, knowledge-seekers. A simple, positive message to carry around!

- Zoe Butterfield

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I chose to create my final project on a scroll. I wrote a famous line from the work 以梦为马 by Haizi.  “以梦为马，不负韶华” it means to take your dream as the direction and motivation to move forward and live up to the good times. This sentence includes a character “马”, horse. It means power and hope. Horse, a strong animals can represent a carrier of hope. It carries inner ideas and dreams and provides support for the future. It is the reason why I provide more emphasis on this character with larger writing.

In my work, I used regular script to demonstrate the formal and easy understanding format to call for attention to the line. On the left side, I put dong the current year, month and my name for this piece. I hope everyone will have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and goals.

—- Claire Gan

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I decided to create my final project on a scroll with a red and gold background, symbolizing good luck or good fortune. In the upper right-hand corner is the inscription "患难见真情"--"a friend in need is a friend indeed"--written in seal script, which I chose in order to reference endurance through time, as ancient seal script is still practiced by modern artists. This phrase suggests that a true friend is not a superficial one who is afraid to ask a favor, but one who is in good enough standing to both ask and give in the ebb and flow of a healthy relationship.

In addition, the crane in the lower right-hand corner of the piece illustrates longevity, wisdom, and loyalty. There are also water lilies, suggesting purity or enlightenment, and water (an important symbol in multiple Chinese philosophies and religions) which symbolizes change, purity, and strength. These aspects together with the phrase combine aspects of Chinese calligraphy, culture and philosophy to indicate the importance, longevity, and purity of true friendship: the best of all fortunes.

- Megan Godfrey

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I chose a flower-shaped fan, because I thought it looked cool, and I could incorporate strong meanings to go along with the flower. The characters are placed along the perimeter of the flower, in a harmonious manner. One of the characters reads, "The clouds open, and the fog disperses." This phrase symbolizes clarity after confusion, hope after difficulty, or enlightenment after changes. Another character reads, " Sky", or "heaven", which connects to the natural themes often associated with traditional Chinese art. These characters align with the flower-shape of the fan, to symbolize life, beauty, and nature. The calligraphy is rendered with bold and expressive brushstrokes, creating a rhythm of traditional Chinese art.

-Diego C.

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I chose a keychain because it is easy to carry around, and I decided to engrave the word "An"(peace) on it. One side of the keychain will feature the word written in Chinese calligraphy, while the other side will display it in Vietnamese calligraphy. I chose this word because I am a student studying abroad, far from home and everything familiar. In almost every phone call with my family, my mom always reminds me, “Stay safe.” She says a lot of things, but her ultimate wish is always for me to be safe and sound. The keychain is like a charm for peace, something I can carry with me. Even though it holds no magical powers, it is something I wrote myself to remind me to think carefully before acting. Although I haven’t accomplished anything significant yet, at the very least, I hope it can ease my mom’s worries a little. - Giang Le

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Please submit the following two items:
1. A Write-up (in a paragraph or two) introducing your calligraphy work.
2. Image of your calligraphy work.

Note from Instructor:
-Reminder: please submit a text entry on WebCampus stating "I have submitted my Final Showcase (Image+Write-up) to the "Padlet".
-You are encouraged to view and appreciate your classmates' work:)  -Lin Li