GINGER ARMSTRONG
Japanese Calligraphy

Ginger Armstrong began studying Japanese Calligraphy over ten years ago in Vermont with a woman from Hokkaido, Japan. Later she moved to Japan, where she furthered her studies with two teachers. Her final teacher, Ooba Sensei, taught in the Chinese tradition and presented calligraphy as an expression of spirit and not just form. He also stressed the carving history of calligraphy which gives it its great strength and movement.

Ginger's work involves practicing a Kanji (Japanese word) by working on the dictionary form (Kaisho) and understanding the shape and stroke of the Japanese word and how these two elements give meaning to its definition. After confidence in the Kaisho she introduces writing the Kanji in a cursive manner.

"I do have dictionaries to guide me, but my own heart is the final judge."  This comment from Ginger follows from her teachers wisdom, "Do the spirit, not just strokes."