My Story

Aurelio is 15 and Bruno is 13.
From: Mexico City

Aurelio writes, “Because for me the calligraphy is the artistic way to express the self and it is in its artistic way beautiful and perfect.”
Bruno writes, “Calligraphy is an art of self-expression in which the hand actions must be gracefull and perfection.”

The brothers were visiting the Statue of Liberty with their parents. Aurelio wanted his name in Chinese, Japanese and Spanish. He very carefully chose a natural-looking wood paper. I asked if they knew Jackie Chan and they all became excited, talking about what fans they are of his movies. I said if you like Jackie Chan and you want to do calligraphy yourselves, remember that you don’t get to be Jackie Chan without practice over and over. When you go home, try writing your name in calligraphy ten times, then you can start doing it in different languages, learn new letters and keep practicing, practicing.

Then his younger brother Bruno saw this and said, “I want my name done, too.” He also swore he would like to learn how to do calligraphy. I said “Very important, turn off the TV! Concentrate! Practice!” Like parents everywhere, the boys’ Mom and Dad loved to hear this and said, “Yes, Oh yes, I agree. Turn off the TV and do something.”

When they left, they had learned to ‘shay shay,’ which means ‘thank you’ and I used the Spanish, gracias coming full circle.

Name: Luke
From: England

Luke writes, “It looks so fluent and flowing”.

I note that Luke is about 13, very cute face. He asks his Mother for money and she only gave him one dollar. Luke asked me what I could do for him for just one dollar. I said I could do his name on one bookmark for one dollar. He held it as if it was so very special to him, looking at it like a jewel. The dollar was nothing compared to what he gave me by his excitement and wonder.

Then he and his Mother talked with me about how they don’t know or understand much about Eastern cultures but are interested. I suggested that they could learn a lot about Oriental culture and calligraphy in the movie ‘Hero’, also dancing and Kung Fu. They promised to do this and said that they had heard it was a good movie.

Name: Gabriela and Carlos
From: Bolivia

Gabriela wrote, “I’m interested in calligraphy because my husband Carlos has Japanese blood in his family and secondly because we like and admire their culture. We’re learning about it, and how we appreciate the values. We’re in love with this ART and really respect that you continue this tradition.”

I note that their young boy is particularly fascinated. It was he who brought up that Carlos, his Dad, has Japanese blood. I helped them choose a special red paper, pointing out that in some art practices of Chinese, red can convey the meaning of good luck. When I finished doing their names, they wanted me to done for the boss of the man’s company, in green color, with all three languages. The boy told me that the boss has oriental art in his house , that he will like this very much. He said the boss will spend money to frame the art I was making for him. I said, “If you like Japanese calligraphy, you can go on the internet and learn the symbols without paying a teacher to teach. Maybe in the future, you might become better at it than I am.”

Then I notice that there are two older people behind them and realize that these must be older generation with them. They also want their names done. They were very sweet people. I choose a long sheet of fine paper and did both of their names on it, married long time, (Father and Mother of one of the other couple.)

The whole family was so friendly and we all hugged. Keep in touch, we all said.

Name: Laura
From: Cuba

Laura wrote that “ Because of the beauty of the calligraphy, I love it. Being an acupuncturist, I value this art immensely.”

I note that she is a very beautiful young lady who speaks Spanish and English well. She says that many of her people love Chinese culture and vice versa, that many Chinese love the music and culture of her people, too. I sang a little of the song ‘I Live In Havana’ and she was suddenly like a friend. Then she wanted to pay me to do a large calligraphy piece for her daughters. I chose a large piece of my finest paper. She was going to put her daughters’ pictures in the areas on the left and right and wanted me to do the calligraphy for the word togetherness plus their names, in the middle between the pictures of her girls. When I asked why she likes Chinese calligraphy, she said she has long been lover of Chinese culture, is a professional acupuncturist and also does Chinese massage. She happily said that what I made for her would hang in her office.

Name: Dinesh
From: Singapore

Dines writes, “I am interested in Calligraphy because of my long interest in Chinese and Japanese languages.”

“At the same time, my children can learn and write their names in different languages. I am very
sheet of fine paper and did both of their names on it. They were married for a long time, (Father and Mother of one of the other couple.)

The whole family was so friendly and we all hugged. Keep in touch, we all said.

Name: Laura
From: Cuba

Laura wrote that “ Because of the beauty of the calligraphy, I love it. Being an accupuncturist, I value this art immensely.”

I note that she is a very beautiful young lady who speaks Spanish and English well. She says that many of her people love Chinese culture and vice versa, that many Chinese love the music and culture of her people, too. I sang a little of the song ‘I Live In Havana’ and she was suddenly like a friend. Then she wanted to pay me to do a large calligraphy piece for her daughters. I chose large piece of finest paper. She was going to put her daughters pictures in the areas on left and right and wanted me to do the calligraphy for the word togetherness plus their names, in the middle between the pictures of her girls. When I asked why she likes the Chinese calligraphy, she said she has long been lover of Chinese culture, is a professional acupuncturist and also does Chinese massage. She happily said that what I made for her would hang in her office.

Name: Dinesh
From: Singapore

Dines writes, “I am interested in Calligraphy because of my long interest in Chinese and Japanese languages.”
“At the same time, my children can learn and write their names in different languages. I am very much impressed!!! Thanks. I wish you all the best.”

I noted about meeting Dinesh… I think his name indicates a Buddhist background. He didn’t have a usual Asian face but had a brownish skin and I thought his family was probably from India and moved to Singapore. At first he seemed only interested in writing calligraphy himself and expressed interest in the tools and table, inks and paper. I said if you like, I don’t care how much money, I will do something for you. He said he had money and wanted me to do names for his whole family of four. He had two daughters, one thirteen and the other five years old. I said that you could teach your daughters the Chinese and Japanese languages easier by starting them doing calligraphy themselves, which he thought was a great way to help them learn those languages which are so important. Dinesh glowed with pleasure from the work and was so thankful, that he hugged me when left, promising to keep in touch and see me again if coming to New York.

Name: Yariv & Shiri
From: Israel

Yariv writes, “My wife has a tattoo of peace and beauty in Japanese on her back, so I figure it would be nice to have a picture of both of our names in our new home, which we recently bought!”

Shiri writes, “I really like the shapes of Japanese and Chinese letters, so it is an obligation to have my name written for our living room wall.”

I note about this that it was a very noisy day at Battery Park with construction equipment working on fixing the famous Bull Statue and the memorial statue memorializing ‘911.’ It was hard to talk over the sound but this couple were still a lot of fun. The young lady came up exclaiming, “So beautiful! Wonderful, wonderful! I have to get one for us and for my Mother and Father!”
I apologized for the noise and they talked a bit about how they are used to lots of noise, what with there always being war and trouble in Israel. Before leaving, Shiri swore that she would be back again and get more of my work for their new house.

Name: Beverly
From: Wales, UK

I have always loved art and writing and feel that Calligraphy is such a special form of art to express thoughts and feelings in a beautiful way. I have great respect for the dedication of the Chinese and Japanese calligraphy artists, as it is truly a great tradition to maintain and to pass on to future generations.”

I note about this customer… It is almost dark when these two ladies walk up to me looking very well-to-do and educated, speaking in very proper English, in their 50s. One of the ladies chooses one of my pictures and wants her 19 year old son’s name done in Chinese, Japanese and English.

This woman then began talking about how important calligraphy could be in bridging gaps between cultures by teaching. She told me that she does social work and would like to email me from her office, that she would like to keep in touch, maybe be able to give me more work. She also said that her son would like the style of the old English calligraphy letters I had done for her.

Name: Xiau
From: Laos/France

First part of what Xiau wrote, she did in French. Then she wrote the same paragraph in English, saying, “I love calligraphy because it is really beautiful. It gives some ‘poesie’ and dream in this world. Thank you so much for your art.”

I note about this customer that her name is actually Leng Gauy Qiao, a beautiful young lady. When I saw her face I thought she had Asian blood. She said that her Father is Cantonese; her Mother is from Laos and though she works and lives much of the time in France, she is a citizen of Laos.

I asked her if she wanted to buy any of my work. She first said no, then she left. About thirty minutes later, she came back and she said that she wants to buy four pieces of calligraphy for gifts. One is writing the word love very big on finest rice paper. Then she had me do three names. Then she added two more name plaques, so now the sale was up to 6 pieces. Then, glancing at her watch, she said, “Thank you very much for the quickness and these will make the best gifts.”