Resilience and Refinement: The Cornerstones of Success for Calligraphers
Forging Excellence through Perseverance and Expert Instruction.
Earlier this month, I wrote about Kalem Güzeli, a cornerstone book for aspiring calligraphers and Islamic Calligraphy researchers. The book's first volume focuses mainly on the philosophy of writing, showing readers different perspectives for approaching the art sincerely. One chapter in Kalem Güzeli covers the requirements of being a successful penman.
Embarking on the path of becoming an Arabic calligrapher is a journey that demands unwavering perseverance and an indomitable work ethic. It is a craft that marries the precision of technique with the artistic expression of language, requiring a steady hand and a steadfast spirit. In the pursuit of mastery, the aspirant encounters countless hours of practice, each pen stroke a testament to the dedication and diligence invested.
As Mahmud Bedrettin Yazır eloquently articulates in his work, aspiring calligraphers find their voice through discipline and hard work, transcending the ordinary to etch their mark upon the canvas of Arabic script. This timeless wisdom encapsulates the essence of what it means to be a student of this ancient craft, emphasizing that, above all, tenacity and unyielding resolve forge the path to mastery:
Like every art, calligraphy is first and foremost based on an innate talent and ingenuity. They are asleep in some people and awake in others. Although it is sometimes convenient to show good examples to activate those who are asleep, sometimes it is necessary to leave it on time and wake it up gradually with training. Just as calligraphers who produced high works at a young age have emerged, many artisans have developed and progressively evolved with a long study. Inheritance also plays a significant role in this work. It cannot be denied that inherited aptitudes and abilities are getting stronger and faster.
“Developing talents and abilities requires more attention and care than others. Because they are like gunpowder in a bomb whose fuse has been ignited, they explode and change their course when they exceed the resistance limit. By shifting from the path of serving physical feelings to the side of earthly desires, they can make the owner give up writing and lead him to some destructive tendencies.”
Therefore, those with this talent and ability should prepare themselves in advance, avoid getting things out of hand and end up in misery and regret. It is necessary to have the knowledge and culture to manage oneself and to hold the reins to protect one's will from outbursts. Moreover, masters should understand these abilities in advance and follow a helpful path in their students’ education and training.
Writing is hidden in the teaching of the master. With a lot of experience, the master understands how and in what way his spiritual motive takes place in the artwork and knows more closely how aesthetic subtleties and characteristics are provided with the pen while describing and teaching their students with his practices. A true master teaches accurately and makes you remember things more, so he quickly develops the student's ability.
They asked Sheikh Hamdullah how he obtained this writing. He said, "I put my eyes to my teacher's hand and pen, my ear to his tongue, my heart to the writing, and I connected my hand and the pen to the required form, and I did not get tired of writing until I wrote a letter the way it was necessary."