Presentation : Seals

公司的英文課快結束啦，最後一堂課得上台present個自選的主題，我選了「篆刻」！真是造虐啊！就算再懂都沒用，因為全部都要變成英文，光是個「印泥」就很難找到合適的字，雖然用了「inkpad」，但完全沒有「泥」的感覺啊！

1. Hi everybody, tonight I would like to show you how Chinese artists created seals after the Ming Dynasty. I started to learn this skill in my second year in the calligraphy club of NTU. It`s insteresting, and it`s a good choice when I have to prepare special gifts.
2. In this presentation, I`ll show you the tools that help me create seals. And how I design them, how to prepare stone, cutting & signing. Then I`ll show you some creations made by me.
3. Generally, we need an engraver to cut stones and make a singature. Then use "blue bar" to shine stone after finishing all of the work. After all of the work, We use the seal & inkpad to create a picture on paper.
4. This is one of my inkpads. There are many kinds of ink for artists. They are all different colors & prices. In the back of the inkpad is my inkstab where I make my ink for brush.
5. The history of Chinese is longer than 4000 years. So we have many types of characters. We usually use a specail set of characters for seal. But we don`t use that today. So I need a dictionary to check the character before designing my seal.
6. There are many good creations made by past artists, and they are a good reference to learn how to design a good seal.
7. After checking the dictionary, I start to paint sketch on paper. There are many ways to change the final result, like : To use different writing style or method. To change the position of characters.
8. Before cutting, I have to make one of the stone surfaces completely plane with sand paper. And make a sketch on a special paper with a Chinese brush. There are many shining dots on this kind of paper, so we name it "cicadas wing".
9. Firstly, adhere sketch paper & stone by water.
10. Put another paper as a protective layer.
11. Scrape the paper with your fingernail.
12. Remove all the paper, and some of the sketch ink will remain on the stone surface. Now we can cut the stone according to these lines.
13. But lazy Ironhead usually makes the surface sketch by pencil.
14. It`s dangerous without any other tools. Don`t try this when you are unfamilier with seal cutting.
15. After completeing the main seal surface. It`s time to sign your creations. We usually explain why we make the seal by signature.
16. To sign is another interesting work if I can make beautiful characters.
17. There are 2 methods to rub the signature. But as you know, Ironhead is lazy, so I`ll show you the easiest way. Simply put a paper on the surface, then scrape with a crayon.
18. Now you know when & why I made this one. I started to make this when I was in 成功嶺. And completed it when my station was changed to 新竹.
19. Here are some creations I made before.