Official vs. Informal
1 September 2015 No Comments
Official seals for Chinese emperors were square and large.
My random notes on Chinese-style seal carving.
Talking Seals
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Opposite Corners
1 August 2015 No Comments
Seals are often used in the opposite corners of a work of Chinese art.
How Many Seals?
15 July 2015 No Comments
You can use as many seals on an artwork as you like.
Yin/Yang Seals
15 June 2015 No Comments
If you have both first and last name seals they’ll usually be opposites: one yin and one yang.
Name Seal
15 May 2015 No Comments
The most common seal is a name seal, and the most common name seal contains both first and last names.
Where Do I Put It?
15 February 2015 No Comments
Probably the most common question from beginning artists is where to put a seal on their art.
Don’t Eat It!
15 December 2014 2 Comments
The red color of seal ink comes from the mineral cinnabar, which is then made into the color known as vermillion—and it’s poisonous.
Seal Ruler
15 August 2014 No Comments
Although usually translated into English as a seal ruler (印規 yingui) this tool has nothing to do with taking measurements.
How to Hold a Stone
15 November 2013 No Comments
How to know which way is up when you stamp your seal.
Beware the Box
15 June 2013 No Comments
If you keep your seal in a box it can be hard to keep the box clean.