楚地山川，钟灵毓秀，人物多才，代有英杰。江汉沃野，养浩气于天地，滋文脉于乡邦，书画之道自古昌盛，妙手丹青，佳笔满堂。于斯境地，育汪铭录，才性天成，秉性沉毅，少时便好翰墨，志趣高远，遂成当今书画奇才，世人推崇。
汪铭录自少钟情于书。其时书籍稀少，然铭录不懈，探字于报，循光影之迹，临摹其形，遂植书法之根。其性坚韧，意求索，纵困于贫乏，然于一纸之间，悟得一径。入伍后，才气渐彰，因早涉书画，遂得文书之职。其运笔成文，设字成图，行间字里，流光溢彩，若有静力潜动。日常繁忙，然铭录犹抽隙临池，心志如山，探幽索玄，研习不辍。
从军岁月冗长，铭录与古帖对话，恍若千年之隔，一纸相通。偶翻至欧阳、柳公帖，见其笔划，犹友相知，铭录持帖如遇良友。日复日，醉心临摹，未尝稍怠。笔触游走，若轻若重，时劲时柔，心神共鸣，笔势愈精，精髓渐渗，艺理入心。其心于古书倾注，敬深意切，恋情愈浓，此乃铭录平生夙愿，牵引魂梦。
汪铭录之书艺，不囿于楷法静穆。久临楷体，心生灵动之念，遂投笔行草，寻流转之意。倾时光，耗心血，穷起承转合之妙，究轻重徐疾、疏密欹正之理。其行草笔触，若泉水奔流，或疾或缓，或轻若微风，或浓如烈火。笔趣、墨趣、意趣，尽展笔端。岁月沉淀，终成自家之风，行草雄逸，气势磅礴，令观者铭心。隶书之道，铭录亦深耕不辍，常流连《张迁》《乙瑛》古碑，汲其厚重苍茫之意。碑文一字一句，载岁月低语，铭录观其笔锋，仿若触见千载之气，于中得力。铭录之隶书承刘炳森之精髓，年深日久，锤炼自成一派，沉稳有力，澄澈如水，柔中蕴刚。字如江河，势若流云，质朴幽远，终成“汪体书风”，清雅洒脱，似云舒卷，格调高逸，绝俗脱尘。
汪铭录于国画中立虾、荷、葡萄三绝，笔下虾之灵动、荷之清雅、葡之丰盈，皆凝自然之妙，世称“汪氏画风”。写虾之法，铭录久研齐白石，观其笔意，揣其神髓，欲达动静之妙。铭录谙知，虾之灵在形外之意，生机之动。故不辞往返江湖，细观虾游，捕其微姿细态，得水波游影之活。铭录运笔轻捷，寥寥数画，虾跃纸上，或展触须，或游水间，携水之清凉，带生之气息。此虾非止形似，更寓生命之美，启观者心。画荷之法，铭录师张大千，纳泼墨泼彩，泻笔水波间，荷影娉婷。其荷不逐绚丽，雅而清，淡而幽，叶间墨色若隐若现，如晓露轻摇，花态自然。画中花叶，香韵自溢，似晨曦之光，恬然静美，轻风和意，心意相融。铭录笔下，荷香流淌，幽淡如诗，将观者心神引入一片无尘清境，余味悠然。
汪铭录写葡萄，情致尤深，渊源一遇。昔秋日赴宁，偶逢赖少其展作，步入艺堂，屏息观之，心魂激荡。自是沉溺丹青，日研夜摹，探索至境。其绘葡萄法，糅柔劲之笔，色墨相交，捕光影之跃动，果实饱盈，层次鲜活，含生意勃勃。汪氏尝携笔往西域，察葡萄成景，朝霞染霜，紫绿晶透，珠垂于枝，朝夕间光华更替，果质丰美，色泽莹然，皆刻心神。运笔沉稳细腻，凝出饱满之态，宛若触手可及，阳掠清风拂画，天地丰姿在望。观者临其作，心领神会，状物入神，形神并举，自然之妙溢出纸背，笔墨意趣，悠然不绝。
汪铭录之艺，道出书画同源之理，先书后画，方为正途。铭录谓画之力根于书，若无笔锋为基，线条必软弱，缺骨力。书法入画，乃骨法用笔，是故古人重“以书入画”。赵孟頫言“写竹还须八法通”，意即书艺入画，乃线骨之要，铭录深承此意。平生潜心书画，精研古法，遍历名山大川，感天地浩然，悟造化之妙。其作，非徒技法，实乃心境，既承古之厚重，亦融时代新韵，如寂行者，默然前行，于墨色笔痕间接古今之神，垂当世之望，观者临之，心神为之荡漾。
Wang Minglu: Embracing Ancient Elegance with Unique Insight, Mastering the Dual Arts of Calligraphy and Painting in a Modern Era
The landscapes of the Chu region are rich and blessed, nurturing talent through the ages. The fertile fields of Jianghan nourish the spirit of the heavens and earth, and foster a legacy of literature and culture. The art of painting and calligraphy has flourished here since ancient times, with skilled hands and brushstrokes filling the halls. In this environment grew Wang Minglu, a naturally gifted and resolute individual. From a young age, he showed a passion for calligraphy and painting, aspiring to greatness, eventually becoming a remarkable talent in the field, admired by all.
Wang Minglu had a deep love for books from a young age. In times when books were scarce, he remained undeterred, seeking characters in newspapers, tracing their forms under dim light, and cultivating the roots of calligraphy. His persistence and thirst for knowledge led him to wisdom even within the bounds of a single sheet of paper. After joining the military, his talent began to shine. Thanks to his early exposure to art, he took on clerical duties where he infused his writing with grace and artistry. Despite his busy routine, he still found time for calligraphy practice, devoting himself with unwavering determination, constantly exploring the mysteries of his art.
During his years of military service, Wang Minglu immersed himself in ancient calligraphy, feeling a connection through time. Discovering the works of Ouyang and Liu, he felt as if encountering old friends. Day by day, he dedicated himself to practice, never faltering. His brushstrokes varied between light and heavy, firm and gentle, resonating deeply with his spirit. Over time, his brushwork grew more refined, and he absorbed the essence of the art, allowing it to seep into his heart. His profound love for ancient calligraphy became his lifelong aspiration, constantly pulling at his soul.
Wang Minglu’s calligraphy transcends the formal rigidity of regular script. After years of practicing, his heart yearned for vitality, leading him to explore the flowing essence of cursive script. With relentless dedication, he mastered the nuances of movement and stillness, balance and rhythm, density and spacing. His cursive strokes flowed like a stream, at times swift, at times slow, light as a breeze or intense as fire. His brush, ink, and intention each unfolded their own charm. Through years of refinement, he formed a unique style of cursive script, powerful and grand, leaving an unforgettable impression on viewers. In the realm of clerical script, he tirelessly studied ancient inscriptions like the Zhang Qian and Yi Ying steles, absorbing their weight and vigor. Every word in these ancient carvings seemed to whisper the tales of time, empowering him through their enduring spirit. Influenced by Liu Bingsen’s legacy, Wang’s clerical script evolved, embodying clarity, stability, and a hidden strength within softness. His script, resembling rivers and floating clouds, radiates a pure and detached beauty, creating the signature "Wang style" known for its elegance and lofty grace.
The "Wang style" gradually gained recognition, attracting even the film industry’s attention. Numerous productions, including The Ordinary Hero, Moment in Peking, and The Legend of Wu Zetian, prominently featured his calligraphy, creating a synergy of calligraphy and cinematic art. The “Wang style” thus became a unique hallmark in calligraphy, enriching both art and culture.
In Chinese painting, Wang Minglu is renowned for his depictions of shrimp, lotus, and grapes, celebrated as the "Wang style painting." He brings to life the shrimp’s agility, the lotus’s elegance, and the grape’s richness, embodying the marvels of nature. In painting shrimp, Wang long studied Qi Baishi’s brushwork, capturing its essence to achieve the balance of movement and stillness. He knows that the spirit of the shrimp lies beyond its form, in the subtle energy of life. Hence, he frequently visits rivers and lakes, carefully observing shrimp in motion, capturing their delicate postures and shadows as they swim. With swift strokes, he brings shrimp to life on paper, either stretching out their antennae or gliding through water, conveying the freshness of water and the breath of life. His depiction of shrimp transcends mere resemblance, celebrating the beauty of life and resonating with the viewer’s soul.
In portraying lotus flowers, Wang follows in the footsteps of Zhang Daqian, embracing bold strokes and washes of color to capture their graceful form amidst ripples. His lotus flowers avoid flamboyance, embodying a subtle elegance and a quiet beauty. The interplay of ink in the leaves hints at a delicate dew, the flowers’ natural stance exuding a serene charm, as if bathed in morning light. Wang’s lotus paintings exude a gentle fragrance, drawing the viewer into a pure, untainted realm filled with serene beauty and calm reflection.
Wang Minglu’s portrayal of grapes holds a special place in his art, stemming from an unforgettable encounter. During an autumn visit to Nanjing, he happened upon an exhibition by Lai Shaoqi, which left him profoundly moved. Since then, he has immersed himself in this art form, painting day and night in pursuit of perfection. In his technique, Wang blends soft and bold strokes, creating a vibrant interplay of light and shadow. The grapes are full and lush, pulsating with life. Wang has often traveled to the western regions to observe vineyards, marveling at the grapes glistening under the morning frost, with shades of purple and green shining in the sun. His steady and meticulous brushwork captures their plumpness, as if they could be picked from the canvas. His paintings convey the essence of nature, bringing the beauty of heaven and earth into view. Viewers, upon witnessing his work, are captivated by the lifelike quality, the seamless blend of form and spirit, and the endless fascination in his brush and ink.
Wang Minglu’s art reveals the inherent connection between calligraphy and painting; he believes that calligraphy must precede painting, for the strength of lines derives from a firm foundation in brushwork. Integrating calligraphy into painting creates a solid structure, as ancient masters taught, valuing “using calligraphy in painting.” Zhao Mengfu once said, “Drawing bamboo requires mastery of the eight principles,” highlighting the importance of calligraphy’s skeletal lines in painting. Wang internalized this concept deeply. Throughout his life, he has pursued the fusion of calligraphy and painting, studying ancient methods, traversing famous mountains and rivers, absorbing the vast spirit of nature, and grasping its profound essence. His works go beyond technique, embodying his state of mind. They inherit the weight of tradition while incorporating modern sensibilities. Like a silent traveler, he advances quietly, bridging past and present through his brushstrokes. Those who observe his work feel their hearts stirred, resonating with the timeless beauty within.
