军中自古多才俊，铁血征途，亦见丹青流韵。长沙尚游，少岁从戎，壮志潜养于戎马之间。其磨砺于兵旅，心志坚凝，笔墨暗通天地，静中观万物，动则泼墨成章。铁骑铿锵中，气贯山河;泼墨挥毫处，静观云水。尚游笔下，书与画俱有豪气，又蕴文雅，篆刻间神韵流转，成一家之风，名传四方。尚游之笔，壮于军旅，艺成于劳。后虽归乡，或为师授学，或执木匠之活，然心志未曾有一日离书画，泼墨临池，探索不辍，其志如斯，未改初心，常以诗自道：“惯捉残豪抒逸兴，长研淡墨写溪山。”
尚游精研艺道，胸中丘壑隐然，四艺皆通，纵横于书法、篆刻、剪纸、丹青。挥毫之间游刃有余，心手相契，气韵自生，妙理暗藏。承古意而不泥于旧，发新机而不离法度，随意而行，法从心出，自然天成，笔墨间涵古意，才情中见灵机。
尚游行草轻盈，挥洒自如，笔走龙蛇，若行云流水，若风穿云过，变幻多姿。草书尤显浑大之势，笔法纵横，劲健凌厉，随心挥洒，气势若惊涛拍岸，磅礴如天地风云，若风卷云舒，江河奔腾，笔下纵横千里，如蛟龙腾舞于九天，心随意动，气韵悠长。笔势不拘一格，似自然之妙出乎手中。其榜书雄劲，字如高岳，气韵沉雄，锋藏于内，势起于外，观者仿若立于山巅，气吞云海，如峻岳巍然，若千钧巨石，字中含天地之势，锋锐内敛，虽不张显，然其气魄如雷隐于云，雄姿自现。笔力惊人而不露锋芒，豪情满纸，余韵绵长。尚游之书道，心与手合，举笔则势起山河，气象千变，动静相映，已臻自成之境。
其篆刻之艺，浑然古拙，沉稳有力。刀锋所至，如笔运于纸，意随心转，锋藏韵透，呈古今相交之妙。其守秦汉之淳厚古风，每一刀皆见匠心，不惟技艺之显，亦是心意之流。于方寸印石之中，千载风华交融，时空贯通，刀痕深浅有度，韵致自生。刀走之间，气势如山峦奔涌，沉雄苍劲，锋利中自见文雅之气。边款随兴而发，游刃而行，意境高远，似风过林海，静中含动，韵致悠长。其刀法中，隐含深蕴，每一刀皆为心意寄思，皆为风骨所现，刀痕深处，既有石之沉静，又藏浩然之气。
尚游于国画，深造传统，兼采新意。工笔人物，勾勒精细，神气蕴于毫端，人物虽静，其意自流，姿态若有声，目光藏思，神韵逼人。线条之妙，层次丰盈，似有深情暗涌。观其作，人物若生，形神合一，仿佛画外生息。写意花鸟，随笔游走天地，笔法简洁，意象无穷，花木禽鸟，灵动于纸上。尚游善于于寥寥数笔中摄取自然精髓，气韵融于风流，虚实相生，神采飘逸。尚游剪纸技艺娴熟，独具匠心，承古法之精，融时代之韵。剪刀走纸，人物、花木、鸟兽皆栩栩如生，将书法意趣融于纸上，刀工轻重自如，线条灵动，神意贯通。其作品繁而不乱，精而不拘，纸上景象，刀下生辉，神韵跃然，于严谨中见天真。处处见其心力之深远。其以传统技艺为基，融个人之妙思，既得古法高古之质，又含当代清新之风，剪影如画，气象高远。
尚游艺道承古韵而融新意，静中见动，简中寓深，渊源古制，意通今道。书篆剪画，皆含古韵新姿。其心游万象，妙笔随势，取万物于方寸间自得其趣。其心眼所到，便融自然万象于一笔，寓思于形，意境深远。每作一成，皆留余韵，引人遐思。
Shang You: A Multi-talented Figure Blending Martial and Literary Arts, Reaching the Ultimate Realm of All Arts
Throughout history, the military has always been home to many talented individuals, where the path of iron and blood also reveals the elegance of the brush. Shang You from Changsha, having joined the military at a young age, nurtured his lofty ambitions in the midst of military life. His experiences in the army sharpened his resolve, and through quiet observation, he found his voice in both martial and literary arts. While in the throes of battle, his spirit soared with the clashing of iron hooves, and when holding his brush, he found tranquility in the vast landscapes.
Shang You’s works, both in calligraphy and painting, possess a boldness tempered with elegance. His seal carving flows with an enchanting rhythm, forming a style of its own that is well-known far and wide. His art blossomed within the crucible of military life and matured through hard work and dedication. After retiring to his homeland, he occasionally taught as a master, or worked as a carpenter, yet his devotion to painting and calligraphy never wavered. He continued to experiment and refine his craft, forever seeking improvement. His determination and original intentions remained steadfast, and he often expressed his sentiments in poetry, saying: "Accustomed to capturing the remnants of grandeur and expressing my elegant inspirations..."
Shang You’s running and cursive script is light and graceful, flowing effortlessly, with the brush moving like a dragon or snake—swift and powerful. It moves like clouds drifting across the sky, like wind passing through the clouds, transforming in a myriad of ways. His cursive writing especially reveals a grand, bold style, with brushstrokes that are expansive and vigorous, striking with strength and precision. He writes freely, as if the momentum of crashing waves or the vast, unpredictable winds of heaven and earth are at play, like the wind rolling clouds or the rivers surging. His brushstrokes cover thousands of miles, akin to a dragon soaring through the nine heavens, with the mind and spirit moving in harmony, creating a long-lasting resonance.
His brushwork is not bound by form, but rather seems to flow naturally from his hand, expressing the wonders of nature. His regular script is powerful and vigorous, with characters resembling towering mountains, full of deep and majestic energy. The force is hidden within the strokes, rising outward like a forceful wave. Observers might feel as though they are standing atop a high mountain, swallowing the vastness of the sea, with the characters taking on the presence of a towering peak, or a mighty stone poised to strike. Within the characters, the power of the universe is embodied—sharp and reserved, not overtly displayed, yet the aura is like thunder hidden in the clouds, with a majestic spirit that emerges naturally. The force of his brush is remarkable, yet without revealing its sharp edges, exuding a heroic spirit that fills the page, leaving a lingering, awe-inspiring atmosphere.
In Chinese painting, Shang You has deeply studied the traditional techniques while also incorporating fresh, innovative ideas. His meticulous brushwork in figure painting is finely detailed, with every stroke imbued with spirit. Though the figures may be still, their essence flows naturally from the brush, and their postures seem to speak. Their eyes carry deep thoughts, and their expressions are compelling, full of life and energy. The lines are exquisite, with a rich layering that gives the impression of hidden emotions beneath the surface. Viewing his work, one feels as if the figures are alive, their form and spirit perfectly united, almost as if life itself emanates from the painting.
In his freehand flower-and-bird paintings, Shang You’s brush dances across the paper with a fluidity that moves between heaven and earth. The strokes are simple, yet the imagery is endless. Flowers, plants, birds, and beasts come alive on the paper, filled with vitality. Shang You is particularly adept at capturing the essence of nature in just a few brushstrokes, blending grace and energy into his work. The harmony of light and dark, of emptiness and fullness, creates a sense of ethereal beauty.
Shang You’s paper-cutting skills are also highly refined and inventive. He masterfully inherits the精 (essence) of ancient techniques while blending in the spirit of the times. With scissors in hand, he brings to life figures, plants, birds, and animals, each vibrant and full of vitality. He merges the essence of calligraphy into his paper cutting, and his control over the weight and lightness of the cuts gives the lines a dynamic flow, creating a work that transcends simple craftsmanship.
