Here is a comprehensive guide explaining everything you need to know to master the skills and techniques of beautiful writing. Beginning with a review of Western calligraphy from antiquity to today's electronic age, The Art of Calligraphy helps the reader choose equipment ---- brushes, pens, pencils, papers, and inks ---- and then shows exactly how to hold and angle the pen to produce every letter of the alphabet in a number of different scripts. Key elements of letter anatomy are explained in detail ---- step--by--step constructions show each essential step in creating the distinctive characteristics of 26 styles. All the major Latin--based scripts are included ---- from Roman Imperial and Caroline to Gothic, Renaissance, and Copperplate scripts. The Art of Calligraphy features the very best historical and contemporary examples of each style, offering guidance and inspiration in this age of computer--generated type. Soon you will be ready to use your exquisite penmanship to personalize stationery or enhance other special gifts and objects. Combining instructional diagrams with outstanding examples from Western masters, The Art of Calligraphy is a unique introduction to hand lettering. It is an authoritative reference as well as a source of inspiration for any artist.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
YA-An attractive, oversized, well-illustrated introduction to a wide variety of written scripts used from Roman times to modern days. The detailed, practical instructions for 26 styles focus on step-by-step, clear visuals, as well as on the proper equipment-brushes, pens, pencils, paper, and ink. A brief history with examples from calligraphic masters introduces each style, making this book not only a practical working manual, but also a useful resource for art history classes.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
The skills and techniques of calligraphy are explained in a fine guide which details key elements of letter writing and uses clear examples to guide beginners. Lettering examples are done in different hues of color, which can emphasize textures and stylistic contrasts. One of the best beginner's guides available. -- Midwest Book Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book of exemplars,
By
This review is from: Art of Calligraphy (Hardcover)
There are so many books on calligraphy; it is extremely difficult to write one that will please everyone. This one will please you vastly if you are looking for a book full of well-laid-out, very clear ductus' pages, with minimal instructional material and beautiful color reproduction of historical examples. This book is basically about directions for writing historical hands. The DK style of minimal text supported by captioned pictures makes for a lot of visual learning, but this does cut down on the scope of information included. The information is historically basic, then, and the instructional section quite minimal. If you need beginner's instruction for the first steps of calligraphy, you may not find the depth of information you desire here. The real stregnth of the book is in its breakdown of historic hands. The step-by-step breakdown of each letter of each hand is most helpfully produed in color, allowing the areas of overlap to be clearly seen; this is much more definite in visually presenting the letterforms than the traditional method of providing black and white exemplers. Further, each hand is made with different calligraphy tools; markers, reeds, quills, dip pens, et cetera, allowing you to compare the look of each tool. There is a very helpful appendix, providing each alphabet in the book in simple, er, "abc form;" a skilled calligrapher could open the book to this two page spead and have every hand presented in the book available for visual reference. In all, a very, very useful book for those who are looking primarily for instructions for writing historic hands.
46 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful but......,
By Rowland Jones (Paciano, Umbria, Italy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Art of Calligraphy (Hardcover)
As with all Dorling Kindersley products the book is beautifully produced and laid out. However it does has some flaws. The style of the text is somewhat 'strained' and reads like a text book which doesn't not seem,in my mind to fit in with the usual user-friendly DK style. Secondly there appears to be a section of the book missing, in that the book leaps from a rather cursory look at what is required straight to the different styles, without discussing any basic techniquesof penmanship(penpersonship?) Further more I use the word 'cursory' since there is no mention of INK! How can a book about calligraphy not discuss types and colours of ink, gouache etc! I would suggest that the revised version of this 'practical guide' (sic) ought to consider this major oversight!
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Art of Calligraphy (Hardcover)
If you want only one book to learn about calligraphy, this is the one. Trained by a master calligrapher of the Queen's Court many years ago, I recommend this book very highly to anyone who wish to develop skill and proficency in this art.While I didn't pursue this field career-wise, I found this book to be an excellent reference to reignite the skill I thought was lost. F.Lee
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THE FIRST ALPHABET evolved in Phoenicia in about 1200 BC. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
caroline minuscule, humanist minuscule, half uncial, insular majuscule, insular minuscule, square capitals, italic capitals, hairline tail, minim height, split ascenders, same ductus, split serif, wedge serif, diamond stroke, flat serif, pen angle, hairline stroke, right serif, top serif, left serif, rounded stroke, pen widths, pen lifts, minuscule letters, stem stroke Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Imperial Capital, Artificial Uncial, Lindisfarne Gospels, Textura Quadrata, Early Gothic, Lombardic Capitals, Bastard Secretary, Gothic Capitals, Rustic Capital, Winchester Bible, Foundational Hand, Book of Kells, Trajan Column, Edward Johnston, Book of Hours, Roman Empire, Formata Corsiva, Copperplate Capitals, Greek Uncial, Frankish Empire, Rotunda Capital, Gothic Textura, Ramsey Psalter, Bastard Capitals, Christian Church Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THE FIRST ALPHABET evolved in Phoenicia in about 1200 BC. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
caroline minuscule, humanist minuscule, half uncial, insular majuscule, insular minuscule, square capitals, italic capitals, hairline tail, minim height, split ascenders, same ductus, split serif, wedge serif, diamond stroke, flat serif, pen angle, hairline stroke, right serif, top serif, left serif, rounded stroke, pen widths, pen lifts, minuscule letters, stem stroke Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Imperial Capital, Artificial Uncial, Lindisfarne Gospels, Textura Quadrata, Early Gothic, Lombardic Capitals, Bastard Secretary, Gothic Capitals, Rustic Capital, Winchester Bible, Foundational Hand, Book of Kells, Trajan Column, Edward Johnston, Book of Hours, Roman Empire, Formata Corsiva, Copperplate Capitals, Greek Uncial, Frankish Empire, Rotunda Capital, Gothic Textura, Ramsey Psalter, Bastard Capitals, Christian Church Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
3
books
cite this book:
- Calligraphy: A Guide to Hand-Lettering by Margaret Morgan in Back Matter
- American Folk Art for Kids: With 21 Activities (For Kids series) by Richard Panchyk in Back Matter
- The Palaeography of Gothic Manuscript Books: From the Twelfth to the Early Sixteenth Century (Cambridge Studies in Palaeography and Codicology) by Albert Derolez in Back Matter
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