The Art of Calligraphy: A Practical Guide to the Skills and Techniques [Paperback]

David Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2005

Whether you want to personalize stationery or enhance other special gifts and objects, The Art of Calligraphy helps you choose equipment, from brushes, pens, pencils, papers, to inks, and then shows exactly how to produce every letter of the alphabet in a number of different scripts.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (June 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756613043
• ISBN-13: 978-0756613044
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book of exemplars, August 25, 2000

By 

Elise C. Boucher "merouda" (West Allis, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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......, January 8, 2000

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, March 29, 2002

By 

Frank Lee "Pasha" (Aliso Viejo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

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