Customer Reviews

The Art & Craft of Hand Lettering: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is awesome! I've been doing calligraphy for over 20 years and own nearly 50 books about calligraphy and i must say, this one is the best EVER. It is so inspirational. Before i bought it, i started taking notes and scanning so many pages that i realized i HAD to buy it because there is so much information and inspiration on each and every single page.

I think this is probably the only callig. book i've ever actually read throroughly, from cover to cover -- literally! I read each page (not just skimmed over, as i have with others), but actually read and took notes on.

I was so inspired by this book that i couldn't wait to get started on my own projects.

thank you, Annie Cicale, for creating this wonderful masterpiece!!!

On first inspection (if you borrow this from your local library) you'll notice it has MANY color photos on just about every page. This book is filled with marvelous examples of tools and finished calligraphy examples. I think I'd tend to disagree with other reviewers that rave about it's relevance in your home library. This book is very broad in scope and is missing many common fonts that are covered in other similar calligraphy reference and how-to books. The lessons are short and not very comprehensive, so I'd say if you've fallen in love with the idea of learning calligraphy or even any particular style or hand, this isn't the only book you'd end up buying.

Chapters 1 & 2 cover materials, writing history, studio / space lay-out area for practice and getting started with various tools, nibs, inks and papers.

Chapter 3 covers mono line letters; Roman caps (with a handy proportional guide). Chapter 4 is about using a broad-edged pen covering foundational type and a variety of Roman fonts and Italics. Chapter 5 does briefly cover Copperplate and pointed pen styles from the early 1900's however it quickly moves on to using a brush and into drawn letter-forms. In other words, I would say this is really where the book jumps off into developing your own hand.

The rest of the book focuses on design elements and projects. Some of the projects covered include: addressing envelopes, greeting cards, scrapbooks, stamps, guest book, maps, screen printing on cloth (t-shirts, pillows), large format work such as a frieze, lettering on a mailbox and deck. It's nice I suppose for people who are interested in using calligraphy in a crafty application but over-all this isn't the best book I've found on the how-to's of learning or developing your own style. I have also seen other books specifically on brush lettering and making pretty greeting cards, you may want to explore those which again I suspect will be more comprehensive. All in all, I'd say borrow this book from you library before you decide to buy it.

Other calligraphy books that I'd recommend? 100 Keys to Great Calligraphy, The Calligrapher's Bible, Calligraphy made easy by Margaret Shepherd.

This is not just a "how to" book on calligraphy but a how to employ lettering into artwork. Especially helpful was the drafting diagram on page layout. My work looks much more balanced now. Anything that has worked for centuries has to have something to it!!

I have at least half a dozen calligraphy books, and this is the one I turn to when I want inspiration and the only one I would rate 5 stars. It's not my first calligraphy book, so I can't say whether it's a good standalone intro, but it should definitely be in the first 3 for a budding calligrapher. The information is solid and varied, I was delighted to see a discussion on layout, as well as some more exotic tools like ruling pens.

This book has such beautiful photos, and is full of good taste projects.
I loved it, and I recommend it.

I just love this book. I borrowed it from the library first and then wanted my own copy. I don't do calligraphy but if anything would inspire me to start trying it would be this book. The samples and photos are lovely to look at and it's a pleasure to have my own copy of this beautiful book.

This is an excellent book on calligraphy with a lot of great ideas, tips and tons of pictures.

I love this book! What a great resource for all skill levels of calligraphers!