The Illuminated Alphabet [Hardcover]

Patricia Seligman (Author), Timothy Noad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1994

“The art of illumination is re-examined in this richly illustrated publication. Each page is filled with eye-catching full-color examples of the illuminator’s art. This in-depth historical overview...begins with The Lindisfarne Gospels and moves through contemporary forms....[This] unique publication...[includes] hundreds of skillfully rendered full-color examples.”—School Arts.

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

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Running Pr; 1ST edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561384585
• ISBN-13: 978-1561384587
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,030,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminate your journals, March 24, 2005

By 

D. J. Starr (San Francisco, CA - USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy (Paperback)

A gorgeous book showcasing and demonstrating decorative calligraphy. Step by step instructions for a wide variety of styles and period pieces of illuminated lettering. A great way to add some interest to sketchbook journals. HOWEVER! A patient and attention-to-detail mindset is required for this exacting art form.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Illuminated Alphabet, March 12, 2006

By 

Sandra LJ Ireland (Charlottetown, Prince Ed. Island Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy (Paperback)

"This book contains the best things to know to begin doing Illuminated manuscript writing. The authors list great resources, give useful lists, and then help you get started!!

In addition, I like the several styles of complete alphabets, how they are presented and described, and how to do the illumination techniques. It has taken me several years and attempts to find a book this beautifully complete. Other potential authors and publishers could learn from this wonderful book, because finally I feel confident enough to tackle the several projects I've got waiting for me. You don't have to be an artist to begin to do this work when you use this book.

Thank you to the authors and the publishers for their insight. Now I have the knowledge to be more confident in knowing where to start and how to progress with illuminating some of my projects.

Sandra Jones Ireland; Prince Edward Island Canada

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid starting point for anyone doing illumination, November 4, 2002

By 

G. Lawrence "gabby474" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy (Paperback)

When you start illumination, you want to try different styles to see which fits your interest and talents best. This book creates a step by step walk-through for many different styles in a do-able manner for a beginner. But beyond that, the book provides examples of where to go from there. For instance, start of with the letter used as the example. When you finish that, try including one of the borders shown in that section using the same skills developed by following the example.
What this book accomplishes is to help you develop the "vocabulary" used by the sample styles. As you develop the vocabulary that the sample styles illustrate, you are on the path for more complex work (i.e. see Christopher De Hamel's books). Also, by learning the basics that this book provides, you are ready to play with styles not covered because you have the basis for where other styles came from or what they led into.