Customer Reviews

Italic Calligraphy and Handwriting Exercises and Text

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This book distills the life-work and teaching of one of the most influential calligraphers and better-handwriting crusaders of of our century into a manual small enough to enter a jacket pocket without bulging. Brief text -- with a wealth of hand-calligraphed illustrations -- takes the budding pen-person from the basics of the ABC on to easy (yet elegant) handwriting, fun projects, and even the essentials of professional book-design. The work surpasses many others in the care taken with its letter-forms; also in the instructions for practice, which are clear and "do-able" without being over-simplified. Buyers of this book might like to know that information on a companion video-tape series (taken from a TV course, based on the book, which aired during the author's lifetime) is available from Oregon Public Broadcasting (www.opb.org) -- I hope that AMAZON will soon carry this as well! The only ways in which this book falls short of perfection: /1/ some of the additional resources the text and bibliography mention are no longer available from the sources he gives, and /2/ there is perhaps not enough attention given to solving a few of the calligraphy-pen "snags" that cause problems for many beginners.

Lloyd Reynolds was a successful professor of calligraphy at Reed College where he was admired by professional calligraphers as well as his students. The book reflects his classroom practice and experience. The success of his students is testimony to his worldwide reputation.
As a teacher of art, including calligraphy, "Italic Calligraphy and Handwriting: Exercises and Text," has been my choice since 1970. The principle reason is its succinct text and focus on only Italic style.
Presentation is classic: left page directions, opposing page examples. Point by point, the logic of simple to complex takes the reader through workspace, comfort, tools, materials, and patiently leads to writing. Letters appear according to related construction, not alphabetically. For example, the letter O is made with two inked strokes and the letters a,e,d,g,q,b,p use the first or second stroke of O. Lower case letters are covered before upper case letters are addressed. Helpful excercises and reminders lead through the letters individually to the related subject of personal handwriting.
Low cost and convenient size are added benefits to the beginner
In short, the text works. Students learn and like it. They can and do succeed. That, to me, is its highest value.
David E. Marsters, Poulsbo, Washington. (Husband of Tommie L. Marsters)

Wonderful book by the American Italic master, Lloyd Reynolds. If you want a good solid foundation for Italic handwriting, this is it!

This was disappointing. Not at all what I expected. Would not recommend for beginner. I'm returning item.