This book is a totally new concept in learning and improving calligraphy skills. It presents a new lettering challenge for each day of the year; 365 in all (plus a bonus for Leap Day), ranging from ‘angular Italic’ to ‘turned Celtic.’ These alphabets are the perfect program for beginners learning the art of beautiful writing. They also offer the best form of practice and improvement for experienced calligraphers. In addition to daily practice, a practical lettering project is presented for each week. There are 52 in all, ranging from wholly creative projects such as designing an award for a special person to such money-makers as lettering wedding invitations or greeting cards.

In an age of myriad computer fonts and instant communication, your handwriting style is increasingly a very personal creation. In this book, Margaret Shepherd, America's premier calligrapher, shows you that calligraphy is not simply a craft you can learn, but an elegant art form that you can make your own. Calligraphy remains perennially popular, often adorning wedding invitations, diplomas, and commercial signs. Whether it is Roman, Gothic, Celtic, Bookhand, or Italic style, calligraphy conveys class and elegance. Margaret Shepherd makes this ancient art form accessible in a completely hand-lettered technical guide that will: * Provide context for calligraphy as an art, exploring the rich tradition of hand-lettering and mapping the evolution of the most popular styles. * Give detailed technical advice on choosing pens, paper, and inks, setting up your workspace, mastering various pen angles, along with step-by-step illustrations to guide you as you practice. * Explain which alphabets are appropriate for different forms of writing. For example, the Roman alphabet works well for short, unpunctuated passages, while the Italic alphabet is more suited to informal everyday communication. * Encourage you to personalize your lettering by using variant strokes and interpreting how you would like the words to look on the page. * Inspire you with carefully chosen illustrations and examples, which bring letters to life. In Margaret Shepherd's own words, "Calligraphy trains not only your eye and hand, but your mind as well." Learn Calligraphy is the authoritative primer for this age-old craft, and will help develop a new appreciation for lettering as you discover your creative personality.

You’ve always admired beautiful calligraphy, but you probably figured it was way too hard to master, right ? Calligraphy is actually much easier than you ever dreamed. All you need is the right guide and you’ll be up to speed in no time! Calligraphy For Dummies lets anyone discover the art and fun of lettering. With this hands-on guide, you’ll be able to develop your craft and test it out in no time. Starting with the italic alphabet, you’ll discover different types of strokes, how to angle your pen, and how to join letters. This easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide shows you: All the tools you need to practice the craft Where to get the proper ink and paper How to master several alphabets Different variations to change the look of letters How to mix and match your alphabets How to create a poster, sign, or certificate Ways to design and letter a quotation Common mistakes that can easily be avoided Calligraphy For Dummies also provides tips on how to put your calligraphy skills to good use, with ideas for making money, adding flair to wedding invitations, and more! It also includes ten fun alphabets and practice pages to hone in on your talent, as well as examples of poorly formed letters to keep you on track. With a little practice, you’ll be creating stunning letters and experiencing the joys of writing calligraphy!

Unabridged reprint of extremely rare 18th-century manual offers helpful hints on forming letters, holding the pen, arm and wrist positions, and posture. Includes rich sampling of alphabets, maxims, didactic verses, and other words of advice. Charmingly illustrated instruction manual for calligraphers, commercial artists,and devoteés of fine penmanship.

The Complete Book of Calligraphy & Lettering provides expert instruction on the intricacies of traditional lettering techniques, as well as an introduction to contemporary hand-lettering formats. From selecting the appropriate tools, such as pens, nibs, brushes, inks, and papers, to learning optimal hand positioning and understanding the intricacies of lettering angles, heights, spacing, and strokes, The Complete Book of Calligraphy & Lettering will help lettering enthusiasts swiftly master their craft. Step-by-step lessons, practice templates, and a range of stunning alphabets demonstrate the breadth of artistic achievement that comes with practice and dedication. Four professional artists guide you through traditional calligraphy techniques, as well as an introduction to contemporary hand-lettering art forms, such as brush lettering and mixed media, for a well-rounded approach to the craft. Additionally, a short section on Chinese brush lettering and several mixed media lettering projects inspire creativity and demonstrate how calligraphy and lettering can be used in wider artistic contexts and projects. Including practice templates for several featured alphabets in addition to mixed media "bonus" projects designed to inspire artistic creativity, The Complete Book of Calligraphy & Lettering will inspire lettering enthusiasts of all skill levels to strengthen their existing skills and delve into new, lesser-known variations of the trend.

For school, for art classes, for fun: this kid-friendly guide to the art of beautiful writing will be a hit anywhere. From the tools to the techniques to the fantastic projects, everything has been chosen specifically for children. Youngsters can use special, colorful, felt-tipped pens called chisel-edged markers to produce great-looking letters. The guidelines make it easier to get good results. Attractive pages, filled with brightly colored examples, get kids started with simple zigzags and then move on to small and large italics, gothic lettering, uncial, and Roman calligraphy. Children will enjoy using their new skills to write down favorite poems, fashion border designs, and create greeting cards and invitations.

Kids everywhere will be grabbing their calligraphy pens, because this follow-up to the wildly successful Calligraphy for Kids offers them even more artful fun. Inside they'll find new alphabets--and new ways to render the alphabets they already know--as well as fresh techniques and projects. There's coverage of the basic rules of layout; a review of some of the fundamental skills; advice on changing the weight of italic letters and forming italic capitals; and an introduction to both Swing and Modern Gothic handwriting. With just a little practice, children can make eye-catching signs, design their own personal stationery, address colorful envelopes in elegant script, and create calligraphic pictures and other decorations to hang on the wall.

Teach yourself trendy modern calligraphy with this hand-lettering workbook. Hand lettering is a craze that shows no sign of slowing down – modern calligraphy is ubiquitous in home décor and craft projects. This handy workbook shows readers how to teach themselves to hand letter in different styles with traceable alphabets for practice. A hard-working technique book, Caroline Bryan's Hand-Lettering Lessons will enable readers to take on a wide variety of hand-lettered projects with ease.

A remarkable series of studies, including 23 complete alphabets, in ornate penmanship. Among the lettering styles: Roman print, German text, Old English print and English church text.

With Calligraphy Made Easy, you can learn the art of beautiful writing in just eight easy lessons. Includes sections on the Gothic alphabet, the Italic alphabet, and how best to hold the pen. Perfect for creating unique gifts, stationery, and invitations.