Lettering & Calligraphy Workbook

Thank you very much for your excellent description of the item being sold and the speed of the delivery. I will watch for your items in the future.

I tried to take a course that would teach me the basics of Calligraphy and wasn't about to find one that fit in with my busy schedule. So, I attempted to learn on my own . . . and this book is a great place to start. With my starter Calligraphy pen set and this book, I am well on my way to learning the basics. The workbook even includes projects. For the price, it is a great deal.

I agree with other reviewers that this book is informative and will benefit those looking for a general book on the history of calligraphy and on various alphabets. If you are looking for a book that will let you practice individual letters on pre-lined sheets, however, this is not that type of book. I've given the book three stars so that folks may read this and consider what they really want from a calligraphy book. Personally, I would like to get better at calligraphy, but calligraphy books tend to insist that you buy a panoply of supplies, set up an ergonomically correct workspace with an adjustable drawing board, and line several sheets of paper--using a T-square and other such materials--before you practice a single letter. With limited free time, I would like to be able to sit and practice calligraphy casually for relaxation. This book is not the type of workbook I sought to facilitate that goal. To be fair, this book does emphasize that it takes time and dedication to perfect a craft; since I bought online, however, I did not know the book's approach until it arrived! If you are looking for a hobby rather than a craft, you already own a calligraphy set with basic instructions, and you are looking for a workbook of the type used to learn cursive in elementary school, you may want to just buy a practice paper pad.

Lettering & Calligraphy Workbook is the most thorough and well though out approach I've seen for both teaching and learning the art of calligraphy. Yes, it would make an excellent textbook and the reasons why are plenty; it's readable. It is straightforward in approach, the language is clear and direct. There are a plethora of illustrations; everything from compasses, brushes, writing tools and specific calligraphy instruments to setting up your workspace, studio layout and tips and tricks of the trade are drawn out through out the book. The Workbook is not overly scholarly, but it is professionally done; artistic principles are explained and the correct terminology is used throughout the book.

Do you have a specific project like producing a poster, want to get help with greeting cards, or do you want to add some variety to the repertoire of alphabets you can already produce? Did you get a calligraphy book that doesn't tell you much about paper products and now you need more direction? Maybe another calligraphy book doesn't cover the general history of writing and development of alphabets and you want your students to be aware that writing is a part of the culture? This book has all of that, and MUCH, MUCH more.

I find it surprising that others have not made this book the obvious choice for all levels of calligraphy practice. This book will be an excellent resource for anyone teaching, self-teaching, a student, a hobbyist, a beginner or advanced calligrapher. As you gain more experience of course you'll want to collect other books that are only about showing different type faces and nothing at all about how-to-do some things or investigate problem solving methods. A professional may have several books that are very artistic in scope, using watercolors and employing other very advanced techniques, but they may contain no information at all about how to make a quill pen.

This book will teach you everything you need to know to get started, get practicing and get excited about calligraphy. While I also like and use other books, this is by far the most important and indispensable one on the subject that I own.

I teach calligraphy at the local community college, and I considered selecting this very excellent book as the text for the class. It covers all the basics and much more. After I showed it to some of my students along with the other book I was considering, most of them found the other book, Learn Calligraphy by Margaret Shepherd, which is totally written in calligraphy, more inviting, less intimidating. So I will use the Shepherd book for the beginner's class, and this book for the intermediate class. It is a good enough resource for even the advanced calligrapher, and offers a wealth of information on how to use calligraphy for fun and profit.