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

Cicale, Annie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1579908098 ISBN 13: 9781579908096

Publisher: Lark Books, 2006

Synopsis

A beautiful introduction to a popular art.

Thanks to the guidance of an experienced calligraphy teacher, anyone can add a touch of elegance to invitations, handwritten poems, and a variety of surfaces. Annie Cicale provides a complete, easy-to-follow course in the art of beautiful writing and an attractive resource filled with breathtaking images. She’ll guide your pen as you master broad pen alphabets, including classic uncial, Roman and italic caps, as well as playful invented styles with added variations. Copy a historical letter technique, and understand the basics of layout, design, texture, and color. Seventeen projects include a traditional certificate with decorative contrasts and flourishes; journals and scrapbooks; and even a colorful silk-screened pillow.

About this title

About the Author

Annie Cicale is a former chemical engineer who holds a BFA in printmaking and an MFA in graphic design. She has taught art on the elementary through university levels, has served on the faculty for international calligraphy conferences, and teaches workshops throughout North America. She lives in Fairview, North Carolina.

From Booklist

Practice, practice, practice. As with any skill, that's the key to becoming proficient at calligraphy, an ancient art that is rapidly disappearing as computers create fancy script with the click of a keystroke. Cicale, who holds degrees in graphic design and printmaking, guides beginners in developing lettering skills, and then explains how to apply what they have learned to projects that enrich and beautify everyday life-- from decorating maps and lettering invitations and mailboxes to creating gorgeous wall hangings. Most of the book is devoted to instructional details, and Cicale is meticulous as she describes the calligrapher's basic tools and discusses techniques, first considering Roman capitals, and later explaining formation of elegant manuscript letters and contemporary adaptations. The rich explanatory text is printed in inconveniently small type, but the lettering examples are large and plentiful, and Cicale's measured approach will encourage calligraphy novices (especially those with some art background), as will the exquisite design of the book itself. Stephanie Zvirin
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Edition details

• Publisher: Lark Books
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1579908098
• ISBN 13: 9781579908096
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192