Customer Reviews (4)

Great guide.
Wonderful trainer and reference for calligraphy; however, I wish it had even more detail and tips for flourishes to further enhance my writing.Excellent book.Highly Reccomended if wanting to learn or refresh you calligraphy skills.

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

Old Reliable
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)

The writing-book that's bigger inside than outside.
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 airedduring 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. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Buyer Beware
This is a good book with good examples of the author's work. However, beware that it is the identical book that was originally published as "Modern Mark Making" by the same author.This is just the paperback version of a hardback. Amazon doesn't show this information in the product description. I have the original book and have enjoyed it. I am very disappointed in the deceptive marketing of this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Calligraphy is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, especially as many people now choose to create their own wedding invitations, birth announcements, and other cards, and to give them a special, personal touch. This is the ideal how-to guide for the beginner or intermediate calligrapher interested in expanding his or her repertoire with more than 50 drawing techniques. The lavishly illustrated book is a comprehensive manual that covers essential tools and materials, basic penmanship, hand position, and illumination. Each technique is illustrated by clear, full-color photographs. An extensive gallery section highlights a marvelous and inspiring range of different calligraphy effects. This new addition to our popular Encyclopedia of Art series has wide appeal for older children and adults. ... Read more

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The first stroke-by-stroke guide ever produced for learning to write Naskh, one of the six major cursive Arabic scripts. Its origins can be traced back to the late eighth century AD and it is still in use today, over 1300 years later. The Ottoman Turks considered Naskh the script most suited for copying the Qur'an and today more Qur'ans are copied in Naskh throughout the Islamic world than in all other Arabic scripts combined. This introductory workbook makes it possible for everyone to learn and enjoy the beauty of Arabic calligraphy. Based on his experience of running workshops and demonstrations at The British Museum and other cultural institutions around the UK, Mustafa Ja'far has created an easy-to-follow, teach-yourself guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

At last! "Arabic Calligraphy"!
It's very hard to find ANY book like this one: an actual aid to those to whom Arabic script is completely unfamiliar.This book fills the bill, even for a senior (77) citizen learning Persian!

Excellent guide for calligraphy beginners!
For those who want to learn Arabic calligraphy then this the book you need.It is not about the Arabic language but it rather instructs you how to write Arabic in a beautiful way.People starting to learn Arabic calligraphy begin with the 'Naskh' style which is a simple and yet very beautiful script. It is a very widely used script and mostly used in writing the Holy Quran. The book can also help those who want to improve their handwriting.The instructions given are very easy to follow.

Arabic Calligraphy 101
This introductory workbook is for those who have no previous knowledge of Arabic and want to try writing in Arabic writing for the first time. Writing is in this case a misnomer because as the title suggests the emphasis is on calligraphy. The workbook, which is about the size of a standard magazine, starts with how to make a reed pen for calligraphy. The next part concentrates on the mufradaat (single letters), followed by murakkabaat (joined letters) and kalimaat (words). The book finishes with a gallery of beautiful examples of naskh calligraphy taken from throughout history. The presentation within each section is jumbled and unsystematic but not so much so that the text isn't worthwhile. The book is especially good at depicting the correct stroke order and the letters are large sized which a great help when just starting out. If you are a novice you will probably be happy with this book but will have preferred a more methodical, step-by-step presentation of the material.

For those without who want to learn to read as well write in Arabic The Arabic Alphabet by Awde and Samano is about as good of an introduction as one can find, however it doesn't have the beautiful examples of scripts and the large-size lettering that Arabic Calligraphy has (both books are cheap so go ahead and get the two of them.) If Arabic Calligraphy stimulates your appetite for more check out the richly illustrated Arabic Script: Styles, Variants, and Calligraphic Adaptations by Gabriel Mandel Khan. It depicts many of the styles besides naskh, traces their historical development, and discusses the latent symbolism that is present in many of these beautiful forms.

A Must For Calligraph-a-holics!
Though I've only read through this book, not yet having 'road-tested' it, I am thoroughly delighted in finding this slim volume and hope that further series (amateur, advanced, specialised) are forthcoming.

For starters, I think it should be stated that this book is not for someone who wants to gain an understanding of the Arabic alphabet, i.e. pronunciation. This is a book for someone who knows what the letters sound like and has a pretty good understanding of which letter is which. I don't see this as a fault at all and I hope no one else does. At some point, you have to stop second guessing your audience. That said, this book carefully details, just as Roman alphabet calligraphy books, the finer points of how to scribe each and every letter of the Arabic alphabet. All in all, this book is excellent for someone wanting more than the average 'how to write arabic' primer. It gives proper form as a guideline, while expressing that of course ideals cannot be exact on every writing. It gives hints on how to perfect the line of each letter and the best part: it carefully goes over possible forms and joinings of seperate letters with each other. There is a brief display of ligatures, which the author states is a whole new subject outside the scope of the book. I can only hope that is his way of hinting at a sequel! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Entire book lettered in Calligraphy! Very impressive!
I have been teaching Calligraphy for over 20 years.I've reviewed many books, andI like this one the best.I recommend this book for my students. I suggest they buy this book first, then check out the others bythis author, they're all outstanding!

An excellent guide for beginners.
This book is for people who want to do it right-- if you're looking for shortcuts to writing calligraphy, you won't find it here.The author gives you all the rules, techniques, and points to remember for creatingauthentic calligraphy, and starts with the oldest forms (with their briefhistories) onward.It's interesting to discover some of the evolutions anddevelopments of the written letter;this book gives you an appreciationfor them.The entire book is even written in longhand calligraphy, notmachine-typed, with a lot of good examples and projects.Excellent guide. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Daughter is pleased
I know nothing about it, but my daughter does.She seems to be very pleased with it.I suppose this is what matters most.She has pointed out a few things that may be questionable, but still enjoys it.She is particularly pleased with the fact that the characters are laid out in a graph, for accuracy, as well as the variations of the different types of Japanese calligraphy.Daughter happy, mommy happy.:)

Fascinating material marred by poor presentation
I received this book, along with "Brush Writing" and the Takase CD vol. 1, as a gift recently. I am finding each of them useful in its way, but this is the book that I most wish were better.

"Sho" covers quite a large range of subject matter--everything from interviews with sho masters to tips on selling your work at exhibitions to instructions on carving in wood, with little sidelights like Japanese monograms and brushes made of mouse hairs (and yes, there are step-by-step photos of actual brush calligraphy, too). Unfortunately, lots of these topics are discussed in just enough detail to make me want more, but not enough to satisfy me. The book lacks focus. In this respect, "Brush Writing" is much better--its author has wisely (I think) decided that a beginning text is not the place to drag in every topic under the sun related to sho. (Perhaps "Sho" is not meant to be a beginning text, but that's part of the same problem--I can't tell whether it's aimed at me, a novice, or at an expert, or at someone in between.)

Organization is a weak point as well. How to line your work (the equivalent, more or less, of matting/framing it) and sell it is discussed well before we get around to making basic strokes with ink on paper. Interviews are plopped in the middle of the book. There are two different discussions on brushes--one near the beginning, the other near the end. There's a blow-by-blow critique of a work in the author's collection that gives some real insight into how an artist imbued his work with emotion, but it uses technical terms that aren't introduced till later in the book. Take a look at the Table of Contents--I think you'll agree that it's all over the place. Great if you're a browser, not so hot if you're not.

Finally, and this is a big one for me, the typography of the book is just awful. It seems to have been produced on a dedicated word processor with a daisywheel printer (anyone remember those?) or something similar. Boldface print is clearly just overstrike. There is no italic. The font is something from the typewriter era. The book is formatted in two narrow columns per page, which are right-and-left justified with no hyphenation, producing many lines that have huge gaps between the words. It's painfully unattractive, to the point of being difficult to read. In a book presumably meant to appeal to Westerners who are interested in an aesthetic of writing, the ugly typography is a major flaw.

Having said all this, I'll repeat--the book contains a great deal of information which fascinated me, and I'm glad I own it. But if I'd seen it in a store, I'd never have purchased it.

In any case, do yourself a favor and order the Takase CD, which contains something like thirty videos of the sensei writing characters and critiquing student efforts, in addition to the usual written text about materials, posture, strokes, and so on. The videos on this CD will make any book you choose much more understandable.

Update:
I see that Amazon has added the "Look inside this book" feature. Please take a look before you buy!

A true tool for spiritual growth...
I found this book to offer a complete in-depth analysis and discussion on the importance of Japanese calligraphy from a historical and spiritual reference point. There are many books in my opinion that offer novice information on the stylist qualities and brush stroke procedures, but not many of them focus on the deep history & spiritual connection that mastering the art of calligraphy can bring. The book explains that as your body & mind master the physical art of calligraphy, the spirit becomes enlightened and strong. It explains how great Zen teachers, warriors & emperors increased their proficiency in brush writing and as a result enabled them to reflect a high degree of inner character & self-discipline. Simply a fabulous read and reference for all of us who strive to improve ourselves and understand more of the inner workings and benefits of Japanese calligraphy. A+++

Blessed,
Andy

A "non-native" English reader takes a look at "SHO..."
This book is quite nice. It offers a good historical background about Japanese Calligraphy, with a lot of stories by famous calligraphers, interviews, and so on. There are also some useful informations on how to display/exhibit your own work. On the other hand, I found it a bit short about the character writng in itself, there isn't enough information on the way/order of the strokes. I recomend this book in adition with one which has a more technical and basic approach, such as "Brush Writing - A practical guide for begginers". I have the two of them and they seem quite complementary. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Calligraphy in the Copperplate stye
As A New Student and Enthusiast Of the Copperplate Style, I was told this was a (Must Have) Reference. In a class of 25 students, Most with 5 to 15 years experience, Everyone had this book. My only disappointment and let down was that it was part of the New (Green) way of thinking. it was printed with Recycled Material which i am very much against when purchasing aFine , keep and use for years book. The Price was great and I did buy 2 books, one to use and one to share and May buy another to give to a close friend.

Chuck in San Diego

Great introduction book for learning and teaching Copperplate
I first gave this book 5 stars but I decided to give it 4 stars because the best book to learn Copperplate from is "The Zanerian Manual" which is a much bigger book. Also, there are lessons online from IAMPETH website and videos (view my other reviews for details) that will teach you Copperplate.I do recommend this book for teaching and learning Copperplate and it has great guidelines to copy if you don't want to draw your own guidelines in the beginning.

Calligraphy in the Copperplate Style
This is a fabulous manual for beginners, explaining the 17th century calligraphy technique which imitates copper etchings of the same, using a fine nib.A great buy with nice detail. ... Read more

Product Description
Instructions and tools for practicing the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy have never been easier or more affordable. Growing interest in Asian arts, coupled with a trend toward creative self-expression, make this a timely how-to kit. Contains everything needed: pot, ink, stone, spoon, brushes, paper, and an instruction book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not worth it
I knew this was a small book set, I just didn't realize how small. If all you want is a cheap gift or a gag gift this is fine. But if you have the slightest interest in chinese calligraphy you would be better off spending a little more and buying one of the many inexpensive books and the most basic full-size ink and brush set. This is really just a curiousity item and not worth the money. I wish I hadn't bought it.

A Joke!
This is a tiny tiny little product.The brush is 2 inches long.The book is 2 inches square with 40 pages of nothing.To call it a book is a joke.There is a bigger product with a great book with tons on examples which is really informative and fun.Unfortunately I did not notice the size of this product when I ordered it.It will end up in the trash.

Not even substantial enough for its "mega mini" title.
Save your money.

Buy a REAL brush, an $18.00 book on Chinese calligraphy, and the stone/pad/ink for 10$. That will put you back around $30.00 but is well worth it. The brushes stink, the book can be read in fifteen minutes, and there is not nearly enough paper. Basically, it will occupy your time for the very first lesson and then you'll have nowhere to go! Kind of annoying. They should either lower the price by a couple of dollars or raise it by one and include more stuff / rewrite the book NOT RECOMMENDED.

Missing Ink Stick
The book arrived with a missing ink stick. Also, the brushes them selves are only 3 inches long - hard for an adult to lose. This gift is OK as a stocking stuffer for a child, but I would not recommend it for an adult.

Beautiful kit and excellent intro to the art!
I can't believe how beautiful the items are in this kit! I expected something kind of cheap considering the price, but that's not the case at all. It has a beautiful stone, ink stick, brush, paper, and a sweet little china bowl - the works. The little book is interesting and clearly written, offering a great introduction to the art of Chinese calligraphy. I was surprised that with a little practice, I was actually able to duplicate the characters in the book pretty well. This kit is a lovely stocking stuffer and the perfect way to find out if you want to really study this art thoroughly. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description

This is the classic introduction to Chinese calligraphy. In nine richly illustrated chapters Chiang Yee explores the aesthetics and the technique of this art in which rhythm, line, and structure are perfectly embodied. He measures the slow change from pictograph to stroke to the style and shape of written characters by the great calligraphers.

Speech and writing are two organs of the same human impulse--the conveyance of thought: the one operating through hearing, the other through sight; the one by sound from mouth to ear, the other by form or image from hand to eye. But each can do something besides convey thought. Spoken words can be so arranged as to discharge aesthetic "musical" significances, as in much Western poetry. Written words can be formed to liberate visual beauties; and it is these which form the subject of this book. In addition to aesthetic considerations, the text deals with such more practical subjects as the origin and construction of the Chinese characters, styles, technique, strokes, composition, training, and the relations between calligraphy and other forms of Chinese art.

For the third edition the author has added two new chapters: "Calligraphy and Painting" discusses the dependence of Chinese painting on calligraphic training and techniques; "Aesthetic Principles" explores the fundamental concepts underlying every Chinese art form.

Chinese Calligraphy is a superb appreciation of beauty in the movement of strokes and in the patterns of structure--and an inspiration to amateurs as well as professionals interested in the decorative arts.

Customer Reviews (3)

A Timeless Teaching Book on Kanji or Chinese Calligrphy
As a Chinese brush painting teacher I would recommend this book to my student who start learning Chinese painting or Calligraphy. The new additional chapters in this third edition covers the historical and aesthetical relationship between Chinese calligraphy and painting as well as other art forms like seal engraving. If you, like the author(and me), are from China and teach Chinese as second language, Chinese calligraphy or Chinese art history you will definately need to have this book. BTW, I have got a Chinese version of this book too so I can compare it with the English version which helps me to learn how to teach my Chinese painting class in English. I have not found a college-level teaching book better than this one in the field.

Best All-Round Book forUnderstanding the Chinese Aesthetic
The book deals with the traditional art of Calligraphy from both a philosophical and an aesthetic point of view and uses numerous examples for the serious student of Chinese Calligraphy.It is written in a lively and informed manner that will stimulate the reader's imagination and appreciation of the art of Calligraphy and its masters throughout history.It is the #1 book in the field.

A good start
I feel that Mr. Chiang Yee's book provides an excellent introduction to the art of Chinese Calligraphy as well as to the idiosyncrasies of Chinese aesthetics.However, it is an old book, and it constantly dates itself.There is more than a touch of "orientalism" in this book, and Mr. Yee presents China the way it would be seem to a Westerner a half century ago, as a mysterious place, a dark "other" with incomprehensible mystic traditions that stand in sharp contrast to the bright and carefully delineated West.For example, he makes the assertion several times through the book that a person's appearance and personality can be gauged by their calligraphy style.Analyzing Emperor Hui Tsung's calligraphy Yee reveals to us that the emperor was "a well-built handsome figure."Of course, as this particular emperor died nearly 1800 years ago, there is absolutely no way to empirically refute or support his claims.Of course, we can't forget that modern China is not a land of dragons and mystics.It is a nuclear power, and a burgeoning economic superpower.However, with that one caveat in mind, I would still heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Chinese calligraphy or aesthetic traditions. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (9)

A beautifully printed book!
Whether you are interested in creating illuminated alphabets or want the book for other purposes, such as learning something of the history of illuminated alphabets, this is the perfect book. The printing examples are elegant,the colors brilliant and absolutely lovely, and the price, less than $11. for the beautiful paperback, cannot be beat--unless Amazon reduces the price even more. I have my own copy of the book and have today ordered two more to give as Christmas presents to friends that love beautiful artwork.

Vivid and Beautiful Illuminations
This is a very high quality book, the paper is thick and the colors are vivid and plentiful.

Timothy Noad shows you in step by step photos and excellent instructions how to create calligraphy like they did in the medieval period.He shows you how to apply gold leaf, lists of what you will need for a given illumination- paint colors, brush sizes, paper type.

The photos of the finished works are alone worth the price of the book.

Great for Novice Scribes
As a novice scribe in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) I ordered many books having to do with calligraphy and illumination.This book, the Illuminated Alphabet, has proven to be very helpful and I am extremely pleased with it.The images are large and easy to see and the examples have given me wonderful ideas for the scrolls I am learning to create.Learning painting techniques and seeing the detail is what I needed and this book has done exactly that.I highly recommend this book for those learning how to be scribes.

IF YOUR AT ALL INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT..........
It you have any interest in calligraphy, luminations, or just pure beauty, then this is one small volume you will want to add to your collection. Now I must admit that the skill needed to create these wonderful works of art is much greater than I will ever have, but that is okay.I use works such as this purely for inspiration.I figure that it is a nice world just to know "someone" out there is able to creat something like this.It gives me something to shoot for.This work is certainly not for beginners but I don't think a beginner would be hurt one bit for having read and studied it. I shows just what can be done if you have the skill and knowledge.This is always a good thing.I also appreciated the authors notes on the history of this art form.I do know something of history, and this information alone was worth the price of the book.Recommend this one highly.

Wonderful resource!
This book has helped me to learn and try my hand at several different styles of medieval illumination.I highly recommend this to any potential scribes out there! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Profound and Touching Story of Survival
I just finished this book as my 5 year old Cancer mija, Isabella Maya, lay napping next to me, it seemed appropriate. Reading the final pages of both the story itself and the postscript kept a steady stream of tears streaming down my face.

I strongly recomend this book for anyone who wants to moved and touched by writing that is simultaneously beautiful and powerful. This is a novel that will present you with each page you turn will present you with gifts of insights as women, men, mothers, daughters, sisters.

I would like to thank the author of this novel, GRACIAS, thank you for writing such a prolific story that reached down into the depths of my spirit as a mother, daughter and "hermana".It reached down and smuged my spirit with copal and sage and healed something.

Difficult and frustrating to read
Although the idea of using cursive calligraphy is unique, the print was small and the intricate flair strained the eyes. The storyline was a heart-rending, depressing, and sad tale.~Affaire de Coeur

Awakens all your senses...
Rarely does a novel awaken all my senses, and stirs every emotion possible in the human soul. It is definately a story I will not soon forget, and definately will be remembered as one of my favorite novels.

This is a historical novel which happens in the late 1600's during the famous Salem Witch trials.Concepcion is a bastard child born to a Mexican government official and an Indian mother.Abandoned by her mother in Mexico after she had been indentured to a nun convent, Concepcion runs away with a friend only to be seized by Pirates and taken to New England.She arrives in New England pregnant after being repeatedly raped by the ships Captain.

The captain discovers her gift of calligraphy, renames her Thankful Seagraves, and sells her to a Boston merchant who plans to have her manage her father-in-laws farm while caring for the crippled man.Unable to speak English, deathly ill and terrified, Thankful gives birth to a daughter who her owner's wife covets.

For 8 years Thankful and her daughter are pulled between two worlds. Although she proves herself in her ability to care for the crippled man, learns to speak and write English and brings profits to the farm, she is considered unacceptable as a bi-racial servent who speaks a foreign language and is Catholic.Rebecca, her owners wife, slowly turns her daughter against her.

Throughout the novel, Concepcion keeps a journal that she hopes one day will be read by the daughter she loves so much. The journal gives you insight into what life was like in the 1600's.

When the hysteria of the Salem withcraft trials begin, Capcion's own daughter implicates her as a witch, sending her to the cold, filthy dungeons.The ending is bittersweet, creating a surge of emotions for readers.

... Read more

Product Description
Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768) is one of the most influential figures in the history of Zen. He can be considered the founder of the modern Japanese Rinzai tradition, for which he famously emphasized the importance of koan practice in awakening, and he revitalized the monastic life of his day. But his teaching was by no means limited to monastery or temple. Hakuin was the quintessential Zen master of the people, renowned for taking his teaching to all parts of society, to people in every walk of life, and his painting and calligraphy were particularly powerful vehicles for that teaching. Using traditional Buddhist images and sayings—but also themes from folklore and daily life—Hakuin created a new visual language for Zen: profound, whimsical, and unlike anything that came before.

In his long life, Hakuin created many thousands of paintings and calligraphies. This art, combined with his voluminous writings, stands as a monument to his teaching, revealing why he is the most important Zen master of the past five hundred years.


The Sound of One Hand is a study of Hakuin and his enduringly appealing art, illustrated with a wealth of examples of his work, both familiar pieces like “Three Blind Men on a Bridge” as well as lesser known masterworks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A treasure house
This is a monumental work. It introduces to the USA the work ofHakuin; the most influential, JapaneseZen master inthe last 500 years.For anyone interested in Zen or Zen arts this is a treasure house which will that will take many readings to unpack. It is written extremely clearly and not in Zen or art speak. The book is the companion to an exhibition currently at Japan Society in New York which will travel next year toNew Orleans and then to LA. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Calligraphy --- This One's a Winner!
Tom Gourdie's Calligraphy for the Beginner will make you a Calligraphic Winner! You heard it here. I bought this book with hopes of learning how to create some simple calligraphic techniques to write love letters to my girlfriend. After a couple weeks of practicing I felt I was a master. Gourdie lists easy excercises that you can do to teach yourself the basics, then he gives you more ways to improve. If you already know quite a bit about calligraphy, you might want to skip ahead and get a more advanced book, but if you've never tried it before and are interested in learning and making yourself a calligraphy wiz, then this book is for you. I was having so much fun writing the letters that I didn't even care when my girlfriend broke up with me! Seriously, I'm still using the book to perfect my technique and wouldn't trade it for anything! ... Read more

Product Description
Illuminated lettering is an art form from medieval times that maintains its allure and beauty today. Combining calligraphy, painting, and gilding, illuminated lettering is a skill that's surprisingly easy to learn. With this kit, you have everything you need to create your own illuminated masterpieces, perfect for holidays, as birthday gifts, or to adorn your home. Includes an easy-to-follow instruction book with alphabets and templates to trace and varied project ideas, and all the materials to get you started. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Complete and Full of Information
This kit, for the price, is exceptional. It includes all you need to begin learning about illuminated lettering, with concise information and interesting background on the history of illuminated texts. I highly recommend this kit for someone who is new to illumination -- it's a fabulous starting point.

the illuminted lettering kit - calligraphy set
i had boughten this for my daughter for Christmas, she has been wanting one for her own and she said that it's very cool.she loves the simlpicity and the fanciness.i recommend this kit for any teenager who loves to do these kinds of things.

A beautiful starter-set and a nice gift
I bought this as a gift for a friend. It is a very impressive gift; the box itself is well-made and not cheap-looking at all, and the paper is very fine quality as well as the ink/paint and quill pens.

The book that came with the set is a good beginner's overview and a great place to start for someone who is just trying calligrapy for the first time, or picking it up after a few years.

I was very impressed by the quality.

The Illuminated Lettering Kit
Really, really like this kit.Had one a few years ago and was lost in a move.I was so glad to see it here.Great book for beginning and intermediate decorative calligraphers.Lots of ideas, clear instructions and beautifully pictured examples.Will spark the desire to "illuminate."Recommended highly.

Great it for Arrtists
Thus kit is a real winner, every small tool that you will need as an introduction to decorative calligraphy.
If, in dought if you will take to a new hobby, This lets you test your products without a high cost and runnning around to find the materials.
I love my set, But than I love all colors of inks, acrilics and such.
Great for yourself or as a gift.
... Read more

Product Description
Calligraphy can be a very personal pathway to explore a multiplicity of design concepts. In this striking and original book, images of the natural world are turned into a rich source of inspiration for a variety of calligraphy projects. Renowned calligrapher Denise Lach invites us to look closely at details and textures, expanding our powers of observation and finding creative ideas in the world around us. Using a range of writing tools and techniques, she takes a playful approach to written script, encouraging readers to look beyond legibility and use letterforms as building blocks, freely interpreting natural motifs to create beautiful calligraphic images. This is an invaluable sourcebook for both enthusiastic beginners and experienced calligraphers who wish to let their imaginations run free. ... Read more

Product Description
For many a deep and lasting interest in Japanese culture, its people and its language, begins with a fascination for beautifully drawn characters produced by a master calligrapher. Compared with the squarish, regular representation of Chinese characters reproduced in books, newspapers, and magazines by modern printing techniques, the appealing brush strokes of a handwritten Japanese scroll, letter, or menu is often considered a work of art, and associated with the aesthetic and mystical. Brush Writing is dedicated to such enthusiasts of Japanese calligraphy who have searched for a basic and introductory guide in English to this traditional and challenging Eastern art.

Any learner of Japanese will almost certainly find this book an invaluable aid to writing kanji, a subject that is rarely dealt with. adequately in language textbooks, as well as providing fundamental clues to decipher handwritten Japanese. Through nearly fifty model characters, Brush Writing teaches the basic techniques of writing almost any kanji. For each character, we have clearly shown the correct stroke order, major readings in romanized Japanese, and meanings in English. Advice on balance and other practical tips on writing kanji have also been included. Equally important to all non-native learners of Japanese, this book explains the secret of writing attractive hiragana, the key, in fact, to ensuring that handwritten Japanese is clearly legible and leaving the impression that it was penned by an adult Japanese hand.

But it does not end there. Brush Writing is more than a kanji guide for students of the Japanese language. After working through the systematic instructions carefully explained in this volume, anyone, with an appreciation of the beauty and art of quality brush work, should find little difficulty in creating fine calligraphy of their very own, even if the meanings of the shapes themselves remain a mystery. This volume begins with a comprehensive, but brief introduction to the history of Chinese and Japanese characters to satisfy the curiosity of the enthusiast. For novice calligraphers, not only have we explained how to use the necessary materials and equipment, such as brushes, paper, and sumi ink, but we have also appended a list of stores selling calligraphic supplies throughout the United States.

For Japanese language students and aspiring calligraphers alike, Brush Writing is the perfect introduction to the art and technique of shodo, Japanese calligraphy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good book, but may not be "for begginers"
This book is really useful to learn techniques of oriental calligraphy. However, since it teaches the regular style (kaisho), it may not be suitable to people who hasn't learnt easier styles (like tensho), as the regular style is the most difficult to understand and learn.

Nevertheless, the explanations are quite comprehensible and there are enough examples to achieve a good level of brush writing.

Good buy for beginners
Like the title promises, this is a good book for beginners.It has useful suggestions on how to begin and end the main strokes found in Shodo, as well as suggested kanji with how to write them and what they mean.I found it very helpful.

As promised: Basics for beginners
The title well describes the content. The focus is on the techniques with a short intro of the essential equipment. The reader is guided through a selection of some 50 characters with the emphasis on how to proceed stroke by stroke and how should the result look like.
This book is a good quick start but won't serve as a long-lasting reference. As soon as you find the art of shodou as the thing for you,you'll be looking for more in-depth and covering texts on the subject. Although somewhat narrow, all the content is useful - except a list of the equipment suppliers in the US.

Great for beginning students
This is a good book for beginning students learning to write Kanji and Hiragana. The large format makes it easy to see how to form the character correctly.

The instructions are excellent, showing you step-by-step, howto write each symbol in detail. Though cursive script is shown, it issmaller and detailed instructions for writing it are not given.

Eachcharacter's reading and meaning are shown as well. However, since less than75 words are covered, it is not intended to teach you to read Japanese.

The book also covers materials, techniques, & a brief history ofAsian calligraphy. There is a beautiful calligraphy appreciation section inthe back. It shows some of the characters reflecting their meaning.

Good beginning brush technique book.Beautiful examples.
This is a good beginning book for learning brush technique for Japanese calligraphy of the pictographs that are based on the Chinese characters.She goes through everything from basic setup and rubbing ink through acouple dozen characters, so if you already know stroke order and have someidea of the characters you want to do, this book focuses on how to make thebrush strokes for plain 'block' characters work, with some hint as to thepossibilities with script characters and more artistic forms.There is asingle page for how to form the phonetic characters as well.

The samplecharacters are big, bold, and easy to learn from and have the easierposture of a native calligrapher, rather than the squared-off posture ofmost American renderings.

It's a very good starting place for someonewishing to make characters with more personality than can be done with anormal pen or pencil.But is only a beginner's book if you already havesome experience with a brush and ink. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The techniques of calligraphy are explained in this book, helping the beginner to develop calligraphic skills and giving the more experienced calligrapher some imaginative ideas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful For Beginners!
'Complete Book of Calligraphy' is a very colorful and easy to understand book.I would suggest this title for anyone, new or well versed in the art of calligraphy.This book shows the endless possibilites that lie right atthe end of a pen.Calligraphy can be used in so many creative ways, morethan I even imagined!I thought calligraphy was just pretty words, butthis book shows me that it goes well beyond that.This would also be greatfor gift-giving! ... Read more

Product Description
Discover Calligraphy pairs comprehensive art instruction with quality materials to provide a seamless creative experience for the aspiring fine artist. The 40-page project book introduces calligraphy with information about this elegant art, from the historic use of scribes to the many types of traditional pen nibs. Accomplished calligrapher Cari Ferraro guides artists through a variety of writing styles, including stately black letter hands, elegant italics, and more. The book also teaches the art of letter illumination, a way to add vibrant color to calligraphic work. With all the tools a beginner needs to start right away, this stylish kit makes the perfect gift for any aspiring calligrapher.

Kit includes: 40-page project book, a calligraphy pen handle, 4 pen nibs, black ink, a pen nib reservoir, a ceramic mixing palette, a paintbrush, 5 gouache paints, hot-press watercolor paper, and art paper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Can not use this "Deluxe" kit unless you buy ink
It says in the product information..
"With all the tools a beginner needs to start right away, this stylish kit makes the perfect gift for any aspiring calligrapher.

Kit includes: 40-page project book, a calligraphy pen handle, 4 pen nibs, black ink, a pen nib reservoir, a ceramic mixing palette, a paintbrush, 5 gouache paints, hot-press watercolor paper, and art paper. "

That is a flat out LIE. This kit contains NO BLACK INK. The first page of the book says, "in order to use this kit you will need to purchase black carbon ink." This kit in NOT WORTH the price without the black ink!!! Amazon should fix the product description immediately. I am very disappointed.

The perfect starter
Great starter kit for those wanting to learn more about caligraphy. Purchased this for my 17 yo daughter and she loved it.

Excellent Product for Beginner's
I felt that this product would more than help me with beginning calligraphy. I was extremely pleased with the contents of the set, and I feel the book included would be more than helpful in going through the stages of calligraphy, from beginner to experienced. I would definitely recommend this product for anyone trying to learn the aspects of calligraphy.

I am not a calligrapher
This kit includes six tubes of gouache, calligraphy ink, pen nibs, a holder for the nibs, a dish-style ceramic palette, two brushes and an instruction booklet.

I am not patient enough for calligraphy, but bought the kit for the instructions for the versals (a hand-drawn type of letter), and for the instructions for illuminating letters. The instructions are clear and well illustrated. There are also useful tips scattered throughout the booklet. This is a great kit. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

A delightful and creative book
What a delightful and creative book.I find it thorough, easy to follow, beautifully illustrated, and filled with great ideas for projects.I am also delighted by the author's sense of humour.I think it is an excellent book for adults as well as children.

Calligraphy Made Simple
Although Booklist and School Library Journal suggest this for older children, I think the text level is best for adults and probably teens.
Years ago, I taught myself a basic calligraphy alphabet, but never felt really satisfied with my results.This book helps me see where I was going wrong.She shows the effects of improper pen position, explains how to space the letters, and how to get a lighter-weight look and a heavier-weight look.
The alphabets demonstrated in the book include italic, italic capitals, italic handwriting, swing gothic, modern gothic, and modern gothic capitals.The last part of the book gives project ideas (stationery, making signs, calligrams, writing larger).
I have a better idea of what I'm doing now and with practice, I'll be happier with my lettering for cards and scrapbooks.

1-2-3 Calligraphy
This is a charming and informative book for anyone, not just kids, interested in learning how to actually do calligraphy, not just admiring the beauty of the lettering.I love this book, and have found it greatly helpful, informative, and entertaining as well.I give it my highest reommendation.

OK but not great
This book did not deliver the promised child-oriented teaching style. i expected something different from other calligraphy books but did not get it. As a calligraphy instruction book it is fine; as a book especially for children it is not fine. ... Read more