Calligraphy for Dummies

Bennett, Jim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470117710 ISBN 13: 9780470117712

Publisher: For Dummies, 2007

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!

From the Back Cover:

• Practice using a variety of alphabets and styles
• Hone your calligraphic skills
• Combine letter art with other forms of artistic expression
• Get answers on where to go to get ink and paper

From Italic to Roman to Uncial -- create calligraphic alphabets with ease

For many people, calligraphy is something they admire from afar, but don't believe they could ever do it themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth! Practice is the key to becoming a good calligrapher, and that 's what this book is all about. Open it and you'll find easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions in all the basics, from choosing the right pens and paper and holding the pen properly to using calligraphy to create six beautiful alphabets. Plus, there are plenty of creative projects for putting your skills into action. With just a little practice every day, you'll be well on your way to doing calligraphy with style!

Discover

The simple, sure-fire approach to learning calligraphy
How to use pen tips of various sizes and shapes
Ways to embellish and personalize your lettering
How to add a special touch to stationery, journals, diaries, correspondence, plaques, and more
Exercises for practicing your skills with confidence

THE DUMMIES WORKBOOK WAY

Plain-English explanations
Step-by-step procedures
Hands-on practice exercises
Ample workspace to test your skills
A dash of humor and fun

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About the Author:

Jim Bennett has been teaching calligraphy for about 30 years. He has taught at every level from kindergarten through college and has introduced thousands of people to calligraphy. Although he lost count some time ago, he suspects that he must hold a record for the number of students he has taught in the classroom, by correspondence, and through the Internet. Jim has a B.F.A. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.F.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Among the awards he has earned are the Virginia Artists Certificate of Distinction and the Ohio Art Education Association's Distinguished Educator Award in 2003. In 1982, Jim self-published a popular instruction manual titled "You Can Do Calligraphy." He also developed a complete Italic handwriting curriculum for grades K through 5 for Wakefield School in Virginia, created a calligraphy correspondence course for Lord Fairfax Community College, and pioneered calligraphy lessons on the Internet. His calligraphy website (www.studioarts.net/calligraphy) has had almost one million visitors. He is the founder and manager of the original Calligraphy Webring which is comprised of about a hundred of the finest calligraphy websites internationally. In addition to calligraphy, Jim worked for several years as a portrait artist under the name Bennecelli. He has also painted murals. Recently, he has been developing art-related projects based on adventure themes that math teachers can use to enhance math instruction.