Читать книгу Calligraphy, Second Revised Edition - Маргарет Морган - Страница 7

Lettering is fun! This book is aimed at beginners as well as those with some experience of wielding a broad-edged pen. It gives you the information and examples needed to help you write several different scripts well, and then goes on to introduce the use of design in simple calligraphic projects. Once you have mastered the basic skills of good letterforms, there are many exciting techniques to explore, both traditional and modern, within these pages.

Since the widespread use of computers and handheld devices have taken over so much of our written communications, it does no harm at all to reexamine the historical origins of the letters we see and use every day. Look carefully at how those familiar 26 letters are made, following four specific traditional styles, then take courage and go forward with experiments of your own. Open your eyes to other cultures too; other, less familiar influences, with their different ways of using color and design than your own, can open up new horizons and spark off ideas to explore.

My involvement with calligraphy started early. Learning italic handwriting at the age of eight and a Christmas gift of a set of broad-edged Mitchell nibs are what got me hooked. I studied graphic design and typography at art college (letters again!), which formed the major part of my professional work for more than twenty years. However, those edged pens were never far from my hand, and calligraphic work eventually took over my time completely towards the end of the 1990s, which gives me great satisfaction. That art training, backed up by continuing regular study with well-regarded international lettering artists, has been invaluable for extending the creative possibilities for the many gifts and cards using letters that I have made over the years.

Calligraphy: A Guide to Classic Lettering gives you a glimpse of what is possible with pen, paper, inks, and paints, with a little time, patience, and enthusiasm. You may find, as I have, that your interest goes beyond the hobby stage and will stay with you forever.

Margaret Morgan