You’re no idiot, of course. You know that calligraphy enhances everything from elegant invitations to official documents. The art of beautiful handwriting has been around for centuries, and those who have mastered it have a skill that’s both lucrative and enjoyable. You’d love to learn the finer points of calligraphy—but when it comes to putting pen to paper, you’re all thumbs!
Say “so long” to chicken scratches! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Calligraphy will show you, stroke for stroke, how to master pen and ink to produce projects worthy of the most sophisticated scribe. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get:
-
The history of beautiful handwriting—calligraphy past and present.
-
Tools of the trade—essentials for setting up a workspace and getting started.Practice makes perfect—tips and exercises to keep you in line.
-
Fun with fonts—six full alphabets to round out your expertise.
-
Design 101—how-to’s for creating and carrying out your own calligraphy projects, including wedding invitations, bookmarks, and more!
-
Taking your skills to the next level with ornamentation.
I. START WRITE.
1. The ABCs of Beautiful Handwriting.
b.c.: Before Computer. Different Styles, Different Names. Handwriting. Calligraphy in an Electronic. People Get Paid for Doing This? Artistic Talent Not Essential.
2. Pick Up Your.
The Only Tools You Need to Begin.
Slant Board. Carpenter's Pencil or 2mm Felt-Tipped Calligraphic.
Posture Makes Perfect. Get a Grip: How to Hold the. Left? Write! Working the Angles. Some Warming-Up Exercises. Learning Your ABCs.
Study the Letters. Trace. Practice on Ruled Paper.
3. Starting in Style: Formal Italic.
So What's Formal Italic?
The Important Things to Know about Formal Italic. Stroke Sequence.
II. THE WRITE STUFF.
4. Tools of the Trade.
Calligraphic Fountain Pens. Calligraphic Broad-Nibbed Pens.
Assembling. Reservoirs. Loading a Pen with. Fixing Ink Flow Problems. Cleaning Pens.
Other Equipment You'll Need. Ink. Color.
Color Inks. Gouache.
Paper.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice.
The Route from Awkward to Graceful. Setting Line Spaces. Ruling Lines. Put the Brakes on the Shakes. Loosening-Up Exercises. Using a Light. Correcting Mistakes.
6. Elegant Variations: Chancery Cursive.
How to Make Beautiful Serifs. Some Important Things to Know about Cursive Italic. Swashes and Flourishes.
III. THE A TO Z OF DESIGNING WITH WORDS.
7. From Letters to Words.
Letter Spacing. Word Spacing. Line Spacing. You're Running Out of Space or You Have Too Much. How to Center Lines of Calligraphy.
8. Designing a Project.
Interpreting the Text. Thumbnail Sketches. Emphasis and Weight, Scale and Balance. Margins. Initial Caps and Decorations. Centered, Left, Right, Asymmetrical?
9. Projects to Begin With.
Bookmarks. Place Cards. Greeting Card Ideas. Scoring Paper. Getting Cards Printed. Menus. Fitting It All. Creating the Mood.
IV. TURNING WORDS INTO.
10. Wedding Invitations.
Where Do You Begin? Finding Your Theme. The Many Parts of the Wedding Invitation. The Wording. Ideas for Designing Your Own Invitations. Ordering Printing. The Wording on the Envelopes. Doing the Calligraphy on the Envelopes. Stuffing and Mailing Envelopes.
11. Japanese Calligraphy and Scrolls.
Japanese Calligraphy. Using Japanese Characters. Learning to Write Japanese Characters. Making a Poetry Scroll.
12. Making a Family Tree.
Doing Your Homework. Making a Simple Four-Generation Chart. A Layout Challenge: The More Detailed Chart.
13. Making Posters and Playing with Words.
Location, Location, Location. Less Is More. Make It Eye-Catching. Playing with Words. Ways to Write Large Letters.
V. THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE.
14. Different Tools, Different Effects.
Reeds, Bamboo Pens, and … Makeup Sponges? Making a Quill. How to Cut. Unusual Tools from Shops. Making Rubber Stamps. Making Embossed and Debossed Letters.
15. Getting into Print.
Instant Printer or Commercial Printer? Timing, Pricing, and Estimates. Choosing Paper, Format, and Folds. Preparing Artwork for the Printer. Check Everything.
16. Ornamentation and Presentation.
Using Gold Ink and Gouache. Making a Decorative Capital Letter. Ribbons and Tassels. Cutouts and 3-D Decorations. Framing.
VI. TRY YOUR HAND AT THESE.
17. Roman Capitals.
Classic and Dignified. The Important Things to Know about Roman Capitals. Serifs.
18. Uncials.
Wide and Sprightly. The Important Things to Know about Uncials.
19. Foundational.
Solid and Steady. The Important Things to Know about Foundational.
20. Gothic.
Dignified and Dark. The Important Things to Know about Gothic.
APPENDIXES.
Appendix A. Glossary.
Appendix B. Further Readings.
Appendix C. Web Sites.
