Book Description

Treasury of eye-catching typefaces with casual or country air. Annie Oakley, Hedge Row, Stuntman, Ticonderoga Bold, numerous others. All include complete upper-case alphabet, many with lower-case fonts, numerals and punctuation marks as well. Ideal for graphic projects requiring interesting or unusual lettering.
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Magnificent display fonts. Hands down the best in the series
I was in a bookstore in Toronto and stumbled across the different Dover font books and was instantly in love with all of them. Wisely, my significant other gave me a limit of ONE book to buy. "Fine," I said as I began poking through the books. It didn't take me long to realize which one of the books was superior. With stunning creativity and originality, this collection caught my eye and had me digging in my wallet. If only I would have known about Amazon.com then, I might have saved me a loon or two. ... Read more

Book Description

Over the last 20 years, Santiago Calatrava has made literally thousands of drawings and paintings and more than a hundred sculptures. Many of his drawings portray the human body - often in motion - alone, or in groups, or in an architectural context. Others show preliminary ideas, subsequently transformed into sculptures and which go on to provide the inspiration for his bridges, railway stations, airports and museums. A drawing is always the starting point for an entire laboratory of ideas. This book contains a selection of over 200 drawings, water colours and depictions of sculptures, chosen by the architect and the author because they are particularly well-suited to showing how Calatrava's creative ideas ripen and develop, from the initial drawings, to the sculptures, finally attaining completion in the realised buildings. At the same time, it examines the interfaces between the fine arts, engineering and architecture. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Complete stroke-by-stroke guide to creating each letter of the alphabet in the beautiful, distinctive Celtic manner. Crystal clear instructions cover hand positions, strokes, pens, inks, paper, working surface, more. Introduction by William Hogarth. Over 40 full-page plates, plus 8 illustrations in instructions.
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Good book
This book seems to me slightly misnamed. If you're looking for a book that describes the hand(s) used in the Book of Kells (i.e. a book on paleography rather than calligraphy), this book isn't it. For, despite the fact that the Book of Kells is considered the prototypical example of celtic celligraphy, there are two problems with using it as a strict model: (1) the original had 3 difference scribes with different styles; and most enigmatically (2) the hands used in the Book are actually not very "celtic looking" to my modern eyes.

This book gives a brief history of the Book of Kells and then uses the Book's hands as a starting point to develop a celtic script that is very nice. Many aspects were not used in the Book of Kells - for example, the angled upper serifs. But it is a very nice-looking (to me) hand, very celtic-looking, and truer to the Book of Kells hands than most other celtic calligraphy I've seen. Well worth the small price.

Interesting
Interesting ... Read more

Book Description

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Its an O.K. Book
Good historial review of calligraphy, but would not recommend it as a good reference book if you are looking for something to guide and show you how to do calligraphy.Recommend "Encyclopedia of Calligraphy" instead.I purchased first edition many years ago, and accidentally bought this one again.Oh well... ... Read more

Book Description

For 1,300 years, Chinese calligraphy was based on the elegant art of Wang Xizhi (A.D. 303-361). But the seventeenth-century emergence of a style modeled on the rough, broken epigraphs of ancient bronzes and stone artifacts brought a revolution in calligraphic taste. By the eighteenth century, this led to the formation of the stele school of calligraphy, which continues to shape Chinese calligraphy today.

A dominant force in this school was the eminent calligrapher and art theorist Fu Shan (1607-1685). Because his work spans the late Ming-early Qing divide, it is an ideal prism through which to view the transformation in calligraphy.

Rather than seek a single explanation for the change in calligraphic taste, the author demonstrates and analyzes the heterogeneity of the cultural, social, and political processes behind it. Among other subjects, the book covers the late Ming interaction between high and low culture; the role of publishing; the Ming loyalist response to the Qing; and early Qing changes in intellectual discourse. In addition to the usual approach of art historians, it adopts the theoretical perspectives of such fields as material culture, print culture, and social and intellectual history. ... Read more

Book Description

Type fonts selected to add formal elegance, precision and grace to graphic projects that require a more reserved and thoughtful approach. Most of the fonts include both upper- and lower-case alphabets, numbers, punctuation marks and typographical ornaments.
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Book Description

Reviews (1)

Ever wondered how to make gild? Wonder no more!
This is probably the essential reference for calligraphers wanting to move beyond writing on paper and with randomly purchased inks.

Most books on calligraphy technique are largely devoted to lettering guides and some minimal instruction on materials. Not this one! The book contains a series of chapters written by acknowledged experts in the field.

This book is about gilding described in more detail, about cutting quills, about binding books, about preparing vellum. In short, about all those lovely calligraphy materials and techniques so often described in aggravating inadequacy in so many calligraphic how-to's.

Written well, that even the most fearful beginner can follow the instructions, this book is a boon for every calligrapher who wants to move beyond copying the ductus. ... Read more

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An Italic Calligraphy Handbook
This book is a solid foundation for learning the skill of Italic Calligraphy. It is well written, with clear instructions for creating each of the letter forms with an Italic calligraphy pen. In addition, the author pays attention to the finer aesthetic details of what it takes to master this beautiful skill. She provides plenty of examples of beautiful and inspiring pieces created by other calligraphy artists, as well as several pages of guidesheets to be used as one learns the letter forms. This is an excellent book--for learning, and as an important addition to the library of anyone interested in the beautiful art of calligraphy--beginner or experienced. ... Read more

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Good, basic instructions. Examples could be better.
This book is good for the price. The examples could be better. I've seen great examples from other teachers. It is worth the money invested and a good, starter for people who want to learn copperplate or engrosser's script. ... Read more

Book Description

A product for the royal court of France, the "Hours of Henry VIII," created around 1500 by Jean Poyet, is one of the most splendid Books of Hours from this period. This magnificently illustrated lay book of daily devotions and prayers contains fifty-five exquisitely hand-painted images all reproduced here together and in color for the first time. The previously little-known Poyet (active ca. 1483-1503) enjoyed the patronage of the courts of three French kings. Not only an illuminator of manuscripts of the highest quality, Poyet also created panel paintings, elaborate drawings, and designed theatrical spectacles, all in a style that links Fouquet to Poussin. Author Roger S. Wieck provides a thorough explanation of the importance both of this grand manuscript within its art historical context and of Poyet's artistic achievements, which fluidly merged the cool, late Gothic aesthetic of his native northern France with the avant-garde Renaissance style of northern Italy. All known works by Poyet are discussed and illustrated. The volume is rounded out by detailed commentaries by William M. Voelkle and K. Michelle Hearne on each section of the Book of Hours, and an analysis of the fascinating history of the manuscript (tradition holds that it was once in the collection of Henry VIII, hence its name today). 66 color illustrations, 35 b/w illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Terrific Collection
In all fairness, this should be called, "New York in the SECOND HALF of the 19th Century", since the overwhelming majority of the images presented here are from after 1850 (when Harper's Weekly began publication). Having said that, this Dover publication is a wonderful assortment of various scenes of New York life over 150 years ago.

There are some illustrations that are to be expected: Coney Island in its heydey, the Brooklyn Bridge, the el, etc. But the integrity and importance of the book lie in the unexpected scenes: heavy traffic on Broadway, abuse to animals and children, a football game, an omnibus at rush hour. These are the vignettes of every day life that open a window into nineteenth century New York. Also surprising are some illustrations by a very young Winslow Homer, just beginning to hone his artistic skills.

The other value of the book is the terrific quality of the printing. Like most Dover publications, the cover and spine are extremely durable. Also, most of the illustrations are full-page illustration which bring out every detail. Just a terrific book all around! ... Read more

Book Description

Edited by Michel Fries & Thomas Bruggisser. Introduction by Martin Heller.

6.75 x 9.5 in.
300 illustrations ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A beautiful design collection
One of my favorite books to consult for inspiration, full of varied styles of work but all of very high quality. ... Read more