Calligraphy Books - Page 5

Sword and Brush: The Spirit of the Martial Arts

Dave Lowry

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Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Worth multiple readings 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Dave Lowry has written an excellent book that I've read on more than one occassion. As a bugeisha (one that studies the traditional Japanese martial ways) this small treatise on terms, kanji and philosophy used in most budo settings is quite enthralling.

I've found that as I've progressed in my own training, Mr. Lowry's "Sword and Brush" becomes even more profound. Going to my bookshelf, dusting off the book cover and reading it each year has proven fruitful. His simple and direct approach provide insight into shodo (the way of the brush), a particular kanji(s) history, which allows the reader to visualize the origins of the pictograph, and its transcendence into the combat ways of Japan. Each philosophical overview imparts a wisdom found by one who has truly studied the arts and can teach intricate meanings to the reader.

Lowry is a true student of the arts; an individual steeped in budo and bujutsu. He gets "it," and tries to share his knowledge with others.

Buy this book, you won't regret it.

Editorial Review:

This moment of perfect clarity that is the force behind all the traditional Japanese arts—from archery to flower arranging—is celebrated here in Dave Lowry's exploration of the common principles shared by calligraphy and the martial arts. Forty-two examples of Lowry's calligraphy, accompanied by his essays, show how the way of the brush reflects the strategic principles of the way of the sword. Each calligraphy represents a term from the martial arts—such as do, the way, or wa, harmony. The accompanying text amplifies our understanding of the term, what it meant to Japanese warriors, and what it means to practitioners of calligraphy and the martial arts today. What becomes clear is that these two seemingly unrelated disciplines actually partake of the same profound elemental spirit.

Calligraphy: A Course in Hand Lettering

Maryanne Grebenstein

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Despite the invention of the printing press and the advent of the personal computer, calligraphy continues to thrive as an art form. The process of hand lettering requires careful attention to detail, and many people find calligraphy to be a therapeutic exercise, similar to yoga and meditation, that forces people to be still and concentrate. Calligraphy: a Comprehensive Course" is a "calligraphy course in a book" that has been created to allow novices to teach themselves the beautiful art form of calligraphy. It was developed with the intention to teach a comprehensive course for beginners who have little or no previous experience in the lettering arts. The book traces the development of the major "hands" or lettering styles that have evolved since its origins in the Middle Ages: Uncial (9th century); Carolingian (11th century); Gothic (15th century); Italic (15th century); and Script (19th century). The first section contains a great deal of information where the basic components of broad-edged lettering - starter supplies, strokes, and pen angles - are clearly explained and illustrated. Following the basics of all the lettering styles, subsequent chapters cover the fundamental style, strokes, and spacing of italic lettering, uncial lettering, Carolingian lettering, gothic lettering, foundational lettering, and copperplate script. The book concludes with chapters on layout and design specific to calligraphers, correcting mistakes, and samples of medieval manuscripts and contemporary calligraphic masterpieces. It is presented in an easy-to-use notebook style package. The author is a noted professional with much hands-on experience teaching novices. It is a timeless, perennial appeal of this classic art form.

Art of Calligraphy

David Harris

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A treasure. 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 12 people found this review helpful.

David Harris's Art of Calligraphy is the best book for learning calligraphy by far. No other calligraphy book should be considered.

Used in one of the calligraphy classes I took ... 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I recently took a calligraphy class, and my teacher used this book to teach the class.

I immediately bought it, even though I already own a "few" calligraphy books, but this is one I reference more than any other.

I particularly appreciate the history lesson of written script, as well as all of the samples of historical works throughout the book. I don't have this info in any of my other books.

Harris utilizes multiple colors to illustrate the order of the strokes. This is very useful in tandem with numbers and arrows to show how to form each letter.

25 letterform styles plus "cadels" are taught in this book.

The GLOSSARY in this book is fantastic. Any term you come up against, you can find it in this glossary. Saves a LOT of time instead of searching each page for the definition!

There is a reference table of all the letterforms in the book, which makes it easy to decide which hand you may want to utilize at any given time.

And to top it all off, there's a comprehensive bibliography. So, if you want to research anything on your own you have a great guide!

I REALLY wish this book was spiral-bound so it would lay flat without a lot of bending and creasing, but it is NOT spiral-bound. It is a regular paperback. However, once you do your creasing and bending and folding, the pages eventually stay open and flat. I have resorted to clipping my pages open with a binder clip because the book is still new.

Mr. Harris, if you are reading this review, PLEASE PRINT THIS BOOK WITH A SPIRAL BINDING!!!! Otherwise, 2 thumbs up!

Editorial Review:

Whether you want to personalize stationery or enhance other special gifts and objects, The Art of Calligraphy helps you choose equipment, from brushes, pens, pencils, papers, to inks, and then shows exactly how to produce every letter of the alphabet in a number of different scripts.

Hand Lettering Made Easy

Debra Beagle

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

CREATIVELY INSPIRATIONAL!!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Debra's creative abilities are very inspirational. Calligraphy and other creative lettering seems so intimidating until you delve into her easy techniques. I read this book cover to cover as soon as I received it! I buy lots of idea books and I have never gotten a lettering book with this much jam packed information! You get tons and tons of new alphabets and loads of scrapbooking, home decorating and crafting ideas. Debra is the Creative Lettering Queen!

Editorial Review:

Hand Lettering Mode Easy will jump start readers on the road to using colourful lettering in so many of the crafts they enjoy, including scrapbooking, cards, decorations and wearable art. Readers will learn just how easy hand lettering can be with this friendly, step-by-step guide. They'll even learn a secret shortcut to making beautiful calligraphy using markers. Crafters will discover the timeless treasures they can letter in their scrapbooks, gift tags and cards, place settings and elegantly addressed envelopes. Scrapbookers, crafters, teenagers, girl guide troops, brides and event planners will love this book.. It also includes tips for improving handwriting and lettering for left-handed people!

The Book of Kells: Selected Plates in Full Color

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Worth the money but it could have been so much more 4 out of 5 stars.
48 of 49 people found this review helpful.

This book of color plates seems amazing, and almost is. However, the quality of the plates falls short of the mark. The colors are dull and faded, and the image resolution far lower than it should be. The Chi Rho page, probably the most beautiful page in the Book of Kells, shows almost none of the amazingly minute detail that it should. Other books--like the Thames & Hudson--show far more detail with more vivid colors than this. On the other hand, this book has larger pages than others, which is nice.

transcends time & religion 5 out of 5 stars.
27 of 32 people found this review helpful.

32 full color plates from one of the world's greatest books. Although it is Christian art, the Kells reflects centuries of preChristian style & mystery in its bestiary of cats & dragons, its peacock feathers, poses & intertwining lines. There is something in this art that transcends time & religion. The price is a bargain.

Bob Rixon

Editorial Review:

Painstakingly reproduced from a rare facsimile edition, this volume contains full-page decorations, portraits, illustrations, plus a sampling of textual leaves with exquisite calligraphy and ornamentation. The 32 full-color illustrations include the first image of Virgin and Child in a Western manuscript and early representations of Apocalyptic visionary symbols of the Evangelists.

The Universal Penman (Picture Archives)

George Bickham

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent Example of Engrossing 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful.

The "Universal Penman" is an excellent example of 18th century engravings. The engravings are amazing. The talent of the artists inspires both the beginning and advanced student of penmanship.

Fascinating! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This book is amazing! I bought it for a school project my daughter was working on in school about Colonial America, to show the kind of book people used to write from back then. It is beautiful and the calligraphy is amazing. As a historical item it is definitely worth buying, however, if you are wanting to LEARN how to do it, there are other books that are better. Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy, a Step-by-Step Manual is one good choice.

Good for calligraphy lovers 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is a reprint of cooperplate writing from XVIII century.
If you like calligraphy you will enjoy it!

Editorial Review:

Famous treasury of English roundhand calligraphy of 1740. Alphabets, decorated pages, scrolls, frames, cupids, similar material.

Fraktur: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft (Heritage Crafts Today Series) (Heritage Crafts Today Series)

Ruthanne Hartung

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

My wife says that the content is great, and I was very impressed with the physical design of the book.

Editorial Review:

The Pennsylvania Dutch are noted for the beautiful hand-lettered and designed documents known as fraktur. These include birth and marriage certificates, family trees, bookplates, awards, and house blessings. Leading fraktur artist Ruthanne Hartung works with the mission to keep the craft alive by adapting it to modern tastes and needs, and she passes on the form in this practical how-to book, with information on tools, step-by-step instructions, ideas for design, lettering and coloring techniques, a variety of project, and more. A variety of traditional patterns to apply to personal frakturs are included. Hidden lay-flat spiral binding for easy use.

The Art of The Saint John's Bible: A Readers Guide to Wisdom Books and Prophets (Volume 2)

Susan Sink

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Editorial Review:

This second volume of The Art of The Saint John's Bible: A Reader's Guide takes up two great collections of biblical literature--Wisdom Books and Prophets. Their illuminations draw on motifs from earlier illuminations and expand the visual vocabulary to strike at what is unique and important to these books. Lavishing equal attention on the biblical passages and the artistic vision of The Saint John's Bible, this guide is offered to enhance your experience and reflection.

Complete Idiot's Guide to Calligraphy

Jane Eldershaw

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The BEST 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 22 people found this review helpful.

This is truly the best book I have read on this subject. As someone trying to learn Calligraphy on her own, this is the only book that described everything I needed to know. After reading several other books on the subject, I was near giving up. For the beginner there is no other book needed.

A disorganized disappointment. 2 out of 5 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I am a relative novice of calligraphy, and, have of late, purchased several books to work towards improving my skills. This book sounded much better in theory than it was in practice. First of all, it only demonstrate six fonts, and while it certainly examines those six fonts in depth, it is still a rather slim offering. The book is also terribly organized. It jumps around from subjects to fonts to exercises and back again in a manner that is neither user-friendly nor particularly enlightening. While it does a decent job introducing one to some of the basics of calligraphy, it falters when it comes to teaching the art of calligraphy. Look around Amazon, and you are sure to find several better introductory volumes on this enjoyable hobby.

Editorial Review:

Calligraphy, that beautiful script lettering that seems like art, has increased in popularity over the last several years. From brides who want to address their wedding invitations to do-it-yourselfers who want to prepare certificates or make a family tree, calligraphy books and classes are hot! Whether you want to address thank you notes, or are interested in the latest craze-- Japanese Calligraphy-- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Calligraphy is the fun and easy-to-use resource. Featuring an oversize, lay-flat format with space for practicing and copying, this book offers the best advice in techniques, equipment and style and contains 6 full calligraphy fonts and 10 specific projects.

Wordplay: The Philosophy, Art, and Science of Ambigrams

John Langdon

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Take a second look at the cover of this book—this time, turn it upside down. The title, Wordplay, is an ambigram, which means you will be able to read it both right side up and upside down.

You may be familiar with the John Langdon’s ambigrams from Dan Brown’s bestseller Angels & Demons (see pages 186 and 188 of Wordplay), but if this is your first experience with the art of the ambigram, prepare to be dazzled! This lovely updated edition of the classic collection of ambigrams features a section of full-color ambigrams and dozens of stunning, mind-bending examples of this cryptic art form. Each strikingly beautiful and arresting illustration is accompanied by a short essay—sometimes serious, sometimes witty—to delight your brain as much as your eyes. Taken together, the art and the essays show how the very shape of letters can change our idea of words and their meanings. As Dan Brown says in the Foreword of this revised edition, John Langdon brilliantly rearranges the familiar, casting it in a new light.

Both playful and profound, Wordplay will challenge you to take a second look at your world.