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Illuminated Calligraphy
This book is a great source of inspiration for calligraphers, artists, embroiderers and china painters. Techniques and guidelines are given for gilding, together with over sixty design ideas for borders with flowers, ribbons and ropework.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 31, 2023
A few Christmases ago, at the illustrious Strand bookstore, I picked up an intriguing-looking little paperback with a beautiful border on the cover: Illuminated Calligraphy by Patricia Carter.
Since then I have been reading little snippets of this not-very-long volume, in the service of tiny half-assed projects like drawing borders on the pages of my planner and making myself a sign to remind me to eat salad. I have resisted the urge to run to a craft store and buy all the tools to do proper illuminates borders, like paint and gold leaf. I have mainly been using colored pencils.
Today I finally “read” the whole book cover to cover, carefully looking through the examples gallery and reading all the associated advice. I’ve only actually started taking a little of the advice in drafting my New Year’s Resolutions document so tomorrow’s writing-out will likely involve a little bit more winging it than Ms. Carter would strictly approve of.
Illuminating calligraphy is an art that requires more practice than book study, which I figured going in, but this book does provide a lot of good advice on where to start, how to practice, etc., in its 64 pages, as well as a number of beautiful examples to copy off. I’m going to try to get better at utilizing the tips I can implement with my existing materials and perhaps when I’ve gotten better at that—and more in the habit of doing illuminated calligraphy at all—I can buy myself some paint as a reward.
Originally posted at Borders and drop caps and gold lear.
Since then I have been reading little snippets of this not-very-long volume, in the service of tiny half-assed projects like drawing borders on the pages of my planner and making myself a sign to remind me to eat salad. I have resisted the urge to run to a craft store and buy all the tools to do proper illuminates borders, like paint and gold leaf. I have mainly been using colored pencils.
Today I finally “read” the whole book cover to cover, carefully looking through the examples gallery and reading all the associated advice. I’ve only actually started taking a little of the advice in drafting my New Year’s Resolutions document so tomorrow’s writing-out will likely involve a little bit more winging it than Ms. Carter would strictly approve of.
Illuminating calligraphy is an art that requires more practice than book study, which I figured going in, but this book does provide a lot of good advice on where to start, how to practice, etc., in its 64 pages, as well as a number of beautiful examples to copy off. I’m going to try to get better at utilizing the tips I can implement with my existing materials and perhaps when I’ve gotten better at that—and more in the habit of doing illuminated calligraphy at all—I can buy myself some paint as a reward.
Originally posted at Borders and drop caps and gold lear.
January 8, 2017
A series of ideas for illuminated letters. It offers several different alphabets, and instructions for creating them.
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January 10, 2008Calligraphy
December 6, 2010
Okay, but I've read (much) better books on the art.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews