Calligraphy For Dummies

From Italic to Roman to Uncial — create calligraphic alphabets with ease For many people, calligraphy is something they admire from afar, but don′t believe they could ever do it themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth! Practice is the key to becoming a good calligrapher, and that ′s what this book is all about. Open it and you′ll find easy–to–follow, step–by–step instructions in all the basics, from choosing the right pens and paper and holding the pen properly to using calligraphy to create six beautiful alphabets. Plus, there are plenty of creative projects for putting your skills into action. With just a little practice every day, you′ll be well on your way to doing calligraphy with style! The simple, sure–fire approach to learning calligraphy How to use pen tips of various sizes and shapes Ways to embellish and personalize your lettering How to add a special touch to stationery, journals, diaries, correspondence, plaques, and more Exercises for practicing your skills with confidence

Introduction. Part I: Yes, You Can Do Calligraphy! Chapter 1: Doing Calligraphy Can Be as Easy as ABC. Chapter 2: Peeking Inside the Calligrapher’s Toolbox. Chapter 3: Putting Your Pen to Paper. Part II: The Amazing, Incredible Italic Alphabet. Chapter 4: Taking a Few Baby Steps with Italic. Chapter 5: Doing Italic with a Calligraphy Pen. Chapter 6: Perfecting the Italic Alphabet. Chapter 7: Turning Up the "Wow! Factor" with Variations and Embellishments. Part III: Expanding Your Repertoire. Chapter 8: The Blackletter Alphabet. Chapter 9: Classical Roman Letters. Chapter 10: Formal Manuscript, Foundational Hand, or Bookhand. Chapter 11: Formal Uncial and Funky Variations. Chapter 12: Elegantly Outlined and Decorated Letters. Chapter 13: A Fancy Document Script. Part IV: Popular Projects. Chapter 14: Designing and Lettering a Quotation. Chapter 15: Creating a Poster or Sign. Chapter 16: Certificates. Chapter 17: More Things to Do with Your Calligraphy. Part V: The Part of Tens. Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Use Your Calligraphy for Weddings. Chapter 19: Ten Fun Alphabets. Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Making Money Using Your Calligraphy. Appendix: Practice Pages. Index.

Jim Bennett has been teaching calligraphy for about 30 years. He has taught at every level from kindergarten through college and has introduced thousands of people to calligraphy. Although he lost count some time ago, he suspects that he must hold a record for the number of students he has taught in the classroom, by correspondence, and through the Internet. Jim has a B.F.A. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.F.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Among the awards he has earned are the Virginia Artists Certificate of Distinction and the Ohio Art Education Association’s Distinguished Educator Award in 2003. In 1982, Jim self–published a popular instruction manual titled “You Can Do Calligraphy.” He also developed a complete Italic handwriting curriculum for grades K through 5 for Wakefield School in Virginia, created a calligraphy correspondence course for Lord Fairfax Community College, and pioneered calligraphy lessons on the Internet. His calligraphy website (www.studioarts.net/calligraphy) has had almost one million visitors. He is the founder and manager of the original Calligraphy Webring which is comprised of about a hundred of the finest calligraphy websites internationally. In addition to calligraphy, Jim worked for several years as a portrait artist under the name Bennecelli. He has also painted murals. Recently, he has been developing art–related projects based on adventure themes that math teachers can use to enhance math instruction.