Product Details
The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy

The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy
By Patricia Seligman

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Product Description

“Each page is filled with eye-catching full-color examples of the illuminator’s art.”—School Arts

Images of beauty that will teach and inspire you to decorate your own spellbinding pages. As you gaze in astonishment through close-up reproductions of such dazzling illuminated masterpieces as the Book of Kells, as well as superb compositions of contemporary artists, you’ll appreciate the infinite possibilities of the form. Try your hand and imagination at twelve classic alphabets, from Celtic and Gothic to Renaissance and Modern Revival, all carefully broken down to their components. Undertake projects that include copying intricate lettering and designs from The Lindisfarne Gospels; Emperor Henry II’s Pericopes, from the 11th century; the Duc de Berry’s Book of Hours; and others. Every exquisite page is a pleasure to view.


Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #169892 in Books
  • Published on: 2004-08-28
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 160 pages

Features


Customer Reviews

Illuminate your journals5
A gorgeous book showcasing and demonstrating decorative calligraphy. Step by step instructions for a wide variety of styles and period pieces of illuminated lettering. A great way to add some interest to sketchbook journals. HOWEVER! A patient and attention-to-detail mindset is required for this exacting art form.

Solid starting point for anyone doing illumination5
When you start illumination, you want to try different styles to see which fits your interest and talents best. This book creates a step by step walk-through for many different styles in a do-able manner for a beginner. But beyond that, the book provides examples of where to go from there. For instance, start of with the letter used as the example. When you finish that, try including one of the borders shown in that section using the same skills developed by following the example.
What this book accomplishes is to help you develop the "vocabulary" used by the sample styles. As you develop the vocabulary that the sample styles illustrate, you are on the path for more complex work (i.e. see Christopher De Hamel's books). Also, by learning the basics that this book provides, you are ready to play with styles not covered because you have the basis for where other styles came from or what they led into.

The Illuminated Alphabet5
"This book contains the best things to know to begin doing Illuminated manuscript writing. The authors list great resources, give useful lists, and then help you get started!!
In addition, I like the several styles of complete alphabets, how they are presented and described, and how to do the illumination techniques. It has taken me several years and attempts to find a book this beautifully complete. Other potential authors and publishers could learn from this wonderful book, because finally I feel confident enough to tackle the several projects I've got waiting for me. You don't have to be an artist to begin to do this work when you use this book.
Thank you to the authors and the publishers for their insight. Now I have the knowledge to be more confident in knowing where to start and how to progress with illuminating some of my projects.
Sandra Jones Ireland; Prince Edward Island Canada