Written Letters: 33 Alphabets for Calligraphers

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites...
Review: I highly recommed this book to all my students, for several reasons. First, an amazing fact is that most "how-to" calligraphy books are written by bad calligraphers. Jacqueline Svaren has a good, crisp, well-practiced hand that is worth immitating. Second, the entire book is hand written in calligraphy by her and is reproduced actual size with no corrections, so you can see real-life problems and solutions (yes, there are a few cross-outs!) - this isn't retouched perfection. Third, with every letter there are wonderfully helpful notes, explaining complex shapes or warning of common problems. Finally, the book weaves in a good deal of calligraphy history, which helps the student gain a better understanding of how the forms developed. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The best calligraphy how-to available.
Review: I highly recommed this book to all my students, for several reasons. First, an amazing fact is that most "how-to" calligraphy books are written by bad calligraphers. Jacqueline Svaren has a good, crisp, well-practiced hand that is worth immitating. Second, the entire book is hand written in calligraphy by her and is reproduced actual size with no corrections, so you can see real-life problems and solutions (yes, there are a few cross-outs!) - this isn't retouched perfection. Third, with every letter there are wonderfully helpful notes, explaining complex shapes or warning of common problems. Finally, the book weaves in a good deal of calligraphy history, which helps the student gain a better understanding of how the forms developed. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent instruction for those with some experience
Review: Ms. Svaren provides the intermediate calligrapher with sound and solid instruction to further broaden their repertoire of calligraphic "hands". The book is easy to use, (it folds back all the way because of the spiral binding) and the actual instruction for stroke sequences are very clear. I've used this book in teaching classes

Rating:
Summary: Hard to Read
Review: Not worth buying. While some good directions, hints, etc., very difficult to read because the entire book was done by calligaphy. The different letter styles could be gotten in other books. Sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Hard to Read
Review: Not worth buying. While some good directions, hints, etc., very difficult to read because the entire book was done by calligaphy. The different letter styles could be gotten in other books. Sorry.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites...
Review: This attractive, information-packed book inspired me at a time when I was ready to drop calligraphy. It focuses on increasing the intermediate calligrapher's repertoire of alphabets, rather than on introductory material. The variety of beautifully lettered alphabets provide inspiration for many projects. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Not Spiral Bound
Review: This is an excellent book, however, it is NOT spiral bound as noted in the previous review. It is a large-scale paperback book in two colors, black and red. Fabulous examples with lots of notes on how to form individual letters.

Rating:
Summary: excellent calligraphic resource
Review: this is one of the books i learned out of. it's packed with great info, and everything. sometimes its hard to find it in the calligraphic layout, and some of the alphabets lack important info like nib angle. but despite its faults it's still exceedingly useful.

Rating:
Summary: excellent calligraphic resource
Review: this is one of the books i learned out of. it's packed with great info, and everything. sometimes its hard to find it in the calligraphic layout, and some of the alphabets lack important info like nib angle. but despite its faults it's still exceedingly useful.

Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Best
Review: What more can I say: THE BEST OF THE BEST!