Margaret Shepherd - Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design

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Learn Calligraphy . Copyright 2001 by Margaret Shepherd. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.
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ISBN: 0-7679-0732-9
eISBN: 978-0-7704-3459-5

Learn Calligraphy is an expanded revision of the original classic, Learning Calligraphy (1977), completely rewritten with new text and reillustrated with new calligraphy and new drawings.

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I have been helped by many generous people in the process of writing this book. Those who tried out the practice exercises early on were particularly kind: students and faculty in Boston University School for the Arts workshop; members of the Connecticut Valley Calligraphers guild; art teachers in the Framingham Schools in-service course; residents of Hale House; students in the City of Bostons Youth Fund Mural Crew; and a group of enthusiasts at the St. Botolph Club. J am grateful to Alston Purvis, Kathleen Borkowski, Leslie Miller, Jane Poltier, Heidi Schork, and Anita Lincoln for help in organizing these groups.

I want to thank my agent, Colleen Mohyde of Doe Coover, for helping bring this book to life. I am most grateful to my editor, Tricia Medved, who always seemed to have a clearer idea of what this book could become, and kept me at it until I saw it, too. It is a better book because of her.

I am extra grateful to my childrenJasper, Zack, Zo, and Lilywho coped and cheered and pitched in, and to my husband, David Friend, who encouraged me all the way along.

The following material is used with the permission of its owners:

. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Egyptian Expedition, Rogers Fund, 1930. (30.4.44).

. Ms. Fr. 835, fol. 1. (detail), Bibliotque Nationale, Paris, France. Foto Marburg/Art Resource, NY.

(1523-1605). The Printing of Books (details). 16th c. Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, France. Giraudon/Art Resource, NY.

(Sep. 3/15/58) by Norman Rockwell.
Copyright 1958 by the Norman Rockwell Family Trust.

, sr., at the Vietnam Memorial. Photograph from Agence France Presse.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples, Italy. The Pierpont Morgan Library/Art Resource, NY.

Landschaftsverband Rheinland/Rheinisches Landsmuseum Bonn.

The Board of Trinity College, Dublin.

Copyright 1949 by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Copyright renewed. Williamson Music owner of publication and allied rights throughout the world, international copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

. The British Library.

, 59.0 40.0 cm. M. 653, f.1. The Pierpont Morgan Library, NY, USA. The Pierpont Morgan Library/Art Resource, NY.
Gherardo del Fora. Initial H with putti holding a shield. Italy (Florence) 1488. M.496, F.92. The Pierpont Morgan Library/Art Resource, NY.

These individuals generously lent or made Illustrations:

Material throughout the book by Tom Costello, Michelle Hlubinka, Zo Friend, and Margaret Fitzwilliam is used with their permission. SPECIAL THANKS to Margaret Gorenstein, Gerhardt Gruitrooy, Winifred Kelley, Tom Hansen, Cassie Reynolds, Peyton Richter, Jasper Friend, and Yehudi Wyner.

Dedicated to Norberto Chiesa, extraordinary teacher:

They have a wonderful author-editor relationship.

Copyright 1952 by the New Yorker Collection/Richard Taylor from cartoonbank.com. All rights reserved.

Learn Calligraphy is the book I wish Id had when I first started out. Ive put between its covers the lessons Ive learned from many years of lettering. In it you will meet the basic alphabets I rely on, grouped in the categories that make sense to me. You will read about the materials I recommend and why, practice the exercises that I think will help you the most, and watch out for the mistakes that I learned to avoid.

Learn Calligraphy is also the book I wish Id had when I first started to teach. It includes an overview of the main features of each alphabet, its historical importance, and a thorough grounding in the why to practice as well as the how to practice. The words you read are what I would say to you in person, the diagrams are what I would sketch on the board, the master alphabets are what I would letter for you to take home. This book will help you teach yourself, teach someone else, or teach a group.

Learn Calligraphy, however, is much more than a how-to book. I dont want you just to do what I do in calligraphy; I want you to see what I see, and love what I love. All the illustrations in this book, by me and by other calligraphers, have been chosen not only to instruct you but to inspire you. The art of calligraphy is about vision. After you read this bookwith or without a pen in your handyou will see the letters around you in new light.

Learn Calligraphy, in addition, is more than just what is shown on its pages. When you finish reading it will help you choose a direction to explore next. I have provided online help at margaretshepherd.com that includes guidelines to print out, tips for teaching sources for materials, answers to frequently asked questions, and suggested reading.

Learn Calligraphy, ultimately, is about more than calligraphy. It is about what can happen when people, learn to write, and to read, in the very best way. As soon as you begin calligraphy, you can use it every day to satisfy your eyes and challenge your mind and elevate your spirit. I wrote this book to show you how. Enjoy.