Children's Drawing Books

Goodwill is turning out to be an incredible source of art books.

My latest score: children's drawing books that pack a punch.

Usborne's Calligraphy: From Beginning to Expert is an excellent introductory

guide with clear instructions, a range of styles, and varied applications.

Its brief, but kick-started me to jump into hand-lettering.

Another favorite is Usborne's

How to Draw Ghosts, Vampires, and Haunter Houses.

Its tiny, but packed with ideas that are easy to execute.

After this page, I had to draw a church and graveyard,

its hard to resist this book's zany projects.

And Usborne's How to Draw Maps and Charts?

Every child (and maybe many adults) can learn something

from this book.  From traditional maps and charts to creative play.

Calligraphy Markers

I just couldn't get excited about learning how to use calligraphy dip pens.

Time is short, and the thought of changing and cleaning nibs and possible

splatters of ink, well, they just weren't tools I was excited about.

So, I'll be using sets of markers for the biology class projects.

In addition to my beloved Sakura Pigma black pens in new chisel tips,

I have color sets from Pigma, Staedtler, and Zig.

I think the Zig two-sided markers will be my favorites:

clean smooth lines and great colors.

I will go through these pens quickly with all of the class posters and

displays, but first, I need to figure out how to use them correctly.

Handwriting automatically looks pretty with the right pen.

Illuminated Love

"Love" by the talented illustrator Judy Pelikan is a collection of poems

and part of a series that includes "Truth," "Joy," and "Peace."

 If I'm reading and enjoying love poems (when did that start happening?),

I adore seeing charming art like this butterfly hovering over flowers.

The lettering makes me think of a cottage garden, reading

under an arbor next to the bramble hedge.

Light, airy, and beautiful against the marbled cover.

Vladi likes to have the poems read aloud :).

Simply sweet.

Maryjo Koch II

 More books by the awesome MaryJo Koch!  "Herbs" and...

 "Spices" too.

Just like the artist's other books, these are full of information

and beautiful watercolor artwork, but I'm focusing in on the lettering...

That is just sensational, a feast of a letter.

 I adore the way the scent is wafting off this letter.

The whimsical touches are a real treat.

In case you haven't broken out the credit card yet, there's more...

"Tea" and...

 "Coffee!"  The tea pot and coffee cup art alone is worth it!

Even better than the real thing.

 Sensational illumination detailing.

 This one reminds me of menu art, a really undervalued discipline.

 I'm thinking about how the gaiety of this lettering can be used

to make science concepts accessible.  Why does it have to be stuffy

to be considered "academic?"

Marie Angel

Six years ago I found "Painting for Calligraphers" by Marie Angel

at our local Goodwill for a whopping $4, cracked it open, and decided

to buy it on the spot.  It sat on my shelves for all that time, and now

I'm finally ready to appreciate the workmanship and advice.

The meticulous planning is apparent in each vignette.

M. Angel's technique is superb and the designs are

both modern and timeless.

 I especially like the decorated first letters.

The second I saw this monogram, I ordered a few more of the artist's

books from Amazon, this is so clean and charming!

Merging Modern and Classic

On the left, a piece by a contemporary calligrapher, on the right, a classic.

I love both, the modern colors and free-flowing design as well as

the timeless detail and whimsy.

 

The merger was something I dreamed about in 2006,

now its time to make it happen.

Best Illuminated Calligraphy Ever

If I was told I could only keep 10 books, once the panic subsided,

I would immediately grab my tiny copy of "The Art of the Pen"...

...as well as its sister volume "Nature Illuminated."

To me the beauty of hand writing and painting come together

perfectly on each page, showing what humans can create.

Amazingly, the work was done by two different people!

The calligraphy was done in 1561-1562 by Georg Bocskay,

and the illuminations were added 15 years after he died by

Joris Hoefnagel. The art complements and sometimes

challenges the line of the writing, I wish I understood

what the words are saying too!

I picked up one of the books from the Portland Art Museum

gift shop years ago, and it has haunted me ever since.

This is one of my favorite pages, over-the-top lacy lettering,

with an equally beautiful moth balanced atop.  The curve of the

snails' shells matches the curves of the letters.  Glorious!

Modern Calligraphy

For inspiration, Lisa Engelbrecht's

Modern Calligraphy & Hand Lettering is a visual treat.

This variegation in coloring (possibly from the Pilot Parallel pen) makes

 me gaze longingly at the pens, nibs, and inks for sale at Dick Blick.

But no, I'm old-school, and sticking with my brushes and watercolors.

(translation: old school = cheap)

O.K. this is pretty cool, I'll be using my technical pens too.

Art of Illumination

For a looser approach to illuminated lettering with a myriad of

applications, I really like Patricia Carter's The Art of Illumination.

These letters are not just pretty, they are readable and doable.

Throughout the book I get the feel that I can and want to try

the techniques, that is the sign of a good how-to book for me.

Pretty and functional lettering.

This Victorian ribbon wreath effect gives the letters a

festive feel, perfect for a holiday illumination.