A review by annyway47
In Progress: See Inside a Lettering Artist's Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector (Hand Lettering Books, Learn to Draw Books, Calligraphy Workbook for Beginners) by Louise Fili, Jessica Hische

5.0

Jessica Hische is the genius behind the design of many beloved book covers - the whole Barnes and Noble's Leatherbound Classics series (for example, see [b:The Picture of Dorian Gray|10518145|The Picture of Dorian Gray|Oscar Wilde|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1358748042l/10518145._SY75_.jpg|1858012], [b:Frankenstein|14743396|Frankenstein|Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415246981l/14743396._SY75_.jpg|4836639]); Penguin Drop Caps (for example, see [b:The Shadow of the Wind|18693872|The Shadow of the Wind (El cementerio de los libros olvidados #1)|Carlos Ruiz Zafón|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478537012l/18693872._SY75_.jpg|3209783]), etc.

In Progress was an amazing, beautiful, interesting and very helpful book. I am simply in love with it! <3

It starts out with some basic info about calligraphy/lettering/types - tools, terminology, etc. So any person who is new to the topic will have no trouble following the book along moving forward. It is a brief but well-done and easy to understand introduction.



Then Jessica Hische invites us for a behind-the-scenes look at her work process - from brainstorming ideas to sketching to polishing the final piece in vector form. What I liked the most about this section of the book was the fact that she's very honest and open about the process. She lists the specific tools and techniques she uses, shows the stages of her work the way they actually look, and is vocal about the challenges that happen on each stage. This is not a polished version for onlookers - this is the real deal.



After that, we get to see a section on all the different types of work projects she does. Book covers, posters, logos, redesigns, postcards etc. There are plenty of pretty, colorful illustrations. She gives some background info about the projects, talks about how these types of projects are different (say, how designing book covers differs from designing posters), how it affects her work process.



The quality of paper, print, and illustrations is top-notch.

I loved the structure and the writing as well as the contents. Hische tells her story in such a friendly, open and honest way, you instantly feel like you're buddies. She talks about how she chose her education, how her career began and how she organizes her work and life now. So it even has a bit of a memoir component going on, some personal and vulnerable stories about the confused years of a beginner artist. It's very appropriate though.

Most of all it is a story of a person who is in love with her work, works hard and credits people who help and/or work alongside. It's a joy to read.

So I loved the book and I loved the author. This book is a beautiful thing to have and a great inspiration.