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A review by labyrinth_witch
The Practical Guide to Lettering & Applied Calligraphy by Rosemary Sassoon
3.0
This is a book about the journey of a professional career in lettering. Starting with beginner work and ending with discussions & examples from some of the most renown letters, I really appreciated her expose of how lettering careers evolve. Some professionals are entirely self-taught, others have formal art-institute training, and others are self-taught with studio apprentice experience. It definitely opened my mind to the possibilities and direction I could take my own career.
I also enjoyed the discussion about not getting too attached to the pen- that it is the conceptual understanding of the letter form, not the tool, that makes lettering beautiful.
The later half of the book showcases the professionals with a spotlight on different materials. There are those that work in glass, wood, stone, slate, fabric, silk-screening. While I have no interest in becoming a stone-carver myself, it found it inspirational as to where to look for good examples of letter forms and creativity.
As with any craft, it’s helpful to have the names of the masters to which to aspire.
I also enjoyed the discussion about not getting too attached to the pen- that it is the conceptual understanding of the letter form, not the tool, that makes lettering beautiful.
The later half of the book showcases the professionals with a spotlight on different materials. There are those that work in glass, wood, stone, slate, fabric, silk-screening. While I have no interest in becoming a stone-carver myself, it found it inspirational as to where to look for good examples of letter forms and creativity.
As with any craft, it’s helpful to have the names of the masters to which to aspire.