The Bible of Illuminated Letters: A Complete Guide to Decorative Calligraphy & Gilding (Quarto Book)

Beautiful. Sturdy, high-quality hardcover, and the spiral binding is a huge plus since it lays completely flat while you work or read. The content is just as impressive, offering clear, practical guidance on technique along with rich historical context. A wonderfully crafted product all around.

Gorgeous book! 8" x 6.5" x 1" Unique hardcover yet spiral bound format. Copious amounts of DETAILED but easy to understand information on things like: making your own egg tempera paint, working with vellum, ink choices, a step-by-step guide to gilding, techniques for lettering, nib and brush choice, lists of necessary tools, color theory/mixing/themes, how to transfer designs, creating borders and motifs, font libraries, and many examples of deliciously intricate letters shown large enough and with enough detail to allow you to create them yourself. The techniques covered in this book are for everyone from beginners to experts. Mind you, creating "illuminated lettering" like some of the finest examples shown in this book is not an easy task. However, even just tracing or otherwise attempting to duplicate the basic look of these beautiful letters using standard ink and paint will surely create stunning results. I have purchased many calligraphy related books but this and the companion "Calligrapher's Bible" are without a doubt the finest and offer the best value. These books make me realize that you can't find all the information you want for free on the internet. I will use and refer back to these books for many years to come. Bravo!

I would have begin this review by saying that this book is not a step-by-step of how to draw every letter in different fonts. So if that is the kind of book you are looking for, turn the other way now and come back later. If you are looking to be inspired and learn appreciation for the art of letters while learning some different techniques of bringing letters to life, then this is the book for you. The product description is a little deceiving, "Illuminated Letters presents step-by-step instructions for recreating illuminated alphabets from six historical periods, including Celtic, Gothic, and Romanesque. Diagrams for upper- and lower-case letters are accompanied by ideas for borders and decorations, and full instructions for gilding." Although the book is very helpful in describing different techniques, borders, and designs used for the different font styles, the book does not have step-by-step diagrams for ALL upper and lower case letters of the 6 fonts. Besides not being a very good book for beginners, it is very well written, laid out, and illustrated. I would recommend having this book as it helps bring the historical essence to Calligraphy.

Absolutely love that this book gives food examples of most to ask letters in each type of illustrated capitals. If you need a good example to base your own off of, you can find it hear. If you want some for quick tracing, it also works for that. As a new scribe, this book has been a perfect exemplar of a number of different styles of capitals.

A lovely little book that covers six different types of medieval and Renaissance European illumination. The beginning of the book has a very helpful and extensive discussion of materials. There is a detailed and clear discussion of how to apply gold leaf, as well as powdered metallic gouache and paint. As the discussion centers on intermediate to advanced level materials, I would reccommend it for scribes who have mastered the basics of illumination and are seeking to improve their abilities. Period calligraphic alphabets are provided, but this is not a book on calligraphy. If you don't know how to do calligraphy for the period you wish to work with, you are advised to look elsewhere. I'm quite partial to Marc Drogun's Medieval Calligraphy. The book has the sort of spiral binding that is covered by a curved cover. This lets it lie flat while keeping the metal spiral from snagging on things. The book isn't perfect, in part because the focus is on how to make period capitals. For example, the chapter on the Celtic period does not discuss how to do knotwork. Most of the chapter focuses on how to make decorative capital letters. Only two pages are devoted to illustrations of motifs one might add to a Celtic text. Given how much of Celtic illumination was knotwork, this is a serious lack. The Gothic chapter skips the delightful bunnies and grotesques that appear in so many of the manuscripts. However, I still give the book four stars because what it has for materials and capital letters is so good.

Over the years I have collected a number of books on illuminations and calligraphy and I find "The Bible of Illuminated Letters" to be an excellent guide, giving step by step instructions on the process of illuminating letters in half-a-dozen different styles! Not only are the tools and materials needed for this art listed, but far more information is provided: setting up a work area; differences in, preparation and use of writing surfaces - from modern paper to vellum; paints you can use - from watercolors to egg tempera - and how to use them; inks, the processes and tools for gilding, layout and design, etc., etc. This is a truly excellent book with great step-by step instructions provided for all the included information; instruction enhanced with good photographs. It is a well rounded discussion of the methods of illuminating an alphabet and detailed descriptions on generating your own illuminated page or manuscript. While some may disagree, I believe that with this book even novices will find all the information they need to begin and complete their own masterpieces of illumination. If you are looking for a good guide on this subject AND have a little patience - Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a master at illumination - this is great book to start with. Good luck and Enjoy!

This book is BEAUTIFUL and great quality. I was so impressed with all the beautiful colors and lettering. Have a beautiful day. You are so loved.

This is a fabulous book & one to keep for reference & inspiration!