Reddit mentions: The best pen & ink drawing books
We found 167 Reddit comments discussing the best pen & ink drawing books. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 33 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Manual (Lettering, Calligraphy, Typography)
- Dover Publications
Features:
Specs:
Height | 10.75 Inches |
Length | 8.25 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | May 2000 |
Weight | 1.15081300764 Pounds |
Width | 0.75 Inches |
2. Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design
- Watson-Guptill Publications
Features:
Specs:
Color | Cream |
Height | 10.89 Inches |
Length | 8.41 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | February 2001 |
Weight | 1.01192178258 Pounds |
Width | 0.44 Inches |
3. Lettering For Beginners: A Creative Lettering How To Guide With Alphabet Guides, Projects And Practice Pages
Specs:
Height | 10 Inches |
Length | 8 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.45 Pounds |
Width | 0.19 Inches |
4. Spencerian Handwriting: The Complete Collection of Theory and Practical Workbooks for Perfect Cursive and Hand Lettering
- Used Book in Good Condition
Features:
Specs:
Height | 9.25 Inches |
Length | 7.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | August 2016 |
Weight | 0.8267334825 Pounds |
Width | 0.4 Inches |
5. Creating Textures in Pen & Ink with Watercolor
- Watson-Guptill Publications
Features:
Specs:
Color | White |
Height | 10.99 Inches |
Length | 8.53 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | January 2005 |
Weight | 1.32497819462 Pounds |
Width | 0.43 Inches |
6. Pen and Ink Drawing: A Simple Guide
Pen and Ink Drawing A Simple Guide
Specs:
Height | 11 Inches |
Length | 8 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.9 Pounds |
Width | 0.38 Inches |
7. Walter Foster Book, Assorted
- Walter Foster Creative Doodling & Beyond Book
- Walter Foster Creative Doodling & Beyond Book- Learn to view the world through a doodler's eyes with this colorful, engaging workbook full of prompts, exercises, and step-by-step projects designed to help you turn your doodles into expressive works of art
- From doodling with your non-dominant hand and creating stream-of-consciousness doodles to designing doodled giftwrap and family keepsakes. .
- Numerous practice pages invite you to pit your newfound doodle skills to use, and an idea gallery showcases unique ideas for turning doodles into larger visual statements.
- Happy doodling!
Features:
Specs:
Color | Assorted |
Height | 11.75 Inches |
Length | 8.75 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | December 2011 |
Weight | 1.57410055068 Pounds |
Width | 0.625 Inches |
8. Get-Set-Sketch!: Secrets of Pen & Ink Sketching Unleashed!
- Open shelving features cubbyhole divider for towel storage
- Faux slate finish shelf
- Adjustable shelf behind frame and panel door with bead board insert
- Reversible door opens left or right
- Soft White finish with Slate finish accent
Features:
Specs:
Release date | September 2018 |
9. The Pursuit of Capyness: A Zen Capybara Coloring Book
- Great product!
Features:
Specs:
Height | 11 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.57981574906 Pounds |
Width | 0.24 Inches |
10. I Hate Fairyland Adult Coloring Book
Image Comics
Specs:
Height | 11.5 Inches |
Length | 8.1 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.59965735264 Pounds |
Width | 0.4 Inches |
11. Creating Textured Landscapes with Pen, Ink and Watercolor
Specs:
Color | Multicolor |
Height | 8.25 Inches |
Length | 10.89 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | March 2012 |
Weight | 1.25 Pounds |
Width | 0.42 Inches |
12. Mark Kistler's Imagination Station: Learn How to Drawn in 3-D with Public Television's Favorite Drawing Teacher
- Used Book in Good Condition
Features:
Specs:
Height | 11 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | December 1994 |
Weight | 1.75928885076 Pounds |
Width | 0.72 Inches |
13. Pen and Ink Drawing Workbook (Volume 2)
- M. 2 2280, HP controller Offering with 8 flash memory channels that support PC 3. 1 x4 and NV Me 1. 3
- Sequential read/write speeds up to 3, 500 Mbps/ 2, 900 Mbps, an industry top leading reliability (MTBF) 2M hours, and endurance (TBW) up to 1400 TBW
- Higher order LDPC error Correction for high speed parallel decoding and real time error Correction to ensure data integrity and security
- Works on all Windows PC, Full compatibility with host. Exe (HP software pre-installation environment). Ideal upgrade for HP PCs
- Manufactured to HP high quality standards and fully tested and CERTIFIED in HP laboratories. Not intended for use in HP workstations
Features:
Specs:
Height | 11 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.76 Pounds |
Width | 0.32 Inches |
14. Drawing in 3-D
- Sold as an Each
- Bring out the budding artist in your child
- This book teaches one how to draw in 3-D
- No more stick figures
- Contains great suggestions and instructions
Features:
Specs:
Color | Multicolor |
Height | 10.875 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | August 1998 |
Weight | 1.2 Pounds |
Width | 0.72 Inches |
15. The Bizarre Coloring Book For Adults: Bizarre, Strange and Weird Images To Color
Specs:
Height | 11.02 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.55 Pounds |
Width | 0.2 Inches |
16. That 60s Coloring Book: 25 Hippie Inspired Adult Coloring Pages
Specs:
Height | 11.02 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 0.52 Pounds |
Width | 0.19 Inches |
17. Hand Lettering 201: Intermediate Lettering and Design Basics
Blue Star Premier
Specs:
Color | White |
Height | 9.98 Inches |
Length | 10.49 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | December 2017 |
Weight | 1.8 Pounds |
Width | 0.96 Inches |
18. Beginner's Guide to Sketching: Characters, Creatures and Concepts
3dtotal Team
Specs:
Height | 12 Inches |
Length | 8.5 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Weight | 1.87613384962 Pounds |
Width | 0.75 Inches |
19. Dockwood [Graphic Novel]
- Height: 32 in Width: 24 in Depth: 24 in Pot size: W: 6 in, H: 6 in
Features:
Specs:
Height | 11 Inches |
Length | 7.75 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | December 2012 |
Weight | 0.85 Pounds |
Width | 0.5 Inches |
20. Hand Lettering 101: An Introduction to the Art of Creative Lettering (Modern Calligraphy Series)
Blue Star Premier
Specs:
Color | White |
Height | 10.03 Inches |
Length | 10.4 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | June 2016 |
Weight | 1.7 Pounds |
Width | 0.84 Inches |
🎓 Reddit experts on pen & ink drawing books
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where pen & ink drawing books are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
To expound on the 80-90/10-20 part, look at many scripts.
It helps to remember where calligraphy came from. Calligraphy was simply the result of marketing. Back in the day, scribes and nobels were the only ones that could write. So what happened? Well for scribes, what's your most effective marketing tool? "I can write faster and prettier than the guy next to me". And for nobels, why calligraphy? "I can write elegantly, so it demonstrates the fact that I'm a man of high culture and class".
So if you think of Calligraphy as striving towards beauty and efficiency for the sake of marketing, ease of reading, and the ability to not have scripts degrade when other people wrote them, it makes a lot more sense. (monks needed the latter, which is why the gothic styles are among the most restrictive. If you're copying books for hundreds of years, it wouldn't do to have the book of Matthew be totally different looking than the book of genesis)
As it became more developed, it became more artistic and creative as people pushed the boundaries of technology, innovation and knowledge. Much like Gymnastics started out as much more rough and tumble sport, and now almost every gymnastics routine is identical as everyone strives towards a clearly and concretely defined ideal.
Now that we have paper in abundance, and pens that are affordable to anyone (e.g. free), we're entering into a new era. Everyone can write, so therefore writing is optional. It's a funny idea, but that's how it usually is. If everyone can do something, it's not novel, and as things progress the trade is refined and elaborated into an artform, or dropped into disuse.
Farming: Everyone did it. It became not novel, but rather a given. It progressed, then, into an artform. The artform being "how efficiently, and how fast, can I grow things?". Today, this artform is incredibly complex, requiring machinery, vast resources, technology and even PhD's to advance the craft. To practice it, you don't need nearly that amount of resources, but it's still a far cry from saying "hey, I bet if I used a metal hoe instead of a wooden one..."
Writing: Everyone that needed to became able to do it (scribes/learned-men/nobles). It became not novel, but rather a given that you could find a scribe. It then progressed into an artform, being "how efficiently and beautifully can I write this?". Today, everyone knows how to write basically, so the art of writing has reached an equilibrium. It's advanced enough to get the job done, and it needs to go no further. In the art side of it, however, it's continued to advance as people develop better and more advanced technique, technology and equipment for the art. Fountain pens, flexible ones, dip nibs, better inks, better paper, more efficient ways of learning it, etc.
Hand-lettering is simply the in between stage of writing as an art and as a utility, as our technology is so diverse on the Earth in needs and utilization that all crafts and trades are in a constant state of flux across many levels of skill. (We have advanced metal working for CPUs, and we have people who still craft cups and knives out of metal by hand). Hand-lettering could also be seen as the creative expression of the art of writing, much like power-tumbling is the creative expression of gymnastics, or gardening/landscaping is the creative expression of farming.
Edit: motherofgod.gif
I wrote way more than I intended to... Sorry.
Some of these aren't on Amazon, but all of them outside of amazon are on my wishlist, is that okay?
1.) Something that is grey.
[This compilation of xkcd comics!] (http://www.amazon.com/xkcd-0-Randall-Munroe/dp/0615314465/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I12D1D7CV12AVC) Though there aren't any formerly-unseen comics included, this is perfect for the lover of the famous (and always relevant) Xkcd webcomics.
2.) Something reminiscent of rain.
[This t-shirt for fans of Incubus that is apparently out of stock now, but I'm keeping it on my wishlist to gaze wistfully at.] (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/315rOsJeWzL._SL135_.jpg)
Incubus has always been one of my favorite bands, and all art that the lead singer (Brandon Boyd) produces is amazing, so I had high faith in this shirt being wonderful if I had the money to buy it.
3.) Something food related that is unusual.
[So I typed in "candy" and this popped up..] (http://www.amazon.com/LOCOMO-Rainbow-Hedgehog-Plastic-Baseball/dp/B00BRWH99K/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_2_49?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1376327288&sr=1-49&keywords=candy)
I'm not sure what I was expecting.
4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why.
[My mom has always wanted to learn calligraphy and someone recommended this book to me] (http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Calligraphy-Complete-Lettering-Design/dp/0767907329/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I35YCU37X7E6Y2)
She paints signs for people, usually featuring newborn babies or pets, and she always has to print out a guide and trace it if her customers request a font for their name.
5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!
[This compilation of postsecrets-- artistic postcards with secrets written on them-- that are all touching in their own way.] (http://www.amazon.com/PostSecret-Extraordinary-Confessions-Ordinary-Lives/dp/0060899190/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I22JZDFLS686V8)
If you haven't heard of Postsecret yet, you should check it out [here] (http://www.postsecret.com/)
6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
I dunno!
7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)
I have two cats, but I got nothing for this one.
8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.
[This key from KeypersCove] (http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Winter-Rose-Key-Necklace/dp/B00D3S4GVU/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376329005&sr=8-1&keywords=keypers+cove)
I had a similar one on my wishlist but it's out of stock now.
9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?
[Cloud Atlas!] (http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Atlas/dp/B00CRWJ5GO/ref=sr_sp-btf_title_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376329072&sr=8-4&keywords=clouds+atlas)
Terribly confusing unless you see the [trailer] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnAqFyaQ5s) first, it's surprisingly appropriate for this sub.
10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.
[This climbing pick] (http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Pacific-Mountain-Axe-80cm/dp/B002J91R1G/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376330277&sr=8-2&keywords=climbing+pick)
Ever played Telltale's The Walking Dead? Well, one character had a climbing pick that they used pretty frequently to scale buildings and kill zombies..it opened my eyes to the possibilities and dual uses of items.
11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.
[This book] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Emotion-Thesaurus-Character-Expression/dp/1475004958/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) for my writing skills, I always have trouble finding just the right way to convey the proper emotion, plus I have severe social anxiety so it would help me figure out how to act in real life as well.
[Or this book by the famous Virginia Woolf] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Waves-Harvest-Book-ebook/dp/B004R1Q41C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=IHP0D0N718720) just the type of writing style I'm aiming for.
[Or this book that I'm sure would help me with my technique.] (http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Tools-Essential-Strategies-Writer/dp/0316014990/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)
12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.
Hm?
13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?
I used to have this on my list, but a [Geiger counter] (http://www.amazon.com/Radex-RD1503-RADEX-Radiation-Detector/dp/B00051E906/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376331004&sr=8-1&keywords=geiger+counter) because I'm paranoid about radiation and etc. Deleted it off my list because it's not useful for everyday life.
14.) Something bigger than a bread box. EDIT A bread box is typically similar in size to a microwave.
I got nothing on my list.
15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.
[These socks] (http://www.amazon.com/Portal-Chells-Aperture-Science-Socks/dp/B008JGPSJU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I2KUOG9B813AXT) because they're ultra thin and I'm sure they could be crumpled up that small.
16.) Something that smells wonderful.
I'd put something here, but there's nothing I'm sure of. [This book] (http://www.amazon.com/White-Fluffy-Clouds-Inspiration-Forward/dp/0974512001/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1KXQQYMQ3MHEJ&coliid=I16LKBYPI8BE5U) because it could smell like Brandon Boyd?
17.) A (SFW) toy.
I've got nothing!
18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.
[This shirt] (http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/rising-t-shirt/13087/) because I find it amazing, oh my god oh my god.
19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.
[I've been trying to learn Irish for quite awhile now..] (http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Irish-Michael-OSiadhail/dp/0300121776/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376331377&sr=8-1&keywords=learn+irish)
20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.
[This poster, this poster!] (http://smbc.myshopify.com/products/dear-human-19x27-poster) To see what it's based on, the original comic is [here] (http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2223)
Hi, countertrap. I'm new to the sub, but have the same question as you. I'm looking for courses more in a university or college setting, but here's what's worked for me in terms of self-study, that I thought might help you as you consider what to study:
Edward Johnston's book Writing, Illuminating and Lettering was recommended to me when I was starting out, and I think it's still an excellent resource on how to start if one is interested in the absolute classical calligraphy process. https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Illuminating-Lettering-Edward-Johnston/dp/1475299931
I just found an interesting YouTube on his legacy, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA0PA3wsXyA
My personal favorite modern calligrapher so far is Margaret Shepherd, and her books are very accessible and helpful. Her book Learn Calligraphy is, in my opinion, excellent because it starts you at the beginning with Roman hand and moves forward from there, explaining the historical development of letterforms in Western writing all the way to present day. https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Calligraphy-Complete-Lettering-Design/dp/0767907329?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc
She's got a fascinating book on World Calligraphy that I love.
I hope that helps.
As a follow-on to your question, are there courses that exist for calligraphers in the way there are for artists? For example, if I wanted to "go to art school," I could attend, say, Columbia College here in Chicago and graduate with a degree in art with a specialization in oil painting. Are there similar programs for calligraphy?
You can get a decent set for cheap. I'll write this up as if you are looking for entry-level stuff - not the fancy stuff. If you want fancier stuff, I will have to defer to someone else. One thing that I didnt realize when I started calligraphy is how much studying and practicing I would need to do. If you want to do it right, you shouldnt just dive in. You really need to study the forms, and techniques for making the proper strokes. One book I have says that calligraphy is more similar to painting than to handwriting and you probably woundnt expect to just start painting without practicing, right?
At a minimum, you just need a pen with a nib ($10), ink ($5) and paper ($20). Speedball makes good beginner sets.
Books
Personally, I like the 1800s script-y stuff with a little modern thrown in. I have been working out of Mastering Coppoer Plate Calligraphy and Modern Calligraphy: Everything You Need to Know To Get Started In Script Calligraphy. The former book is more technical and is strictly about practicing and technique. The latter will go into more detail about supplies, writing media, and finding your personal style. I think they complement each other well.
Pen
If you dont know what she likes, I would recommend both a straight holder and an oblique holder. A straight holder is good for broad nib stuff (italic and gothic) and modern calligraphy whereas an oblique holder is good for 1800s script-y stuff. Scroll down to the NIB HOLDER CHARACTERISTICS section for a reference image. The speedball sets often come with a nice variety of nibs to swap in and out. Otherwise, you have to hand pick the nibs and that will probably be above your pay grade (I know its above mine!)
Ink
Ink shouldnt really make too much of a difference for a beginner. Just get anything for calligraphy. Again, Speedball has decent stuff for cheap.
Paper
Paper is really important. These pens will put a lot of ink on the paper so the paper needs to be able to absorb it and maintain clean, straight lines. This guy did not choose good paper for his project so you can see how it bleeds. Rhodia makes good paper notebooks. Its more expensive than regular notebooks but it will still be worth it. The really good calligraphers use fancy paper, but this often requires extra skill that your fiance might not be ready for.
Extras
Instead of ink, some people use watercolor or gouche. These can be a lot of fun to use and make a big difference in the final product. They are a little more advanced, but shouldnt be too difficult. She should really be pretty competent with her skill before getting into this stuff. You dont want to use your expensive gouche for practice sessions.
First off, welcome! We’re glad to have you :)
A lot really depends on how you want to learn. Everyone has different styles and techniques. Some pay for lessons or workbooks. Some trace and trace and trace some more. Some freehand copy. This sub is a good start!
Practice strokes from u/MyOwnGuitarHero (our tireless lead mod) if you don’t have access to a printer
https://www.reddit.com/r/BrushCalligraphy/comments/7wwcrs/practice_drills/?st=JDQI7DMR&sh=34264b22
https://www.reddit.com/r/BrushCalligraphy/comments/7p1cau/daily_drills/?st=JDQIB6UG&sh=515b6075
If you do have access to a printer there are lots of free printable PDF practice sheets to use. Below is just one I found from just a google search. Pinterest is a good resource as well
http://lghttp.56260.nexcesscdn.net/8037E40/tombowusa.com/media/wysiwyg/Tombow/pdfs/Tombow-Dual-Brush-Pen-Practice_Full.pdf
If you’d like a book to work from these are a couple of good choices or any from amazon with good reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Lettering-Beginners-Creative-Alphabet-Projects/dp/1546947299
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1948209004/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W7TYCZCT757T7MJ9TAZH
And don’t forget some good quality paper as soon as you get a chance. Rhodia is good or some just use laser print paper. They’re both really smooth and hold ink well.
I have and love the following that you might also enjoy.
Hey Everybody!
Here is a capybara coloring book by Dr. Jonathan Terry, and he is a physician based in California. He works in free clinics and community mental health settings with patients who are both very ill and unable to afford insurance. He loves to education and service, particularly around the topics of mental health. The Pursuit of Capyness: A Zen Capybara Coloring Book is a way to make people smile while doing something creative AND to help fund volunteer efforts, donations, and service.
WHAT IS THE BOOK LIKE?
103 total pages
50+ images of capybaras (including with other animals)
50+ capybara facts, games, puzzles, puns, jokes, and more
Crisp pages with good margins so you don’t color off the pages
Sufficient detail for an adult coloring book with mandala-style images as well as more cartoon-style images for a children’s coloring book
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW FUNDS FROM THIS BOOK WILL BE USED?
Toward a free medical clinic that provides care to 200+ people every Saturday. The clinic was recently featured on national news
Book donations to mental health clinics and shelters; they are currently discussing donating 300+ books to children at a women and children’s shelter
Free services for the uninsured, underinsured, students, and impaired professionals
Consultation to nonprofits serving mental health and primary care causes
Education for health sciences students, pre-meds, and more, with the goal to improve access and investment in our communities in the long-term
The book is available on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1697151701/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2HRJFU9GNVQXU&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_crazycodyscreatures_dp_vv_mw
my favortie book is this. it will help you alot.
but first sketch the drawing. then add sketch line shading, thinking about where the light is coming from. then felt pen color basically using your lightest colors. then add the darker colors of the same hue in the shaded areas if you use three shades of a color it looks great. you will be surprised how fast the drawing will POP off the page once you follow these steps. start simple. like drawing a piece of square wood. ie.
lastly. if you want practice. use trace, and and underlay of some cool simple image you want to copy. then after you get the basic form, go to town on the trace with the colors. will give you a good start and be really rewarding when you see a nice image of a house or car or animal, whatever. the skill or rendering a good proportioned sketch will take time.
My childhood was something else. My amazing mom did everything she could to make the best out of our situation. She saved up forever to take us to Disney World because our dad promised to take us but never did and she always wanted to go to Disney. The four of us (mom, grandma, my brother, and I) all went for a week and had such a fantastic time! We did everything and anything and we went in October so it wasn't horribly busy.
Disney is such a magical place and if you spend any time there you're going to start believing anything is possible. I went for my senior trip two years ago and I felt the same way. I was nothing but happy on both my trips to Disney. I'm currently grinning like an idiot thinking about all of the fun I had!
I would love this if I win (if it's cheaper used then buy it used). WOODPECKER
I took a calligraphy course. Basically, just start tracing letters. This book is great: http://amzn.com/0767907329
I had pretty good writing to begin with, and played with fancy writing for a while before giving this a go, but everybody in my class was completely new to it and found it easy.
That book is full of different "fonts", most are easy IIRC.
Just trace, then try to look at a sentence and write it in the style you like.
EDIT: An italic pen will help even shit hand-writing. I picked up a "Lamy Joy" fountain pen, makes my writing look way better.
Aw, shucks. Thanks!
It helps me a ton that while I'm brand new at actually painting, I'm not new to drawing or even digital painting at all since I work as a 3D/Digital artist. So for me, getting used to watercolors has mostly just been about learning to control the paint itself.
As far as that goes, I think the biggest thing is just to try to see what other painters do as far as techniques go.
Someone posted this video here a while back and I found it absolutely incredible. Watching the way these guys work with their color and some of the methods they use to get the paint to do what they want, bleeding here or there or being tightly controlled there, was really helpful to me.
My teacher also had this book laying around while we were working, and it has an absolute ton of interesting ways to use different tools or approaches to get different effects. It also has a lot of nice step-by-step illustrations so you can see how the artist blocks in color and then refines detail.
I guess really the best advice I can give you is to experiment with different looks or styles. If you see something another watercolor artist does, don't be afraid to copy that effect or approach. By experimenting with different approaches, hopefully you'll find some tools that really speak to you as an artist that you can employ in your painting from there on out. And most of all, just enjoy it. I didn't set out with any real goals for this class or learning watercolors; I just did it as something fun and as a way to be creative for fun and not just for work again. So if you're enjoying yourself and trying different techniques that make you have fun with it, that's the most important thing you can be doing as a beginner if you ask me.
Feel free to shoot me some links to any pieces you'd like any critique or suggestions on, I'm no expert but I'd be happy to offer whatever advice I can.
My very favorite book for teaching kids (and everyone) how to draw is Mark Kistler's Imagination Station. Mark Kistler is maybe one of the best art instructors out there. His approach is to teach the foundations of art technique and quite a bit of theory (his "Renaissance words") through the process of making silly cartoon drawings. The lessons and prompts in the book are a lot of fun, and aimed directly at an 8-year-old kid who loves to draw. He's had several drawing shows on PBS, and if you search his name on Google, you'll get a lot of great video lessons from him, as well.
So here's my advice (however I am an extremely visual person, I am able to see shapes in my mind and turn them to see every side and angle, and drawing is a little intuitive for me, so sorry if this isn't helpful). I honestly just started using shapes to draw quicker, and I am 26 and have sold my art, just to give you an idea of how long it takes to be able to do that well.
Anyway, I would recommend you start with tracing. Put some tracing paper over some basic shapes and trace, then draw them without the paper. Like when you learned how to write. When you feel comfortable with that, find some basic drawings that you like and trace them. I would also recommend a drawing book that has space for you to practice (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997046503/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_QyrlDb94WJ2BQ, it has a ton of shading and shaping techniques which I found incredibly helpful). Once you feel good with tracing, start copying drawings without tracing. What has always helped progress my skills is copying. Producing images straight from my mind took a long time to be able to accomplish, and I still need references for every piece of art I produce. Copy, copy, copy.
Here are some good how-to-draw books which help me a lot
this one is [by Mark Linley] (https://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Anything-Linley/dp/1567315372)
A very popular book by [Mark Kistler] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0738212415/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498851864&sr=1-1&refinements=p_27%3AMark+Kistler&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&dpPl=1&dpID=51Dz4esfWnL&ref=plSrch)
[Drawing in 3-D by Mark Kistler] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0684833727/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1498851864&sr=1-4&refinements=p_27%3AMark+Kistler&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&dpPl=1&dpID=61d9g1OF2mL&ref=plSrch)
And to keep you going and practicing every day I highly recommend r/SketchDaily :)
I'm a bit odd and I enjoy coloring odd things so I really love The bizarre coloring book for adults as well as the 2nd volume of the book. Some of the images are a little simplistic and "dumb" but a lot of them are really different and span from easy to more challenging to color. My friend got me the first book and I bought myself the 2nd when I saw that there was another one. I also like that the designs are one to a page (the backs of the pages are blank), so that I can color with markers and not have to worry about ruining images. That's something important to me when I am looking for a coloring book.
This clock is amazing, and would undoubtedly look great in a collection. https://www.amazon.com/STAR-WARS-Lightsaber-Bradford-Exchange/dp/B01IU6HI4Q/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1493918360&sr=8-8&keywords=star+wars+clock
As for my wishlist item, I love this coloring book. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1545224781/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3UN4TRLZE6T5G&colid=1CIT2KOQR5IRL
May the force be with you
Ok, for constructive criticism:
If you really want to get into it, a good book to have around with information on how to practice and some good/fun examples of copperplate is Eleanor Winters Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy.
I would also suggest watching a few of the videos by Paul Antonio on his YouTube.
These things are all geared towards calligraphy with a dip pen, but the style and techniques will be useful to apply to using your pen.
Good luck.
I think it's both. As Bill Perkins says (NMA instructor) "don't overrender in the hope of looking good". I've a tendency to do that, probably my inexperience. Thanks for your honesty, it means a lot, I started to draw from the ground-up 2 years and half ago seriously.
I'm currently focusing on texture, volume and line quality with the book "Pen and Ink drawing : A Simple Guide" from Alphonso Dunn : https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/0997046538/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm trying to apply to my favorite medium all the light theory I learned about too.
Maybe studies, time and practice will get me at my dream job and being concept artist !
> Trying to do a copperplate.
Perfect! I'd suggest checking out the lessons on Zanerian.com. Specifically Brown, Lupfer, and Zaner.
You could also try checking out Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy. I've hated on this book pretty heavily in the past, but it is an okay enough beginner resource. Has a lot of information to get you up and running. But only if you realize that it's a stepping stone. Use it for a bit, but make sure you move on to better resources.
> umm. so what's wrong over at /r/handwriting
They can't help you. It's just a sub for "look at a pretty 'm' I made in my bio notes today."
Thanks to the super kind response in this sub, I am going to buy and donate one coloring book for every coloring book sold over the (US) holiday weekend!
​
International Links:
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US: https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Capyness-Capybara-Coloring-Book/dp/1697151701/
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UK: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/uk/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701
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DE: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/de/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701
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FR: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/fr/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701
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ES: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/es/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701
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IT: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/it/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701
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JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/1697151701
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CA: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/ca/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/1697151701
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PROOF:
Hey! thanks a lot. She has like 3 different size pens. I've been recommended that brush pen from various people so I will definitely get that.
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Yesterday I had a sneak peak at her paper and I'll get her some as well. As well as this book. Thank you so much for the suggestions :D
Spencerian Handwriting: the Complete Collection of Theory and Practical Workbooks For Perfect Cursive and Hand Lettering.
It's on Amazon, and was written by Platts Roger Spencer, the guy who invented Spencerian. Has all the lessons and the copy books in one complete edition. Bought it myself to learn Spencerian, and am finding it really useful.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1612435289/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_7txAq2OXRbkQW
My friend bought me a really good book to practice my hand lettering, here is the link. I found it really straight forward to get on with.
Maybe with luck! I struggle with an additional language barrier, since I'm in the Netherlands and most of these books have never been translated and published in Dutch. The odds of finding them in a local thrift shop are minute.
I love Linda Kemp, Nita Engle, David Bellamy and Claudia Nice.
My main tip for any book you encounter; if you don't like the style the instructing artist works in, leave it be. Pretty much every book repeats the basics, beyond maybe your first 1-2 books, every new book should be by an artist whose work is something you admire and has an aspect you want to emulate.
Hey there! I don't know that this is the sort of feedback you're looking for, but technically that would be classified as lettering, not calligraphy. Using guidelines and making sure your letters are all at the same angle is a good start though, if you're interested in traditional calligraphy rather than lettering, I would suggest starting with this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Copperplate-Calligraphy-Step---Step/dp/0486409511/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422480899&sr=8-1&keywords=mastering+copperplate+calligraphy&pebp=1422480901593&peasin=486409511
Learning everything that has nothing to do with your goal ‘is’ the starting point of doing art.
But you may be lucky in not wanting to do art. But learn to draw. Especially characters. Maybe you want start to sketch. Not saying it can’t be art, just that you may enjoy it more than the classical approach.
It’s basically art. Just freestyle. And you might find it more useful than starting by drawing still lifes and all the other classical stuff. As you said; you want to have something to do with your goal.
That’s the closest I could find to your needs;
https://www.amazon.de/dp/1909414239/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QrU7BbXHPJAS0
Get-Set-Sketch!: Secrets of Pen and Ink Sketching Unleashed!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H6N5LH1
FREE until July 4th
> Unleash the artist within you! Get ready to embark on a magical
journey through the realm of Pen and Ink Sketching.
>Learn to “see” shapes, shadows and textures all around you,
like an artist.
>Learn various pen and ink shading techniques.
>* Hatching
>Learn to sketch:
– Trees, Grass and Shrubs
– Stones and Rocks
– Animal Fur
– Wood
– Water
>And a complete, step-by-step exercise, where we implement all these techniques.
>Let’s Get, Set and Sketch!
Dockwood, Jon McNaught
Not sure how obscure it is, but I adore everything Jon McNaught does (also see Pebble Island, if possible). Maybe my favorite creator of wordless/minimal comics, and his entire aesthetic is just so great and comfy.
Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.ca
amazon.com.au
amazon.in
amazon.com.mx
amazon.de
amazon.it
amazon.es
amazon.com.br
amazon.nl
amazon.co.jp
amazon.fr
Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
I currently look here: amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au, amazon.in, amazon.com.mx, amazon.de, amazon.it, amazon.es, amazon.com.br, amazon.nl, amazon.co.jp, amazon.fr, if you would like your local version of Amazon adding please contact my creator.
This contest is awesome, thanks! (Sorry for the link I'm on my phone)
Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Manual (Lettering, Calligraphy, Typography)
http://amzn.com/0486409511
There is also a single book version you can get: Spencarian Handwriting: The Complete Collection of Theory and Practical Workbooks for Perfect Cursive and Hand Lettering
I followed the exercises in this book for 1 month: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0486409511/
Ms. Winters does a great job breaking down lower case letters into 8 strokes. If you are looking for drills, those are the 8 strokes to practice.
Once I decided I liked the hand, I took this online course: https://istilllovecalligraphy.com/#!/
Although, the more I think about what you are trying to do, perhaps Copperplate would just be a distraction. Copperplate is not a "continuous hand". It has a lot of stopping and lifting of the nib.
I only did a few drills. Most of my "aha moments" came practicing the 8 basic strokes and writing the same word a couple times to see how closely I could get them to match. In those repetitions, I began to see how the curves should form.
Me too! I prefer abstract doodling. One of my very best purchases was this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Doodling-Beyond-Inspiring-exercises/dp/1600582478
Well you can always check for local calligraphy classes.
Additionally, if you're a student, your school may offer Calligraphy or Typography courses you can check out.
If neither of these appeal or apply, you can always check out some books on Amazon. Some good ones under $20:
Here
Here
And the pencil
Thank you! I used this book- Lettering For Beginners: A Creative Lettering How To Guide With Alphabet Guides, Projects And Practice Pages https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546947299/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qpcyCbJ57DMH3
Thanks! It's nothing compared to the folks over /r/calligraphy though. I started practicing a few months ago with this. Long as you have patience, you can write better than I do in no time!
I just started and personally find this book helpful. For more practice, you can also buy tracing paper and trace lettering as well.
Does anyone know anything about this copy of "spencerian handwriting" on UK amazon? Is it the same (more or less) as the one that people here recommend (a theory book and 5 copy books). Should I wait till Feb to get this?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1612435289/
Hello, all!
This is the first sentence I've (attempted) to write in Copperplate. I know it needs quite a bit of work so I thought I'd ask for suggestions.
Right now I'm using a Pilot Plumix until my nib, holder, and dip ink arrives. I'm using a Rhodia notebook. I'm working with this book, which is where I got the sentence from.
So far, I know:
Could anyone please point me to any other areas of improvement?
If you're serious, this is a fantastic book to get you started.
No problem! That's so awesome that you do brush lettering-- I actually have a small calligraphy business and brush lettering is my go-to style, so while I might be a little biased, I'm a total sucker for brush lettering. :) I'm not sure if you've tried using brush markers at all, but I've heard from a few lefty calligraphy buddies that they're really great for brush lettering practice since they dry quickly and you don't have to worry as much about smudging.
Oh, and when you decide to learn pointed pen calligraphy, I can't recommend this book enough! I tried a couple books that I didn't love, then after being told by countless people to try this one, I did and it made everything click.
Sure. Amazon has them here
https://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Handwriting-Collection-Practical-Workbooks/dp/1612435289
Or here as one single volume
https://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Handwriting-Collection-Practical-Workbooks/dp/1612435289
Learn Calligraphy has some good instruction for the gothic scripts. The rest is flourishing, which comes with a lot of practice.
This is a good one to start with.
Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design https://www.amazon.com/dp/0767907329/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_43D5Ab1P1YQ8A
For Copperplate
For Spencerian
For Cursive basics(The content is good, but the paper isn't great for FPs, so you will probably need to use a Fine nib)
Handwriting isn't magic. It's just a skill. Schools used to teach specific classes in handwriting, and people used to work to cultivate different styles using manuals to teach themselves. They still sell copybooks and stuff on Amazon. You can learn to do this too.
How about this book on calligraphy
This is the book I learned from. Shows you how to draw every single letter—
https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Copperplate-Calligraphy-Step-Step/dp/0486409511
I'm trying to learn copperplate, so I got this one
cuff
That much?
my item
Fancy!
This was me early 2012. I was using shitty paper and shitty ink and had shitty results. This was March 2012 when I didn't give a shit.
Eventually I decided to take things seriously. This was late 2012. I started getting better materials but still got arrogant/lazy and refused to study proper forms and shades. So it looks haphazard and unnatural.
So I bought Eleanor Winter's book and did some practice. This was probably Dec 2012. Another pic, you can see I'm using Higgins Eternal and a Speedball holder.
So around February I decided I didn't like copperplate and wanted to focus on spencerian instead. I first tried to do shaded spencerian but again I was too lazy to learn the proper forms.
I toned down the shading and studied just on fine lines. This was in March.
Eventually I got more consistent. This was written two weeks ago in April. This was late april's open letter submission.
And this was written tonight (the bottom one). May 9.
Still working on shaded spencerian though :)
I would first disguise myself with this so you wont know I'm the enemy. Then use this to catch the sunlight and direct it to blind you for my get away. Then write a well thought out letter begging for peace using this so it looks official and seal it with this oh and by the way You'll never take our FREEDOM!