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The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering

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Get creative, express yourself, and add that personal touch with hand lettering!With illustrated step-by-step instructions, The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering shows the complete beginner how to master the art of hand lettering. Learn best practices for the composition and design of phrases on the page, and practice flourishes to embellish your design.The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering covers 15 lettering styles, both serifs and scripts—from Black Letter and "melting" to circus and Victorian. Also included are numerous borders, corners, banners, bursts, frames, and other accents.This instructional book includes chalk lettering, fun prompts for writing, and 15 craft and gift ideas. Put your personal touch on projects ranging from gift tags and chalk-lettered signs, to place cards and house number signs.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2017

73 people are currently reading
156 people want to read

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Anja von "books and phobia".
796 reviews15 followers
December 11, 2019
Das mir dieses Buch sofort ins Auge fiel, kann man sich leicht vorstellen, denn es zeigte schon von außen, das man Innen ganz bestimmt, wundervolle Projekte finden würde. Doch wie würde es mit dem Rest aussehen? Besonders da es im Buch ja um das Handlettering auf dem Papier, als auch auf Tafeln gehen sollte. 

Hier kann ich gleich Entwarnung geben, da sich die Autorin einfach nur selbst übertroffen hat. Alles wird leicht und stets mit Bildmaterial erklärt, welches ganz genau zeigt, was jetzt zu tun ist. Dazu fand ich die Einteilung des Buches toll, da man zuerst die Basics und benötigten Utensilien behandelte. Ein besonderes Highlight waren dabei Übungen, mit welchen man die Hand und die Finger auf das Arbeiten mit Stift oder Kreide vorbeireiten konnte. Ich probiertes aus und musste tatsächlich feststellen, das mir Schwünge so viel leichter von der Hand gingen. 




Da das Buch für Anfänger und für Fortgeschrittene kreiert wurde, wollte man beiden Arten von Nutzern ein tolles Angebot liefern. Genau deswegen, gab es nicht nur Anleitungen zu jeder Schriftart. Die absolute Krönung war stets eine Seite mit Ideen, die man immer am Ende einer Schriftart finden konnte. Gerade für Personen mit wenig Vorstellungsvermögen, taten sich hier ungeahnte Möglichkeiten auf, die auch mich sichtlich begeistern konnten.

Neben den Schriften packte mich allerdings noch etwas ganz anderes und das waren die Tipps und Tricks zur Erstellung einer Vorlage. Egal ob mit Stift oder Kreide, Leuchtpult, Handzeichnung oder mit Kohlepapier, hier zeigten sich mir ganz neue Wege, um schneller in die Materie zu finden. Das ich dabei auch abpausen durfte überraschte mich da erst einmal. Doch am Ende zeigte sich, das es als Anfängerin keine bessere Methode gibt, um ein Gefühl für die Buchstaben zu bekommen. 

Das nächste wichtige Thema war schließlich Farblehre.  Das klingt erst einmal langweilig, doch wer später seine Werke auch mit Farbe versehen will, möchte das die Farben harmonisch wirken. Doch was ist, wenn man die Farblehre nie richtig erlernt hat? Meist lernt man ja nur die Mischfarben, aber was ist mit den Farben die sich beißen? Man kann sich vorstellen, wie begeistert ich war, als ich die Seiten entdeckte wo dieses Thema angesprochen wurde. Mit ihren kreativen Art verschaffte mir die Autorin einen Einblick in dieses Gebiet, der nicht nur leicht zu verstehen war, sondern auch mit wenigen Worten auskam.

Das sich dieses Buch schließlich zu einem kleinen Heiligtum mauserte, verdankte es dem letzten Abschnitt mit den Projekten. Hier wurde alles aus dem Buch angewendet und das in Bereichen, die unseren Alltag fröhlich machen. Egal ob T-Shirt, Hausnummer oder Visitenkarte, hier darf man mit Herzenslust staunen und nachmachen.  







Dieses Buch ist für mich ein wahrer Schatz geworden, da es nicht nur die Zeichentechnik der Schriften beleuchten wollte, sondern auch alles was noch mit dem Handlettering zutun hat. Man klappt es auf und hat sofort den Drang einen Stift oder Kreide in die Hand zu nehmen. Das nenne ich kreativen Charme. 
313 reviews6 followers
August 18, 2018
Very clear instructions

The book includes clear instructions for several varieties of ink and chalk lettering, as well as projects using the lettering. I look forward to trying them out.
2,091 reviews9 followers
June 14, 2018
Decent introduction to the art of hand lettering, although so many examples really go against the rules of legibility and visual hierarchy. Several different font styles to copy are introduced though, strangely, most don't show the entire upper and lower case alphabet. Many "tips" are downright ignored by the accompanying photograph (stippling, page 157) and too many "Here's an idea!" suggestions are laughable (Write the names of the three most important people in your life... Wow them with your drawings next time you see them.). The chapter on Composing a Lettered Design is a good tutorial on putting everything together, although, let's be real, you need to have a creative eye to start with. Some Lettering Projects at the end of the book were very difficult to puzzle out (Drop Cap Journal, Birthday Card, Chalkboard Mural).
Profile Image for MK.
626 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2024
This book introduces Hand & Chalk Lettering, including how to do it and tools for beginners to get started.

In recent years, most people type letters on smartphones and computers using keyboards, and there are fewer opportunities to write by hand using a pen.

That is why I feel special and happy when I receive a beautiful message card or postcard that is handwritten with a pen.

I attended calligraphy classes until I was 12 years old due to the influence of my grandfather, who was a master calligrapher.
It is a culture of applying ink to a brush and writing Kanji and Hiragana on Washi paper.

When I'm doing calligraphy, I can go into a flow state and concentrate. At that time, I looked at the finished work and tried to draw better next time.

This book reminded me of my childhood calligraphy.
248 reviews7 followers
July 29, 2018
Great "how-to" learning tool!

This books covers the basics of hand lettering, including tools, tips, techniques, materials, and mediums, using a variety of "hands" or styles of letters. With clearly written step by step instructions and illustrations, the reader will learn how to create and complete various projects. Also a good "refresher" for experienced calligraphers and/or letterers, as well! Similar to, but more informative and easier to understand, than the Speedball Handbook. I was quite happy to add this eBook to my collection of printed lettering books! A bargain at any price!
Profile Image for Dil Nawaz.
323 reviews18 followers
December 28, 2022
This book I bought this in 2020 and since then I have turned over pages many times. The Awesome book of Hand & Chalk Lettering is published by DK and I love DK books and how they design their books.

This book covers the majority of types of lettering, like

Monoweight San Serif

Varied Weight Serif

Slab Serif

Circus

Victorian

Monoweight Script

Brush Script

Wood

Plant

Ribbon

Sign

Black Letter

And much more. It's enjoyable to read this book and to illustrate the letterings. Additionally, the book teaches us the fundamentals of lettering.

Recommended.

Dil Nawaz
Karachi, Pakistan.
https://ocdil.blog
Profile Image for Carolita.
5 reviews
February 13, 2018
Me debería de dar vergüenza aceptarlo pero, este libro lo compré con tal de no pagar envío y el otro (también de lettering) era el que esperaba con ansias. Por karma el otro libro me fue escueto y sin mucho aporte, en cambio este me fue una gratísima sorpresa. Rico en imágenes (¡a colores!) con ejemplos y paso-a-pasos por montones y con información para proyectos hasta de cómo digitalizar tus creaciones usando Illustrator y Photoshop. Es completísimo sobre todo para quienes sabemos que lettering y brush calligraphy son cosas distintas. Lo recomiendo muchísimo.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
506 reviews8 followers
February 9, 2018
Even though this book was geared toward the basics every once in a while it got a bit too advanced for folks just starting out (although there's nothing a little trial and error and practice can't fix). It had a lot of great ideas for lettering and on the whole made for a pretty good workbook. A few of the project ideas in the back needed things like photoshop or suggested using projectors which is cost prohibitive to a casual reader/hobbiest.
Profile Image for Mark Jones.
19 reviews
August 4, 2018
Excellent tutorial on lettering

The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering explains and instructs with clear directions and copious photographs and examples. The book also includes tips on equipment and some physical exercises to build strength and endurance for an artist's hands. Highly recommended for beginners who want to explore this art.
Profile Image for NinaB.
483 reviews39 followers
June 4, 2020
This is perhaps the best hand lettering book I have ever read. It includes several font styles and tips on drawing them, projects from simple to complicated, and even hand exercises that I found extremely helpful. I borrowed the Kindle version from the library, but might invest in buying the actual book.
Profile Image for Meredith.
195 reviews3 followers
June 25, 2018
Super practical how-tos. I got this book to help me with our farmers market chalkboard and its full of helpful tricks I'll use in the future. Also good prep techniques in here for illustrating and cartooning. Might have to buy for my collection.
Profile Image for b bb bbbb bbbbbbbb.
676 reviews11 followers
November 27, 2019
A decent introduction for learning the rough basics. It won't provide most entry level readers and practitioners with enough guidance to help them significantly realize their designs, solve common problems and add the polish that makes them aesthetically pleasing. It's a good start though.
24 reviews
October 11, 2018
Not great on Kindle

I think it’s a really great book but it was super hard to read on the Kindle. You should buy this book in the largest formAt possible.
Profile Image for Abigail.
262 reviews
August 13, 2019
Today I learned the difference between tint, shade, and tone.
Profile Image for Heather.
712 reviews
March 8, 2020
Not exactly what I am searching for either but contains some lovely fonts.

Too much with the chalk lettering and signage. My journey continues.
Profile Image for Tatiana García Blanco.
44 reviews
March 20, 2023
Very good book for beginners. Great ideas guided step by step. I would definitely borrow it again from my local library.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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