Saturday 13 July 2024

Book Review: Hand Lettering for Beginners by Gabri Joy Kirkendall et al. (Non-Fiction/Crafts)

Hand Lettering for Beginners
GJ Kirkendall, L Lavender, J Manwaring & SL Panczyszyn
New Shoe Press
17 September 2024
112
eBook - PDF
Non-Fiction/Crafts
ARC via Edelweiss

Hand Lettering for Beginners with easy-to-follow step-by-step projects, alphabets, and exercises.

Hand Lettering for Beginners allows artists to get started with basic calligraphy alphabets, chalk drawing, and step-by-step hand lettering projects.

Learn how to create beautiful, hand-lettered arts and crafts with
Hand Lettering for Beginners, an abridged version of Creative Lettering and Beyond by Gabri Kirkendall, Laura Lavender, Julie Manwaring, and Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn.

From modern calligraphy and illumination to hand-drawn illustration and chalk lettering, you’ll discover a variety of clever and unique ways to turn words and letters into step-by-step projects that can be used for gifts, home décor, and more! You’ll learn how to create swirls and flourishes, free-brush letter on canvas, make your own chalkboard, decorate ceramics—and even digitize your work for printing! Along the way, you’ll find creative prompts, fun exercises, and helpful artist tips to encourage your creative journey and help develop your own lettering style.

Practice pages and encouraging prompts invite readers to practice their newfound skills directly inside the book. Covering a variety of hand lettering styles, including calligraphy, hand-drawn illustration, chalk lettering, and more, artists will find plenty of exercises and inspiration to get started.  


Hand Lettering for Beginners was an approachable text that offered an overview of the craft for beginners, though with a particular focus on calligraphy, leading on to chalk lettering. If you are looking for a book showcasing many different lettering styles, this is perhaps not the one for you, but if you are keen to explore the calligraphy style of writing, it may have something to offer, but only if you don't already own similar texts. Much of the information here is no different than most other books of this ilk. Where it did stand out for me was in the interesting section on working with chalk, the good tips on placement and design, and in some of the fun project ideas towards the end. I am giving it four stars. It's perhaps not the best for a reader looking for a diverse overview of lettering, but if you are keen on calligraphy and/or working with chalk boards it's worth checking out.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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