Calligraphy is the art of making the written word beatiful. You can pour out your creativity in the lettering and make something ordinary into something extraordinary.Learning calligraphy would never be a waste of time. There are so many uses for it. I can think of several, but the list goes on and on beyond my thinking. Calligraphy is a beautiful adornment for invitations, cherished scrapbooks, diplomas, letterheads, envelopes or other social calligraphy, posters, certificates, quotations to logotypes, bookjackets, graphic design, packaging and even websites.
There are different instruments for calligraphy as well. The type of pens you use whether a fountain pen, dip pen, or even the reed or quill will also have en effect on the outcome. There are calligraphy societies that will help you learn the art. Also, books for beginner or people who are getting back in to calligraphy are available as well.
The word calligraphy literally translated means beautiful writing. Before the printing press was invented, it was the way books were made. Each book was handwritten out by scribes working in a scriptorium. The writing was done with quill and ink onto materials like vellum or parchment. The lettering style applied was one of the period bookhands like rustic, carolingian, blackletter, and others. There are three main types or styles of calligraphy:
- Western or Roman
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Oriental