Learn American Calligraphy
The Complete Book of Lettering, History, and Design
Take a visual trip around the United States, with stop-offs in many locations and insights on every page, and illuminate the past and future of American calligraphy.
For centuries, American calligraphers have accepted the legacy of the classic Roman, Gothic, and Italic calligraphy they inherited from Europe without realizing that there are more alphabet treasures to be found in a larger pool of uniquely American alphabet designs. Wild West, New Deal, Prairie—all were made in America, and they express ideas that reveal national character. These styles come from here and nowhere else. Much like American music, language, fashion, and philosophy, calligraphy has matured, moved on from its origins, and become, in the words of the man who created Spencerian handwriting, “even more American.”
Learn American Calligraphy is the latest book from Margaret Shepherd, author of one of the all-time bestselling books on calligraphy, Learn Calligraphy. This new book focuses on American calligraphy, which has its own identity, distinct from the alphabets inherited from Europe. As a lifelong calligrapher, Shepherd surveys the landscape of unique styles and describes how two dozen alphabets originated and what shaped them. Simple diagrams and exercises help you try out the styles for yourself. Some letters represent a region or a major era of art; some bear witness to social upheaval or culture change; many are accessible to beginners; and a few contradict the established view of American history.
Margaret Shepherd is known to thousands of calligraphers as writer, artist, and teacher. She has written 20 books on calligraphy, including the top-selling Learn Calligraphy, the classic book that introduced so many calligraphers to the art.
She has taught about the basics of calligraphy at many, many colleges and interest groups, and lectured at MIT's “Charm School” about the importance of handwritten notes. She has given workshops all over the world, from Uzbekistan to Hanoi to Helsinki. She lives and works in historic Boston, where she has mapped 26 letters of interest along “The Calligraphy Trail.” Her memorials to the founders of Boston fill the walls of First Church.
Calligraphy fans can visit Margaret’s blog for free printouts: practice guidelines; a cat calligraphy design; and her "An Abecedary to Color" where she offers a collection of six capital letters every week. Adventurous scribes can learn a new calligraphy alphabet every day for a year.
Margaret considers beginners the most important members of the calligraphy community, and aims to inspire, encourage, and challenge them. Her readers feel they know her as if they have sat in her classes. Almost all of her books are written by hand in her calligraphy, and liberally illustrated with a wealth of drawings, diagrams, guidelines, and sample projects.
Ms. Shepherd’s most recent book, Learn American Calligraphy, celebrates American calligraphy in all its rich variety. As one reviewer said “Finally! A remarkable work that showcases America’s own unique contributions into calligraphic design…”
