Traditional Calligraphy
Calligraphy can be categorized into two groups: Traditional or Contemporary. There is overlap, but lets stick to basics. Traditional is like it sounds, resembling the documents and styles of the past, beautifully.
Our alphabets creation is due to the history of calligraphy. Contemporary can be modern scripts, experimental work, expressive and tends to be more personal, some might say artistic. It feels like “our time” vs. the past.
Both use the alphabet, but can feel very different. This page is showing examples of traditional calligraphy.
Traditional on Paper or Vellum (Parchment)
Please look through this website for many other approaches. The first section is calligraphy on paper or vellum, using traditional craft techniques. The section that follows, has examples of traditional letterforms done for graphic design projects. Click here for “Modern” or contemporary approaches by John Stevens.
Traditional in Graphic Design
This calligraphy was created for use in reproduction in design projects (instead of documents)
