letters

[john pitt <jrpitt01@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Norman hits on a central dilemma for those starting out in letter cutting.

When I began I too devoured all the books on his list - and I have them
still and offer them to students when they come to learn. I also took
classes in calligraphy - and remember well drawing Roman capitals based on
Catich (which I would also recommend).

But the books can only be an aide memoire - once a student has seen how a
chisel point bites into stone or slate, and gets a feel of the weight of the
hammer/dummy. and learns how much weight it is necessary to use to carve, do
they fulfil a purpose.

Nevertheless, the David Kindersley book is well worth looking at - and
complements the Grasby. It has useful sections on the practicals as well as
inspiring photos of completed works.

David was a student (briefly) of Eric Gill in the UK and ran his own studio
in Cambridge, through which hundreds of letter carvers passed. His wife,
Cardozo, who was originally from the Netherlands, now runs the studio.
David's son, Richard Kindersley, runs a workshop in Camberwell, London and
has also taught scores of students. (Another son helped to found Dorling
Kindersley the publisher.)

Another great letter carver in ther UK was John Skelton, based in west
Sussex - and I took classes with him. He was thought to be related to Eric
Gill (and looked just like him) but I never knew how (and John died a few
years ago now). There was a video produced about John, which showed him
letter carving (and sculpting) and I have a copy - but I don't know if it is
still available.

If anyone is interested I could make enquiries.

John Pitt

http://www.incisiveart.com

John Pitt