The Art of Letter Carving in Stone

Book excerpt: Written by an eminent practitioner and teacher, this book guides the novice through the basics of letter carving, drawn lettering, and making simple designs in stone. For the more experienced, it explains a new proportioning system for classical Roman capitals and demonstrates a useful approach to designing letterform variations. The book covers: the development of 20th-century letter carving; tools, materials, stone, and making an easel; drawing a range of alphabets for use in letter carving; inscriptions, gilding, and painting letters; detailed instructions for V-incising the keystrokes of letters; and designing headstones, plaques, and more. A handsome volume, illustrating a wide range of creative pieces and showcasing the exciting new work of contemporary letter carvers.