Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy: A Step-by-Step Manual by Eleanor Winters

[handmadeletters]

I agree with everyone here, this is a great, reliable book for Copperplate. It's how I got started with my own practice. You can always flesh it out with Erica's tutorials here, Schin's videos, calligraphy workshops, and video tips from calligraphers you like on IG because (IMO) there's no substitute for seeing calligraphy (strokes, flow, etc.) done in real time and by hand. Good luck!

[tomcalligraphy]

I prefer the Zanerian Manual compared to this book. The letter forms demonstrated aren't as good as it is in the Manual. Seeing old master penman like Lupfer's exemplar and information about each letter really helped me a lot more than this book, but that's just one man's opinion.

[Ken Fraser]

I prefer the Zanerian Manual compared to this book. The letter forms demonstrated aren't as good as it is in the Manual. Seeing old master penman like Lupfer's exemplar and information about each letter really helped me a lot more than this book, but that's just one man's opinion.

I agree.

The Engrosser's Script letterforms in the Zanerian Manual are closer to the 18th Century English Roundhand examples in the Universal Penman; and it doesn't get any better than that IMO.

Ken

[FrancescaV]

Is it still possible to pick up the Zanerian Manual?

[jeanwilson]

Is it still possible to pick up the Zanerian Manual?

I don't know if there is more than one Zanerian Manual.
This one is available
http://www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/s?keyword=zanerian+manual

[Erica McPhee]

I agree - the Zanerian manual is more true to an Engrosser's Script and very crisp, excellent exemplars. It wasn't recommended so much last year or earlier this year because it was out of print and difficult to get. However, John Neal has brought it back to us. Hooray!

I will say though, I think Eleanor Winter's book offers more in-depth study of each and every letter.

[Andrew H]

Personally I would recommend the Zanerian Manual as having better letterforms than those in Eleanor Winter's book. Dr. Vitolo's free eBook is also excellent, especially as it has videos of all the letters being written:

http://zanerian.com/

[Blotbot]

Personally I would recommend the Zanerian Manual as having better letterforms than those in Eleanor Winter's book. Dr. Vitolo's free eBook is also excellent, especially as it has videos of all the letters being written:

http://zanerian.com/

Ahh, but you have to have an iPad for Dr. Vitolo's book.  I like Eleanor Winters book for instruction.  You can always fine tune you letters later.

[tomcalligraphy]

Personally I would recommend the Zanerian Manual as having better letterforms than those in Eleanor Winter's book. Dr. Vitolo's free eBook is also excellent, especially as it has videos of all the letters being written:

http://zanerian.com/

Ahh, but you have to have an iPad for Dr. Vitolo's book.  I like Eleanor Winters book for instruction.  You can always fine tune you letters later.

Also Senior Master Penman William Lilly has an in-depth letter by letter book that you can get from PIA. I mean he was the one that taught Joe Vitolo. 

[jeanwilson]

Personally I would recommend the Zanerian Manual as having better letterforms than those in Eleanor Winter's book. Dr. Vitolo's free eBook is also excellent, especially as it has videos of all the letters being written:

http://zanerian.com/

Ahh, but you have to have an iPad for Dr. Vitolo's book.  I like Eleanor Winters book for instruction.  You can always fine tune you letters later.

You can get all of his lessons online. All the videos, too. So, you do need a computer...
I believe they are under lessons at the IAMPETH site - don't have time to look right now.
His own website, zanerian.com might have everything.
Videos are on YouTube

[FrancescaV]

Is it still possible to pick up the Zanerian Manual?

I don't know if there is more than one Zanerian Manual.
This one is available
http://www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/s?keyword=zanerian+manual

 Thanks for the link Jean! I think that might be an early Christmas present!!

[JanisTX]

I learned calligraphy using Eleanor Winter's book & the great videos on IAMPETH.  Lately, I have spent more time using Dick Jackson's book:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0486803864?keywords=Dick%20Jackson&qid=1447676320&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I find it to be very reliable!  I also have the reprinted Zanerian's Manual and find the examples to be very, very good.  However, you do not get the in-depth instruction that you get from Ms. Winters' book!

Janis

[Andrew H]

Personally I would recommend the Zanerian Manual as having better letterforms than those in Eleanor Winter's book. Dr. Vitolo's free eBook is also excellent, especially as it has videos of all the letters being written:

http://zanerian.com/

Ahh, but you have to have an iPad for Dr. Vitolo's book.  I like Eleanor Winters book for instruction.  You can always fine tune you letters later.

I don't own an iPad, but I do have a Mac and I used that to read it in iBooks (or half of it, until I started picking up lessons from all over). Dr Vitolo also has a PDF of the book available, and all the videos are on youtube; that would be my preference if I were starting again today and didn't have a Mac/iPad.

[Andrew H]

Also Senior Master Penman William Lilly has an in-depth letter by letter book that you can get from PIA. I mean he was the one that taught Joe Vitolo.

I didn't know that Joe learned from Bill Lilly, I was under the impression that he learned his script from study of the work of Willis Baird and other masters. But regardless, I firmly believe that he has since taken analysis of the fundamental forms and principles of Engrosser's Script to a level I have never seen in any other instruction I've come across so far. The big BUT here is that I haven't been able to buy Bill Lilly's book as yet (I do have his DVD), so accept that I could be completely wrong!

[tomcalligraphy]

Also Senior Master Penman William Lilly has an in-depth letter by letter book that you can get from PIA. I mean he was the one that taught Joe Vitolo.

I didn't know that Joe learned from Bill Lilly, I was under the impression that he learned his script from study of the work of Willis Baird and other masters. But regardless, I firmly believe that he has since taken analysis of the fundamental forms and principles of Engrosser's Script to a level I have never seen in any other instruction I've come across so far. The big BUT here is that I haven't been able to buy Bill Lilly's book as yet (I do have his DVD), so accept that I could be completely wrong!

Not saying Joe Vitolo is bad, but on his video for the letter W and V. For the ending stroke he just does a weird quick shoot across the page, I'm not even sure how to describe it. I'll go and find the videos.