A valuable help for Lettering and Calligraphy
Grace Frösén, author, lettering artist, illustrator, and teacher, presents her book "Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy. A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Amazing Lettered Art - Explore New Styles, Colors, and Mediums", published by Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry. The book is divided into six main parts: 1) Getting Started, 2) Creative Lettering for Beginners, 3) Adding Extra Sparkle, 49 Colors and blending, 5), Oodles of Doodles, and 6) Putting It All Together. Frösén is the first artist whom I encountered who presents lettering done with rainbow multicolored pencils and metallic watercolor paints which I highly appreciate.
Frösén talks about her own story with art: "But as I reluctantly became an adult, I slowly forgot about the magic of art. Fantasy worlds were slowly replaced with illustrating precise charts and organized notes. I abandoned art and only found it again in my thirties. I picked up my magical pen once again, and I haven’t looked back since.
I rediscovered my fascination with whimsical doodles and had a newfound interest in lettering and calligraphy. It was an expressive way to draw the letter shapes, making them into a unique visual art form on their own.
Finding my love for art again has renewed my belief that everyone can make art. Yes, this includes even the ones who say they can’t draw to save their life. I hope you find something in this book that ignites your passion to try something new or rediscover something that you once thought was lost" (p. 8). The book comes in a great design with plenty of examples, it contains also a list with resources and an index. It is inspirational and encourages beginners and those who have abandoned their art. I highly recommend it for beginners but also especially for those who are searching for new ideas.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#SpecialEffectsLetteringAndCalligraphy #Netgalley

I loved this! Perfect for anyone who loves lettering, doodling and making it pretty!

I had fun with this colorful resource guide that is as much for beginners as it is great reference for anyone who just wants to brush up on their own developed skills and maybe learn a few new tricks along the way. Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

This book is both written and illustrated by Grace Frösén who shares her unique approach to lettering and designs in an easy to follow, relatable guide. The resource is comprised of an introduction to a particular medium followed by vibrant examples that you can try on your own. If you're into lettering and creating styles for your own writing and projects, I highly recommend this book!

Such a fun and thorough guide to lettering and calligraphy! What I loved the most is this guide can be applied to both handwritten and digital writing. To have such a detailed and versatile guide is wonderful!

This is a great beginning book on lettering. I do wish it was a workbook and not just an instruction book. The way the instructions are given does work well it shows you how to make different letters and the steps and the type of equipment best used for different things. Overall, it’s well done and useful.

This is a nice book for beginners and intermediate letterers, and is particularly useful for dabblers who have not learnt the theory but love the art. There are lots of excellent images, and all techniques are broken down into manageable steps.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Quarto Publishing group for access.

This is a good intro to lettering book.

The book covers a range of different lettering styles, some more in depth than others.

There are lots of example alphabets for you to copy.

It is good to have a sketch book open and ready when you are flipping through the book.

Book Review: Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

If you’re a lettering enthusiast looking to take your artistic skills to the next level, look no further than Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy by Grace Frösén. This colorful and inspiring guide is a treasure trove of techniques, mediums, and styles that will help you create stunning lettered art like never before.

The first thing that catches your eye about this book is its gorgeous cover. Vibrant and eye-catching, it immediately draws you in and sets the tone for the artistic journey that awaits inside.

Frösén, a popular lettering artist and Domestika instructor, takes you through a variety of lettering styles and mediums, showcasing her secrets on how to create vibrant and unique designs. The step-by-step photographs and illustrations are exceptional, making it easy for readers of all levels to follow along and master the techniques.

One of the highlights of Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy is its exploration of a wide range of mediums and styles. From watercolor and brush pens to metallics and digital lettering, Frösén covers it all. The book also delves into dazzling special effects, stunning color combinations, and awesome embellishments, allowing you to add that extra touch of magic to your lettered art.

In addition to the technical aspects, Frösén provides valuable insights on tools, composition, layout, and design principles. These tips help readers not only create visually appealing lettered art but also understand the thought process behind it. The book encourages experimentation and self-expression, empowering artists to develop their own unique style.

While Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy is undoubtedly a fantastic resource for any lettering enthusiast, there is one small niggle I had with it. The workbook lacks space for practicing letters. Considering the hands-on nature of calligraphy and lettering, having dedicated pages to practice the techniques showcased would have been a valuable addition. Nonetheless, this minor drawback does not diminish the overall quality and value of the book.

In conclusion, Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy is a must-have for anyone passionate about lettering. Grace Frösén’s expertise shines through in every page, and her ability to teach complex techniques in an accessible manner is commendable. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist looking to expand your repertoire, this book will inspire and guide you on your artistic journey. So grab a copy, unleash your creativity, and explore the world of special effects lettering and calligraphy like never before.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I have always loved the look of lettering and want to learn more about it. I jumped at the chance to review this book. Great detailed instructions and many sample alphabets gave me a great start to creating my own lettering.
Can't wait to practice.
Thanks to Net Galley and Quarto for the advanced copy.

I have loved calligraphy since high school and it has over time greatly influenced my own handwriting, so I was looking for a book that included it, as well as stylized writing, so da kid, as you know how teens can be about learning 'from mom' when it comes to creative items, and this book is perfect! It evens has tidbits that us older folks can use!

It not only covers the basics of creative writing, like how different fonts are laid out, but how to write them, step by step, in clear easily understood illustrations.

Then it teaches you about how to add flourishes, including keeping them in the same direction for upper and lower characters, something we don't always think about, but our mind sees and looks for that congrueity. Another tidbit that I found really interesting was to use a GREY marker first to lay down your base lettering when making signs/envelopes/illustrations, and THEN add your primary sparkle colors on top, or use brush pens to create gradients. I learned quite a bit on that section about using markers to highlight your writing!

The other section that is REALLY helpful for those new to hand lettering, is the layout section. As you can see above, you get different ideas about how to use shapes to place your lettering, and to help you maintain curves and slants. It's not something I generally use, as I was taught to use the one line concept, but I think this one is much better for keeping your layout much cleaner.

This was a great book for someone interested in lettering. There is information on tools needed, lettering basics, and information on how to take it up a level with colors, embellishments, and illustrations. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow. I recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I have been learning to do handwriting, and I liked how simple this layout was and the different script types so I could see some different styles. I might like to practice. I think this is a great reference book.

I didn’t have enough time to practice new lettering techniques, but thank netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy. I did have a chance to preview the beginning of the book to learn the difference between lettering and handwriting, lettering styles, and composition.

This is such a beautiful book! Filled with ideas on how to take your calligraphy to the next level and how to learn it if you are new to it. There are detailed step-by-step instructions, and although they may make it look like it is easier than it is, they are helpful.
This is the perfect gift for those who are into drawing and painting hobbies and who want to learn something new.

Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy
3 Stars 

This book isn't what I was expecting, and not in a good way; it felt mismatched.

I'm confused about what age group this book is aimed at. My teenage daughter felt this book was for elementary school students. She remembers "special effects" like bubble letters being popular then. I agree. Whereas calligraphy is a teen activity.

Both areas have step-by-step picture instructions, though portions of the book felt glossed over. Such as:


~There is no space to practice letters within the workbook.

~The lettering and calligraphy within the book look digital and are very perfect. This sets unrealistic expectations for beginners.

~One has to learn the writing rules before breaking them.

~Many lettering templates are available online for free. This isn't anything new or special.

~The recommended tools aren't the most affordable. (Example: Crayola markers and graphing paper are a cheaper alternative.)

Overall, this book didn't impress me. I'd recommend this book for learning bullet journaling. I personally felt this book should be two separate books. Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group, for providing me with a digital ARC for an honest review.

If you've got an event coming up and are expected to dress it up,

if you've wanted to dip your pen into new ideas,

if you want to shake up your boring text in journal or artwork ...

c'mon, you'll want a copy of this. So much fun, cool methods, and good illustrations in one volume.

Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy is perfect whether you are a beginner just starting calligraphy or you're experienced and want to try something new. The instructions are detailed by easy to follow and make you feel confident to try something new. I particularly like the section on doodling and then bringing all your art together.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely guide to special effects lettering and calligraphy. It includes step-by-step guides to materials and the process and beautiful examples. I would highly recommend it.

Loved this book, so many great ideas. Can’t wait to try them.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

I’ve followed Grace on instagram for a while and I love her writing and the funny comments she makes on there, so I was very excited to see her lettering and calligraphy book. It doesn’t disappoint at all with beautiful diagrams, easy to copy instructions and cute pictures. Grace explains how to letter in an easy to follow way and although it would take a lot of practice to get at good as her I know that I will find it a fun process along the way. Grace’s flourishes are amazing too - you should follow her on instagram as well because watching her writing and flourishing away is so relaxing and she also reminds you of how she has bad days too sometimes where her lettering isn’t perfect and I think that’s a great thing for people new at this to remember.

Really loved it! Fun, artistic, colourful and simple. Detailing different mediums, techniques, fonts and some doodles. Wonderful ideas for anyone who enjoys making their own cards, banners, stickers or the like. So cute!