Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen,ink brush,or other writing instrument. A contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive,harmonious,and skillful manner".
Edward Johnston,CBE was a Uruguayan-born British craftsman who is regarded,with Rudolf Koch,as the father of modern calligraphy,in the particular form of the broad-edged pen as a writing tool.
Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy,in the languages which use Arabic alphabet or the alphabets derived from it. It includes Arabic,Persian,Ottoman,and Urdu calligraphy. It is known in Arabic as khatt Arabi,which translates into Arabic line,design,or construction.
Western calligraphy is the art of writing and penmanship as practiced in the Western world,especially using the Latin alphabet.
Sheikh Hamdullah (1436–1520),born in Amasya,Ottoman Empire,was a master of Islamic calligraphy.
Qigong was a renowned Chinese calligrapher,artist,painter,connoisseur and sinologist. He was an advisor for the September 3 Society,one of China's recognized political parties.
Louis Madarasz was an American calligrapher,born in San Antonio,Texas,regarded as one of the most highly skilled ornamental penmen of all time.
Sheila Waters is a British calligrapher and teacher.
Julian Waters is a calligrapher,type designer and teacher.
The White House chief calligrapher is responsible for the design and execution of all social and official documents at the White House,the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States.
The International Association of Master Penmen,Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH) is an international association for practicing and preserving the arts of calligraphy,engrossing and penmanship. IAMPETH was founded in 1949.
Michael Sull is an IAMPETH master penman and author living in Mission,Kansas,United States. An expert on penmanship,he was Ronald Reagan's calligrapher after his Presidency and is known worldwide for his skill and teaching ability. He regularly teaches handwriting,calligraphy,and engrossing programs throughout the United States,Europe and Asia.
The Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy,dedicated to the art of calligraphy,is situated in Sokolniki Park,Moscow. The museum collection features calligraphy masterpieces from 65 countries. The concept was elaborated by Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre and the National Union of Calligraphers.
Vinay Saynekar is a type designer,calligrapher and a design educator. He completed his graduation from Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art,Mumbai University and joined a paper company,Chimanlal’s Pvt Ltd,as Chief Design Consultant in 1981. He worked for some time and then returned to his college to teach and has been a teacher of typography and calligraphy in JJ since 1984. He has taken several lectures in various Art and Design Colleges,on typefaces and their design. He also visited West Germany,the Netherlands and Great Britain for the same purpose in 1988.
Dust Muhammad was a Persian painter of miniatures,calligrapher,and art historian,active from about 1510 to 1564. Later in life he worked in India.
Nassar Mansour,,is an artist,calligrapher,academic and designer in the field of Islamic Arts,specializing in Islamic Calligraphy. He is considered to be one of the most accomplished contemporary Arab calligraphers today.
Patricia Lovett is a British scribe,calligrapher and illuminator from Kent. She is the author of several books and teaches calligraphy,illumination and manuscript skills in the UK and worldwide. Since 2017 she has been chair of the Heritage Crafts Association,having been vice-chair for several years previously and in 2013 was awarded an MBE for services to calligraphy and the protection of heritage crafts.
Hashem Muhammad al-Baghdadi (1917-1973) was an Iraqi master calligrapher,noted for his lettering which exhibited a steadiness of hand and fluidity of movement. In his later life,he was acknowledged as the "imam of calligraphy" across the Arab world,and would be the last of the classical calligraphers. He also authored several important texts on the art of calligraphy.
Mustafa Halim Özyazıcı was an Ottoman calligrapher and one of the last of the classical Ottoman calligraphers,using the Arabic script. He was a versatile calligrapher with a high level of expertise in many styles of script,but was widely regarded as a master celi-sulus. He is most noted for his work on various restoration projects,of both manuscripts and public buildings.
Péter Virágvölgyi was a Hungarian typographer,calligrapher,graphic designer,associate professor at the Hungarian Academy of Craft &Design. He was the initiator of the italic handwriting curriculum for elementary schools in Hungary,author of the book A tipográfia mestersége számítógéppel and the designer of the Zeebevel font.
