"The law of harmony in flourishing is the same as in love. As long as everything goes along smoothly, harmony prevails. But as soon as some rival crosses the pathway, especially in a diagonal way, there is likely to be trouble in camp. Therefore see that the lines run nearly parallel or cross nearly at right angles."
With the charm of words like these, this pleasantly old-fashioned manual inculcates a fine art that has been virtually lost: the art of ornate pictorial calligraphy, or "flourishing."
A good pen, this book, and practice are all you need to create your own magnificent swirls, delicately shaded curves, harmoniously crisscrossing lines, from which birds, rabbits, deer, ribbons, and other images gracefully emerge. Complete instructions lead you from proper positioning and basic exercises to finished flourishes of increasing complexity.
Frequent helpful hints encourage calligraphers to cultivate grace, harmony, and symmetry by means of diligence, patience, and perseverance. The approach is quaintly traditional, the results delightful. Over 150 lovely examples of flourishes form in themselves a wonderful collection of ornate pictorial calligraphy.
With this unique manual and ample practice, you will help keep alive a glorious decorative art. As this book belongs to the Dover Pictorial Archive series, its permission-free illustrations may also be applied to a multitude of graphic arts and design purposes.