Feb 07
If you have ever gazed at Celtic art in museums or books and wished you could do something similar, then your wish has just been granted. Here is a useful primer on how to do just that...
...Okay, so it is not the only book of its kind on the market but as I have several of the others I can honestly say that I think it is the best. Possibly the cheapest too, which is something else in its favor and I like the way it covers not just one type of pattern but most of them. If you want to go into it seriously then you might prefer something a that concentrates on just spirals or knotwork perhaps, but I suspect that most of us want to be less specialized. There is a brief introduction to this style describing the various periods and where Celtic art flourished, but not an in-depth look as there are plenty of other books on the market that can show this. You don't need much to start drawing - you probably have most of the simple materials already - and then it is on with the lessons. Learn how to draw spirals, knots, flora and fauna and mazes. Experiment with color, and find out a bit about what the various symbols mean and where they originated. With some basic math instruments you will be drawing like a Celt in no time! The flora and fauna are a bit more advanced, requiring some existing drawing ability (don't start with the interlaced dogs) and I would recommend working through this primer from beginning to end. The dog motif does seem to have strayed out of some more advanced Celtic drawing manual - level ten, perhaps - but I personally like a book that has a challenge in it. If it only appeals to beginners, then it is easy to outgrow it all too soon. This one stays on my keeper shelf.
* Myshelf.com *
April 08
This beautifully presented softback book of 103 pages, originally published in France, has now been translated by Ian West, in association with First Edition Translations Limited, for publication in England. This is not a lace book, but for those who wish to create their own designs in whatever medium they choose. Colourful illustrations and clear diagrams contribute to the author's aim of opening a door into the world of the symbols and pattern that constitute Celtic art.
Five chapters: Spirals, Knots, Flora and Fauna, Mazes and A Celtic Alphabet, explain the various motifs, and show how experimenting with colour and form can alter their appearance. Diagrams explain their construction, from drawing three equidistant circles within a larger circle, to simple spirals. All useful for the novice (and perhaps the more experienced?) designer. Inspiration and new ideas, particularly for Milanese lace, tape lace, and contemporary designs, will be found here.
A useful book and one which I will add to my library.
Hilary Cordwell
* The Lace Guild *
