CELTIC DESIGN: A Beginner’s Manual by...

CELTIC DESIGN: A Beginner’s Manual by Aidan Meehan (Thames and Hudson: $14.95). The intricate calligraphy and illuminations of Celtic manuscripts constitute one of the glories of Medieval art. Amateur calligraphers (and anyone else who’s worked in pen-and-ink) should be able to follow Meehan’s clear explanation of the grids that provide the underlying structure of those dazzling, complex swirls, knots, figures and cross-carpets. Using a series of simple, step-by-step exercises, Meehan shows how complicated patterns can be built out of relatively simple modules. Artisans who have tired of the vaguely Italianate scripts left over from the artsy-craftsy ‘70s will welcome the challenges of reviving the art of the Celtic scribes. Ambitious calligraphers also will enjoy Meehan’s more advanced companion volume, “Celtic Design: Knotwork: The Secret Method of the Scribes.”