Song of Solomon: timeless love poetry in contemporary calligraphy.
Sometimes calligraphers have to guard against making words too pretty, too quaint. I like to use Versal letters, familiar capitals from medieval manuscripts, because they have more majesty, presence, and warmth than pure Roman or casual Italic. But Versals can exude a little too much charm, reminding people of the middle ages or of Victorian Christmas cards, (above).
The frank, fervent declaration of anguished love in this text called for letters that would make the words more stark and serious. I took out or shortened some of the ball finials in my first draft.
Compare the two sets of Versals at right to see where I simplified the capitals.
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