Designer Andy Luce sings the many praises of Bellissima Script Pro's uppercase 'P', part of a typeface designed by Ale Paul which references copperplate scripts of the past, while still feeling fresh and contemporary.
Bellissima Script Pro, by Ale Paul, is aptly named. It is a beautifully designed typeface that transcends both time and place. Within the individual letterforms – the capital P especially – exists movement, balance and poise. I’ve found the entire Bellissima typeface to be an intersection of expressiveness and control; elegance dancing into the unexpected.
Nestled in a typeface with nearly 2,000 unique characters, with ample alternates, swashes, and ligatures, the capital P shows an intentional, delicate hand, becoming a work of art in its own right. There’s a human quality present that makes the letterform feel alive, engaged and from another era. It’s these qualities that draw me in.
Referencing classic forms in the works of masters from the past, Paul has done a tremendous job encapsulating entire eras and typography movements (in the case of Bellissima, the nineteenth century) into a single typeface. In my opinion, Paul has carried the torch of Spencerian, Edwardian and Copperplate scripts into present day typeface design, with Bellissima presenting the past in a new contemporary light. When I view the capital P, it dawns on me that Paul has continued a rich legacy into the present day.
Informed by both the practice of lettering and the art of calligraphy working in unison, my work is a pursuit of a tangible world in digital spaces. Discovering Bellissima’s capital P has proven to be an encouragement in that pursuit. I reference this letterform while sketching, concepting or developing script pieces for personal projects and client work alike. To me, it sets the bar for balance, proportion and movement; a sounding board that I can trust.
To see a refined contemporary letterform maintain both its humanity and an understated appreciation of historical masters is inspiring. I, too, aim to be influenced by history while creating work that can live in the past, present or future, as Paul’s work does.
I’m grateful for a typeface like Bellissima, with letterforms like its elegant capital P. It serves as a reminder that as letterers, typographers and type designers - we have a rich legacy to reference and move with as we push forward.
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Andy Luce...
Designer, typographer and letterer Andy Luce resides in Portland, Oregon. His expressive hand drawn type has a timeless quality which is much sought after by clients large and small. A self-confessed lover of the great outdoors and the odd pint, his 'earnest and authentic aesthetic' has won him many fans. Ale Paul...
Argentinian type designer Alejandro Paul was one of the founders of the first Argentinian type foundry collective Sudtipos. A member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale, Paul has also worked as an art director for numerous studios in Argentina. He has a real talent for creating script typefaces, receiving Type Directors Club awards for his Burgues Script, Adios Script, Poem Script and Hipster Script.