Yes, it can be a jarring term... :-) But its meaning is rather well-defined now. I think this is an archetypical example: http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/laura-worthington/adorn/ In particular the Pomander and Garland styles there.
Hmm. I don't think the term is at all well-defined, especially since it is one that has been in use to describe different things over at least a century. I have several books on 'modern calligraphy', and all the term indicates is calligraphy that was current at the time the books were published.
I'd favour a more specifically descriptive term if talking about a particular style of letter and associated types. In the case of the script components of Laura's Adorn family, I would characterise these as informal, rapid, or loose roundhand.
Both Laura and Emily are at the top of my favorites in this genre. Own several from of both of them (more of Laura's). For purely drawn delight, I believe Laura's nudges out Emily's of my top spot.
Hmm. I don't think the term is at all well-defined, especially since it is one that has been in use to describe different things over at least a century.
Sure. I meant MyFonts. :-> Just put "modern calligraphy" (in quotes) in the search...
I agree wholeheartedly that Laura Worthington, Emily Conners and Debi Sementelli are masters of this genre. I might add Ale Paul to the list, although his style is just a little different....
I wouldn't put Basileus in this category at all: it references formal book hands of a much older period. It's not informal and it's not a script type.
A few examples of Cyrillic types in the informal script style (no comment on quality or endorsement—I've not examined closely or tried to work with any of these):
The guys from Resistenza also have some good ones to add to this "modern calligraphy" style you are talking about. Some of my favourites are Mentha and Timberline http://www.myfonts.com/foundry/Resistenza/
I'm not sure that I'm the right person to participate in this
discussion. My personal opinion is that it is not a calligraphy, it's a
handwriting. So I do agree with John Hudson that there must be another
term – for me it could be stylized handwriting. On the other hand the stylized handwriting could pretend to look more calligraphic (and in this way I think we have formal stylized handwriting) or to look more loosely (informal stylized handwriting).
Celestina for example is a formal stylized handwriting (like Lemon Tuesday also). But Zhizn is an informal stylized handwriting.
Comments
But its meaning is rather well-defined now.
I think this is an archetypical example: http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/laura-worthington/adorn/
In particular the Pomander and Garland styles there.
I'd favour a more specifically descriptive term if talking about a particular style of letter and associated types. In the case of the script components of Laura's Adorn family, I would characterise these as informal, rapid, or loose roundhand.
Still my favourite of this variety of script as well.
@duncanmajor's 'informal script' is a reasonable term.
A few examples of Cyrillic types in the informal script style (no comment on quality or endorsement—I've not examined closely or tried to work with any of these):
Madelyn by Jacklina Jekova and Svetoslav Simov
Lifehack by Veneta Rangelova
Veryberry Pro by Elena Genova
TT Lovelies Script by Ivan Gladikh
Celestina for example is a formal stylized handwriting (like Lemon Tuesday also). But Zhizn is an informal stylized handwriting.
And here is an example of unstylized handwriting: