Acomplishment of Arms Commission

I was commissioned to do an Accomplishment of Arms for my friend Mistress BelAnna de Rouge de Anjou, she is originally from the East but now lives in Calontir. I was crazy and decided to do all her gold in leaf! The scan does not do it justice but in person it is very spiffy! This is 8 1/2 x 11 on Velum (skin not paper), Acrylic, Watercolor (ProWhite), gold leaf. The white stands out much better on the original, the scan made the velum whiter than it was. I am showing the process of this piece just so some of you can see some of how I work. I was going to do the leafing first but decided the color would help me get sharper edges if I did it first.

New Header

I can never leave anything as is for long if it is easy to change. So I have made a new header for this Weble. It is my full accomplishment of Arms. I love heraldic display and as a Laurel and Pelican I get all the bells and whistles! So here is a 1500's style version of my arms, with putti supporters etc! Based very strongly on a version of the Arms found in a writing desk belonging to Henry VIII.

Heron & Herring

The Herring is an award in Atlantia for exceptional Autocrating. This was inspired by two details from the Sherborne Missal, p.386 and p.393, England, early 15th century. I did this in Aug. A.S. XLII. I am not sure why I can't find the scan with the calligraphy on it, but here is the illumination anyway. There is something elegant about this one to me, I really like it! It is about 4 x 6 (if I remember right) on velum.

Another Unusual Scroll

This was an AoA done on a wooden Triptych, it is based on "St. Sebastian" (fol.179) from the Hours of Henry VIII by Jean Poyet, 1500's, France. The angels are from the same Hours, "Holy Family" (fol.21v). You can't tell from this scan but the angels are on a medium dark purple with metallic gold highlights. I didn't get a scan of the outside of the triptych which has the recipients Arms on it when closed. This is about 7 inches tall (if I remember right).

Venetian Scroll

This is the first and only scroll I have done based on an illuminated page from Venice. I love the style and had allot of fun doing this. It is based on one of seventeen leaves at the Fitswilliam Museum, it is the opening page for a Dogale, issued by Doge Andre Gritti (1523-1539) for Pietro Dechataipetra or de Tagliapiertra. Venice, 1535. This is done in metallic gold and shaded on velum.  Calligraphy done in Oak Gall ink. 

Bestiary/Archer Blank

Have I mentioned how much I hate doing gold leafing? Well, in small amounts it's not to bad, but this has a HUGE area of it and it was a real pain to do. This is a scroll blank done based on an illumination from the Aberdeen Bestiary http://www.abdn.ac.uk/bestiary/bestiary.hti . The funny thing is I found the picture someplace online and focused on the archer. It turns out, now that I found the source of the illumination, the archer isn't even mentioned, it's all about the magpies in the tree. Anyway, this is 8 1/2 x 11, Acrylic, ProWhite and gold leaf on velum (gold leaf does not scan well).

Fighter Scroll

The Sea Stag is Atlantia's Kingdom level Fighting award. This was one of my rare scrolls with diapering. It is about 5 x 8 and the diapering was a pain! I ended up not doing one line layer because I was about to go blind! Based on "Roland fights the giant Ferragut", fol.118, Grandes Chroniques de France, France, Paris 14th century.

Monkey Buisness

Well, a scroll with monkeys on it anyway. My newest apprentice, Eithne of Bright Hills did the calligraphy (which is WAY better than mine). Golden Dolphin (Atlantia's Kingdom level service award) scroll based on Folio 133v. Pss 19.8 from the Abecedarium of the "Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta", German late 1500's. 8 1/2 x 11 on Velum .

Non SCA Scroll

Illumination based on Pierre Salmon: Reponses a Charles VI et Lamentation au Roi sur son etat, Paris around 1412. Words from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. My husband's parents had their 50th Weddingg Anniversary back in 2005 so he and his brother asked me to do this scroll for them as a gift. It was framed in an amazing antique frame I had and I see it every time I go to their house. This is 8 1/2 x 11, Acrylic and oak gall ink on velum.

Newsletter Cover

Many years ago I was chronicler for my Shire. I was I think, the first in my Kingdom to do a full color cover on a newsletter. This is one of the full color covers I did for "the Yeoman" newsletter for the Shire of the Bright Hills (now a Barony) in Atlantia. This was based on one of Michelangelo's Ignudi from the Sistine ceiling. I altered it to be Eros and added a background based on various manuscripts from the 1500s. This was 8 11/2 x 5 1/2 done on watercolor paper (I think). 

Strange Sharks Tooth

Sharks Tooth based on AHeliodorus@ F. 41r from the AChronologic Universelle@, Bruges, 1480. Done by Master Tristan Alexander, October A.S. XXXIX. The Sharks Tooth is a fighting award that can b given multiple times in Atlantia. I liked this because I found it so un period looking. It is roughly based on a genealogical or family tree sort of design. This was about 8 x 5.

A Favorite Laurel Scroll

I enjoyed doing this one very much and love how it came out. Laurel scroll based on Petrus de Abano, "Commentary on the Problemata of Aristotle", folio 2r, Venice, 1482. The motto at the top is that of House Corvus and the motto at the bottom is from the actual source illumination and translates to "we transcend the stars through genius" (which I think is a VERY cool motto). Done A.S. XLI. This is 8 1/2 x 11 I think.

Old But Detailed AoA

This was done back in my early days in Atlantia, late 80's I think. It is an AoA based on the Saint Bertin Gospels, fol.51 Q, opening of Saint Luke's Gospel, Franco-Saxon 968-1007. I loved all the hunt scenes in the border and all the details. My horrid calligraphy really messes it up, but I am pleased with my border!

Da Vinci Influence

This was done based on drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and I was very happy with how it came out. The calligraphy on the curling and twisting "scroll" was very difficult! This was a commission of sorts as I had done this as a blank and the Lady who now owns this requested that it be made into her Pearl scroll. The Pearl is Atlantia's Kingdom level Arts award. This is about 5 x 8 on velum.  

Tiny Scrolls 3

This was the smallest I had done on velum at the pint I did it. I think it is only 4 inches tall, maybe smaller. This is a Kings Award of Excellence based on January; Janus Feasting Fol.4v, from the Labors of the Months, France ca. 1430, by a follower of the Bedford Master.

Tiny Scrolls 2

This is a scroll inspired by a tiny Book of Hours, the Prayer Book of Claude de France, 1517 (http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/claude.asp). My scroll is 5 1/2 x 7 and that is pretty small, but the Prayer book it is based on is about 2 1/2 inches tall so, while my work is small, it is not really small compared to the inspiration. This is Acrylic on Velum (animal skin not paper).

Tiny Scrolls 1

I love doing tiny scrolls and have enjoyed making several in my time in the SCA. This is a Herring scroll based on MS 35214, f.95v, Waterlilies from the Bourdichon Hours, French 1500's. The Herring is an Atlantian award for outstanding Autoctaing. I belive this is about 4 x 6.

Unusual Scroll KAE

This is a King's Award of Excellence, the King at the time had a Roman persona and had a Medusa head as a badge (if I recall) so I decided to do this trompe l'oeil buckler as the scroll. It is painted on a wooden plate. His Majesty liked it so much he requested that all his KAEs be done this way (didn't happen) but I was happy he liked it so much. I don't have a reference picture for this, it was based off of clasical sculpture and some period versions of the Medusa head.

Black Hours scroll 4

A year after I did the Black Pelican for the husband, the wife who already had a Pelican, got her Laurel. Her husband contacted me and commissioned her Laurel scroll, so I did it to match his Pelican. Again based on a Black Hours by the Master of Anthony of Burgundy, c, 1470. This was 11 x 17 (I think) and is done in metallic gold and silver, the only white is on the helm. The source page was mirrored for this.

Black Hours scroll 3

This was the first actual Black Hours scroll I ever did, it is a Pelican and was a commission. Based on a Black Hours by the Master of Anthony of Burgundy, c, 1470. This was 11 x 17 (I think) and is done in metallic gold and silver, the only white is on the helm.  

Black Hours scroll 2

This is a Golden Dolphin, Atlantia's Kingdom level service award. Since this was done for a Russian persona, I did it in Cyrillic so I call it the Black Russian. Based on a paged from a Black Hours by the Master of Anthony of Burgundy, c. 1470.  Metalic gold and silver, (no white), on Black Artagain paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2.

 

Black Hours 1

I love black hours, they are just so cool looking and I really enjoy doing this style. This is based on a Black Hours by the Master of Anthony of Burgundy, c. 1470. The Pearl scroll (Atlantia's Kingdom level arts award) is based on a calendar page from the Hours previously mentioned. The recipient's Zodiac sign was Leo and so I used the page with that sign from the calendar in the Black Hours to make her scroll.  Her Arms being black and gold fit perfectly with this. Metallic gold and silver (no white) on Black Artagain paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 (I think).

Huge and Unusual Scroll

Pelican scroll, painted tapestry, based on (drawing) by Alessandro Allori, Florence, 1535-1607,(drawing and cartoon) by Michelangelo Cinganelli, Florence, 1635, (textile) by Guasparri Papini, Florence, 1588-1621. Portiera with arms of the Medici and Austria. Changed to the arms of Barbara Giomaria di Roberto with ASpike@ supporters. Corner designs changed to AGolden Dolphin@, A Order of St. Barbara@, AOrder of Job@ and ABurdened Tiger@ badges. Done by Master Tristan Alexander, July A.S. XLI.  This is about 4 feet by 5 feet, painted on raw canvas. I think it is the largest scroll ever done for the kingdom.

   

Painterly Scroll 2

Opal scroll for Lady Alexandria Wright. Mertyiger and banner inspired by heraldic displays, background inspired by works by Simon Bening, Bruges, 1500's. Done by Master Tristan Alexander, September, A.S. XXXIX.  The Opal badge had not been passed when this was done. I have since added the badge to the finished scroll but do not have a scan/picture of it. The Opal is Atlantia's first level Arts award.
At the time this was done I had not seen a heraldic mertyger and designed this myself. I went on to register one as a badge which the kingdom then "borrowed" as a children's award (with a split body coloring instead of my all one color.)
As I did not base this directly on any one page there is no reference picture to post.

Painterly Scroll 1

(Note; all calligraphy on my scrolls unless otherwise noted, is by me. I am NOT a calligrapher and it is pretty bad I know. But at least it is done in period ink, Oak Gall.) 
AoA based onAthe Hastings Hours (Hours of the Virgin; the royal barge), 1500's Netherlands. Done by Master Tristan Alexander, A.S. XLIII. I love this style, doing a picture with a space inserted for the words is just perfect for a painter like myself. This was fun to do and I think the recipient really liked it. This is about 5 x 8 on velum.