First - this scroll was sooo much fun!
Ok, on to the serious stuff. Here is the finished scroll.
I received the scroll assignment in July for this to be given at Harper's Retreat in September. '
The recipient requested a scroll in the style of Camille, Collette, or Lily Morgaine. All three of them were otherwise occupied with other assignments. Camille reached out to me to make the scroll. Yikes! These three are amazing artists, and to be considered on their caliber to create a peerage scroll was a great honor.
I worked through a plan with my peer, Nataliia. We agreed that the scroll should be from the Mira calligraphiae monumenta. The Mira was originally made in 1561 to 1562 by Georg Bocskayto show a wide range of writing styles. Bocskayto was the secretary to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand.
About thirty years later, Ferdinand's grandson, Emperor Rudolph II, commissioned Joris Hoefnagel to illuminate the Mira model book. Flowers, fruit, and insects were added to the pages. Hoefnagel also added a section of how to construct upper and lowercase letters.
After seeing the scrolls that Camille and Collette had made based off of the Mira model book, I knew that the shading of the elements were different than the type of works I had done previously.
Camille was kind enough to give me a lesson while at Pennsic. I learned that the shading in the Mira was not accomplished by blending paints, but rather by creating many shades of the same colors and by using hatch marks. I had also been learning this concept from Nataliia who sends me manuscripts where you can clearly see the markings that make it appear to be shading.
When I got home from Pennsic, I searched the page that I wanted to base my scroll off of. Since this was for a Pelican, I wanted to do something outstanding for the recipient. I was instantly drawn to the calligraphy in the shape of a chalice, as well as the colors of the flowers.
I had a conference again with Nataliia to figure out the layout of the scroll. I decided to eliminate the insect and moth. In place of the insect, I would place the recipient's arms and I would put the pelican in place of the moth. I decided to keep the remainder of the scroll elements.
I also message with Camille for the colors of gouache that she uses for Mira scrolls. I would up ordering a few colors of gouache from Holbein as I did not already have them.
I made a few test pieces to make sure that I understood the technique.
I then drafted out the scroll and started painting, I used pergamenata paper and gouache paints from Greenleaf & Blueberry, Windsor and Newton, and Holbein
For the Pelican, I wanted to find an example that would flow with the style of the Mira. I was able to find this one:
This is supposedly a 16th-century manuscript made in Paris. Burney MS 97, f. 6r https://t.co/xPM7VvgwP6. This cannot be verified until the British Library's website is back online.
This is the Pelican I painted on the scroll:
I added Fionnghualla's arms to the scroll as well:
Close up of the flowers
A good friend of Fionnghualla's, Trian O'Bruadair), wrote the words for the scroll. It was a pleasure to work with him. There were a few re-writes required in order to get the calligraphy to fit the shape of the chalice. The words are:
Greatness in service is testament to greatness of spirit, as only a vessel full can pour so deeply of itself. In this measure we see the chalice of Fionnghualla inghen Mhic Cealleigh to be overflowing with virtue, her good works nourishing and enriching her Crew, Barony, Kingdom, and Society. As quartermaster of the Scorned Lady she brings stability, a strong keel unbowed against raging storm. As fire-tender does she sustain her kin, warming heart and belly to battle Winter's chill. As gate-warden of Stonemarche she stands in grace, a beacon to guide all through darkest night. As teacher she shares her craft freely, weaving wisdom far across our kingdom. These worthy deeds are but droplets in the great cascade that is Fionnghualla's service to our crown and so do we, King Magnus Tindal and King Consort G. Emerson True see fit to elevate her to our Order of the Pelican, to stand now and always as peer of the realm. Done by our hand at Harper's Retreat in our Barony of Stonemarche, AS59.
This was the most difficult calligraphy I have done to date. It took me 10 drafts to get it to align correctly. I used Calli ink. I am very happy I kept at it as I was very pleased with the finished shape of the calligraphy.
I then painted in the initial letter. I changed it to a G. This was done by painting in the shape and using crowquill with Kuretake gold ink.
The final thing I did was to add the penguin. I was told that she absolutely loves penguins, and asked if I could add one. I saw the perfect place in the bottom right corner and added one.
I am very happy with how this scroll turned out. The recipients was also very happy with it. I am looking forward to doing more in this style.
Comments