Scroll Text - Marcos - Baronial Chivalry Champion 2023

Baron of the Rhydderich Hael - Courtesy Award

To all seeing these present letters, the nobles and gentles of the Rhydderich Hael wish upon them enjoyment of perpetual peace. Since those things which are done lapse with the passage of time, and unless they are corroborated by written testimony, will easily slip the memories of people, and be forgotten, we wish it to be known to all people both now and in the future that we, Magnus and Thalia, 13th Baron and Baroness of the Rhydderich Hael, for the preservation of that true nobility and the constant courtesy we have in Marcos, have named him as our Baronial Chivalry Champion. Therefore, in order that no calumny may arise in the future, and in order that all doubt may be removed, we have strengthened this gift of ours, corroborating it in writing and signed it with our hands at Summer's End, the 23rd day of September, AS58, in the Canton of Beau Flueve.

Inspired by the Grant of a House at Riga to the Men of Lübeck, 1231

Scroll Text - Joe the Slient - Keystone 2023

Scroll Text - Joe the Slient - Keystone 2023

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Service Award

Pay attention to the following words of Gareth and Juliana, King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc. Know that We, taking thought for the future of the Kingdom, are making this provision on the account of the actions of quiet service to Our Barony and Our Kingdom of Joe, known as The Silent. Seen but rarely heard. We do demand that the Noble Order of the Keystone do take him within the said Noble Order and make him welcome and show him respect and comradery so that he might find comfort and refuge on those rare occasions where he wishes to take a break from the service that he offers. We decree that these things that have been rightly been awarded by Us and by Our Predecessors should not be disturbed through any kind of subterfuge, deception, or trickery. So do We sign this document with Our own hands on this 23rd day of September, AS58, in the Canton of Beau Flueve, at Summer's End. 

Inspired by English Charter S20 - A.D. 699 (Cilling, 8 April). Wihtred, king of Kent, to the churches and monasteries of Kent; confirmation of privileges. 

 

Scroll Text - Bardic Competition - Summer's End 2023

Barony of the Rydderich Hael - A&S Tourney

Magnus and Thalia did mobilize the Muses to make a memorable meeting of merriment. Melodious music, magnificent monologues, not to mention marvelous masterpieces of mythical mayhem were mouthed by models of minstrels. Although mirth was managed, only one can be the medalist. And thus, Magnus and Thalia, mini-monarchs of majestic Beau Fleuve and mighty Rhydderich Hael, do manifest ____________________________ as the most meritorious at the Summer's End Bardic Match. Done this much mild 23rd day of September, AS58, in the Canton of Beau Flueve. 

Progression part 2

Another progression comparison. 

The image on the left is my scroll #33 from 2012. The one on the right is scroll #511 finished up today. Same source material but better paper, better paint, more practice and a greater idea of what I am doing. In the last 11 years I have sat in on I don't know how many classes on illumination and spoke with as many scribes as I could about technique and process. I have learned to use less paint but to use the paint more efficiently. Using multiple layers of paint to build up the shading rather than slopping on a thick layer and using black ink to make shadows. Now I put more layers of paint where I want the shadows. My white work was non-existent way back then and now I have a clue of how to use white paint and ink to bring out the high lights. I am going through my early work and re-doing the images that I used period sources to show myself that I have indeed learned something and to help me pin point the areas that I need more instruction and practice. This past couple of weeks I learned how much of a difference a couple of drops of ox gall can make on persnickety paint.

I highly recommend keeping notes on what materials you use and what classes you take. And keep good quality pictures of your work so that you can see your progression. 

Both are inspired by the 12th century English Psalter MS G.43 fol. 102r.

Progression 2023

 Another retrospective on improvement.

This month, I was at a loss as to what to work on, scribal-wise. I had no scroll assignments and little to no motivation to do any work. To give myself a metaphoric kick in the ass, I decided on re-doing some of my early work; images I did when I started working on illumination. I went through my Flikr account and picked some images that I had not re-done since way back when. And images from actual period sources instead of the fantasy pieces that I had done. 

On the left is scroll number 38 (I had started numbering my scrolls when I started the A&S 50 project) completed in July 2011. On the right is scroll number 509, completed today. Both are inspired by MS G.43 fol. 99v (England, perhaps Canterbury, ca. 1180).

On both images, I didn't stick with the source material's colors, but had my own idea of what I wanted them to look like. On the older image, I can clearly see that I had slapped paint on the paper without any clue as to what I was doing. The older image was on Bristol cotton/wood pulp blended paper, 140# hot press; the newer image is on Arches 100% cotton 140# hot press paper. The older image I think was done completely with Reaves gouache while the newer one was done with Windsor & Newton gouache, except for the brown, which was also Reaves. 

In addition, the blue of the newer image had the addition of ox gall. The blue was being difficult and I couldn't stop if from looking blotchy. Friends suggested a couple of drops of ox gall, which did help greatly. 

The gold on the newer image was lumped on unevenly; I like how the lumpy surface catches and reflects the light better than a smooth surface. Aside from that, I am using less paint, but I've learned to use it better. Instead of one think layer, I learned to paint several very thin layers of gouache. The thinner layers dry faster, and each layer worth of pigment has a greater chance of scattering light as the light passes through each layer until it reaches the white of the paper, where the photons are reflected back through the layers of paint, further scattering the light.  The end result is deeper and richer colors

The white dots on the blue background enhance the blue, making it brighter and covers up any unevenness of the top layer of pigment. I used Windsor and Newton white ink applied with a pen. The source image just had a solid color as the background, but I think the white dots adds some depth to the image and helps the grotesque stand out. 

This is not the first time I have posted my illumination progression on this blog, but I feel that going through my notes and memories is good for me to see what I learned and the steps and lessons that brought me closer to doing excellent scribal work. I recommend any beginner scribe who might read this to keep notes on what materials you use and what classes you take. Scan all of your work and number them so that you can better track your work. Since we give our work away, only by scanning our work allows us to keep a copy of the gifts we give to others.