scribal dry spell over!

[aryanhwy]

Through the second half of March and all of April, I didn't really do any scribal stuff (filling in the names and dates on a few blanks doesn't count). First I was so darned tired, and then I was busy what with my mom visiting and all. A few days ago though I finally pulled things out, because Double Wars is getting close and I've committed myself to three assignments. I started one on the 1st, and finished it up this morning; Joel's comment on it was that my calligraphy is really getting good, and I'm willing to trust his judgment, because I, again, attempted a gothic hand, and still think it turned out poorly. But, what counts, the overall effect looks good, and it has a really flashy illuminated W based on this.

The other I'm working on tickles me. It's very personalized, both in the design and the text, and it's allowed me to do something a little bit out of the ordinary. Can't say anything more than that without giving away the secret, but I've had it planned out since early Feb. and it's making me very happy to be able to finally be working on it. Did part of the border and all of the calligraphy today, now I just need to screw up my courage and start sketching the main illumination. My exemplar are two tiny thumbnails which I've enlarged so that they're all pixellated, and still not nearly as big as the space I'm going to fill, so no tracing available here, it's going to have to be all freehand. Trepidation, here we come!

The third assignment I have I haven't even settled on an exemplar yet. I'm really partial to this V, but I don't think it quite fits the type of award it's for. Anyone got any favorite designs which are (a) relatively simple, (b) maybe have some floral borders, and (c) have a space for a coat of arms that they can share?

Comments

[badgersandjam.livejournal.com]

I used that W for Alfred Bale's AoA. I had fun with it!

Simple, floral borders, lots of space: you can't beat my favourite, BL MS Egerton 1146.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

We've used a lot of the same exemplars lately! I love comparing our different interpretations. Someday I'd love to have a challenge, maybe at University or something, where everyone gets the same exemplar and the goal is to come up with a scroll blank for the signet to take home by the end of the event. The outcome would be so neat.

Hmmm, the Egerton MS is gorgeous, but I'm not sure it qualifies as "simple" for me -- there's a lot of shading and naturalistic detailing in there.

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

For the V, what period are you looking at? What is the recipient's persona (if you feel comfortable saying so in "public"?

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Hmm, period -- 14th C English? Or thereabouts. But I'd be willing to go later, since that would make it more likely to find a design with armory incorporated into it.