Dragon's Barb Scroll

I received a scroll assignment with the following information:

Court of the Majesties Lucien and CatarinaAt Border Skirmish in Their Shire of RavenslakeJune 8th, 2013 A.S. 48Award - Award of the Dragon's BarbRecipient - Sebastian Elgar (MKA Peter Czyzweski) From the Shire of Blackhawk/Region of the MidlandsFor: Helping to bring archery to the Shire of Blackhawk and maintaining equipment and practice for Shire members.

I did some preliminary research on the internet on the recipient before designing the scroll.  I wasn't able to find many images or information of the recipient in any particular period garb.  The few images I found were general nondescript red and black colored fencing armor.  The only image I could find of the recipient doing archery was in mundane clothing.  For this reason I chose to do a scroll which wasn't based on any particular time period and "simply make it look pretty".

The following interest struck me as kind of funny.  I found it on the individual's FB page.  Kind of funny that I was standing right behind him.  That funny looking dude with the peach Elizabethan outfit is me.

    

I wrote up the follow scroll text to be used:

Proclaim unto all that we Lucien, King by right of arms of the Middle Kingdom, and Catarina our Queen, do recognize Sebastian Elgar for his unceasing efforts to bring archery to the Shire of Blackhawk and for his steadfast maintenance of the equipment used by the shire members.  We are therefore minded to create him a Companion of the Order of the Dragon’s Barb.  We bestow upon him all rights and responsibilities attendant upon this rank, and the right to bear the badge of the order without let or hindrance from any person. Done by our hands this eighth day of June, Anno Societatis Forty Eight, at this Border Skirmish in the Shire of Ravenslake.

I still don't much care for my calligraphy, but I suppose the only way to get better is to continue trying.  At this point I am only able to write about 2 or three lines at a time and then I need to take about a 5 minute break.  I know I should relax my hand more, but I concentrate so hard that my hand starts cramping up very quickly.  The following scroll text took a few hours to complete.  Way longer than it should...

The overall design of the scroll was sort of off the cuff.  I sketched out the border after I had completed the calligraphy.  I had a general idea what I wanted to do but simply made it up as I went along.

After the image for the border was completed using pencil I inked it in  using a metal tipped quill pen.  I then painted a base coat of gouache colors.

The overall procedure was basically lay a base coat of red and grey down on the border.  I then came back with a slightly darker color to add shading to the border.  I then added some highlights to the border using a lighter tint of the same colors.  Lastly I added the white work on the top using a fine tipped brush and in some areas a quill pen.

The illuminated letter P was the last touch needed.  I took the design straight out of a calligraphy book I have.  The overall look was intended to stand out as red and dark grey as that appeared to be the colors which the recipient wore most often in the images I found.

Purple Fret scroll for Heather Marie Hall

Another scroll assignment and another first for me.  I was given a scroll assignment to create an award scroll for a person with Japanese persona.

Name;  Heather Marie Hall  (Heather Rocchi) Midlands/Foxvale

Award:  Award of the Purple Fret
Reason:  for her prolific and steadfast service to Our Kingdom

I was sure I wanted to make a Japanese scroll, but not sure how exactly to go about it.  As it turns out my children are enrolled in a dual language Japanese elementary school.  One of the other parents that has become a friend to the family is a professional writer and Japanese translator.  I provided her with some text which I wanted on a scroll and she reworked it and translated it for me.

Here is the information I provided her with along with a quick translation from Google Translator (which as it turns out kind of sucks).

Let it be known by all that we Dag, King by right of arms of the Middle Kingdom, and AnneMarie our Queen, do recognize the dedicated service that Lady Heather Marie Hall hath freely given unto the Middle Kingdom, specifically as an exceptional scribe.

この日、中世国王のダーグと我々の女王のアンマリーが中世国の優秀な書記官として、レディー・ヘザー・マリー・ホールの立派な役務提供いただいたことを証明する。

We do here publicly praise her and are pleased to bestow upon her the Award of the Purple Fret.

この場、可能な限りの最高の称賛を与えの上で、パープル・フレット賞を授与します。

We grant unto her all rights and responsibilities of this rank and the right to bear the badge without hindrance from any person.

そして、このランクの権利と責任とも、支障なくバッジを身に付ける権利を与します。

Given by our hands this 10th day of November, A.S. 47, at this, our Known World Academy of Rapier and Costume Symposium.

本シンポジウムで、既知世界レイピアとコスチュームアカデミシンポジウム、本日、A.S. 47年11月10日これを成立します。

She wrote the text out in a format more consistent with an actual period notification of this sort.  Without her help I would not have been able to put this together.  This is the text she provided me with which in in Japanese.  The following text includes the Furigana in parenthesis  which is the Hiragana characters included to aid in the pronunciation of the Kanji for those that may not be able to read all of the Japanese characters.  Those are not included in the scroll as they are simply an aid to the reader.  I can actually read a bit of Japanese and this, for me, was very useful.  I now had a scroll which I could actually read and properly pronounce.  I added the Romaji which is the pronunciation written out in English letters.

表彰状(ひょうしょうじょう)

hiyoushyoujyoo

パープル・フレット賞(しょう)

PAAPURU FUREETO shoo

レディー・ヘザー・マリー・ホール様(さま)

REDEII . HEZAA. MARII. HOORU-sama

あなたは優秀(ゆうしゅう)な書記官(しょきかん)として、

anata wa yuushuu na shokikan toshite, 

既知世界(きちせかい)レイピアとコスチューム アカデミ

kisasekai REIPIA to KOSUTUUMU AKADEMI

に立派(りっぱ)な役務提供(えきむていきょう)し、

ni rippo na ekimuteikyoushi,

パープル・フレット賞(しょう)において高(たか)く評価(ひょうか)されました。

PAAPURU FUREETO shou ni oite takaku hyouka saremashita.

そして、このランクの権利(けんり)と責任(せきにん)とも、

soshite, kono RANKU no kenri to sekinin tomo,

支障(ししょう)なくバッジ

を身(み)に付(つ)ける権利(けんり)を与(あた)えます。

shishyou naku BAAJI o mini tsukeru kenri o ataemasu.

よってここに表彰(ひょうしょう)します。

yotte koko ni hyoushyoushimasu.

A.S. 四十七年(ねん)十一月(がつ)十日(にち)

gojunana nen juichi gatsu junichi

既知世界(きちせかい)レイピアとコスチュームアカデミシンポジウム

kichisekai REPIA to KOSUTUUMU AKADEMI SHINPOJIUMU

対決(たいけつ)で勝(か)った中世国王(ちゅうせいこくおう)と

taiketsu de katta chuuseikokuoo to

我々(われわれ)の女王(じょおう) ダーグとアーン・マリー

warewareno shyoo DAGU to AAN MARI.

Now that I had the text I could begin the layout and design.  I knew that I wanted a Japanese image, hopefully of somebody doing artwork.  I found a Japanese woodblock print from the 17th century (I believe) which had a woman painting.  I chose to add that image in the middle of the scroll with a minimal border at the top where the royal seal would be added along with the Purple Fret badge.

The scroll will read from right to left, from top to bottom.

Here is a picture of the image I drew and the printout from the image I found.

I purchased some bamboo pens and brushes, but as it turns out my skill in the use of these new tools was very limited.  I could not write in Japanese well enough to be satisfied.  I could use the brush to write, but the smallest I could manage and still be legible was about three times larger than I wanted for the scroll.  I backed off the authenticity and simply used a quill pen to do all the drawing and writing.

All of the text and drawing in the following photo was done with a crow quill dip pen with India ink.

Here is the layout with the signature boxes and the Purple Fret badge layout.  Yup, I messed up the fret but I think I can fix that later.... I hope.

I'm really VERY happy with the look of the scroll at this point.  Here are some close ups of the the writing.  My wife is Japanese and read this for me.  She can read limited Kanji, but not write it well enough, which is why I didn't ask her to translate it.  She reviewed the text at this point and I got the green light to proceed.

 

I purchased some Chinese water color paints to use for the color.  I know that the image was based on a wood block print and therefore wanted the overall look and feel to have that same tone and brightness.  I like the look of the water colors as they have a vibrant look but at the same time slightly more muted than the gauche that I've been using.

All in all I couldn't be happier with this scroll.  The image of the woman painting is some of my favorite artwork I've ever done.  I really hope I get to do more Japanese scrolls in the future.

Award of Arms scroll for Michka of Blackhawk

Recent scribble assignment.  I was given an AoA to create and here is a very limited documentation of what and how I did it.

As with all my scrolls, the design in a free hand sketch using a mechanical pencil.  I chose Pergamenata as the material to make the scroll from.  I had little information about the recipient other than the fact that the person was currently the exchequer for the shire of Blackhawk and so I chose to add the badge to the top of the scroll.  Little else was known about persona or interests so I chose to make a "generic" middle period style scroll.

Calligraphy first... I used a metal tipped dip quill pen to do all the work on this scroll.  I used a crow quill tip to clean up some of the lines and improve the sharpness of some of the letters.  Still don't care much for my calligraphy but I guess that's part of the game.  Illumination is by far my favorite aspect.

After calligraphy is completed and cleaned up I started inking in the trim.

I was thinking of using green ink for the vine-work as I have on other scrolls, but opted to keep it more like the illuminated manuscript that inspired this design.

 

All the inking done.  I actually sketched the illuminated letter on a separate piece of paper and then traced it onto this page.  Tried a few designs so rather than sketching over and over on this page I wanted to finalize the design before transferring it.

I used all gauche paint for this scroll.  Base coat of two distinct shades of green for the trim was applied first.

More details and colors added...

Illuminated letter completed and white work just about done...

Completed scroll.  Well, almost.  Turns out that the scroll assignment was given to me for a woman.  The text I used included three references to "her".  When I witnessed the award in court I then found out that the recipient was a man.  Oops.  Felt like a fool and offered to try and fix the problem.

 

 

Here is the stamped and signed scroll after the fixes were applied.  My calligraphy isn't as good as I would like, but it turns out my talents at fixing calligraphy sucks more.  Oops.  The "her" references were updated to "his" but are clearly visible.  Pergamenata is more forgiving that Bristol board, but still doesn't take a second coat of ink all that well.  When I tried to write the fixed letter the ink bled very quickly and looked smudgey. I guess I shouldn't make mistakes in the future.  Ick!

 

Pennsic 41: Sebastian Archer Award Scroll

At Pennsic this year there will be a St. Sebastian archery shoot. There will be a total of 8 winners in their classes. The theme is creatures from the Book of Kells. Scroll size will be 1/2 sheet of Pergamenta. The scrolls needed will be for the best shooter in: Archer.
---------------------------------------------------
“Born of ash and yew, strength in the hand and aim that is true,
A bow across the sky, another in the river,
Whence swallows upward fly, like arrows from a quiver”

Let all know that you have received the Accolade of Archer at the second annual Saint Sebastian Archery Competition at Pennsic 41 XLI.
---------------------------------------------------

Paper Stock: Pergamenata Heavyweight, 5X7 inches, from John Neal Bookseller
Paint: Gouache
Technique: Free hand sketched with a mechanical pencil.
Inked in with India ink applied with a metal-nibbed dip pen.
Applied color using brushed on gouache paint.
Inspiration: Various images from the Book of the Kells

This was my first scroll using Pergamenata.  I love the stuff now.  Even with the additional cost of the material I found it worth while for two major reasons.  One:  It looks a lot more like vellum than Bristol board.  Two: Corrections are 20x easier on the stuff.  I spelled Whence wrong on the scroll and was planning on starting over again as I would have done on Bristol board.  I know you can "fix" Bristol, but it always look crummy when it is done.  I figured I'd practice fixing it on this new stuff and found that scratching away the error was rather easy.  Love the stuff.

After the all but he first letter of "Wence" was removed.

After the correction.  I think in the future I'll have to wait a little longer and probably not scratch so hard.  It pulled some fibers up from the paper and that lead to bleeding a bit, but all in all I like corrections on this more than other materials.

Crappy camera, but here are some close ups.  This dragon is something I just made up to look like it came from the Book of the Kells, but fit the space left at the bottom.  Also, adding a dragon to any scroll in the Midrealm is not a bad idea.

The above image was taken from my camera and the below image was my scanner.  The scanner takes much brighter images, but I find that it also doesn't look as much like the original.  The colors are almost artificially bright on the scanned copy.  Nothing beats seeing artwork in person I guess.

My first Kingdom Scrolls completed

I finally created an entire scroll including the Calligraphy.  It was with a little trepidation that I submitted my name to the list of volunteers to create Kingdom award scrolls.  I was given the chance to create two scrolls for the court this past weekend.  This meant that I would have to write the text, do the calligraphy and the illumination.  I must admit that I was more than a little worried about the assignment.  I had never met either of the two individuals who would be receiving my work and I wasn’t sure exactly how to go about things.

This was the scroll assignment that I received:

Court of Their Majesties Savaric and Julianna

Constellation Academy of Defense V

May 12th , 2012 A.S. 47

Shire of Mynydd Seren

1) Arlecchino (Randy Winderlich) Constellation/Mynydd Seren - AoA

Assisted in procuring new members via numerous demonstrations, dancing,

faithful reconstruction of the Commedia Dell'arte character Arlecchino

2) Chernislava Alekseeva (Lisa Coss) Constellation/Mynydd Seren - Dragon's Barb

Exemplary skill with a bow and devotion to the teaching of

archery, assisted in the running of the line and in preparation for event,

and helped train novice archers in both basic and advanced techniques.

Given that I had never done this before I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when receiving an assignment.  Silly old me thought that the text would be prepared for me.  I thought that perhaps the Crown would be interested in approving the text prior to signing a scroll.  I went through the scribal handbook and drafted the following text for the scrolls:

Proclaim to all unto whom these presents come that we, Savaric and Julianna, King and Queen of the Middle Kingdom have heard of the many good works and labors, especially in the aid of procuring new members via numerous demonstrations, dancing, and faithful reconstruction of the Commedia Dell'arte character Arlecchino.  We are therefore minded to bestow upon Arlecchino of Mynydd Seren the right to bear arms as registered within the society without let or hindrance from any person, and the rights and responsibilities conveyed by his elevation to this rank from this day onward.

Done by our hands this 12th day of May, 2012, Anno Societatis 47.

Pray let all know that we, Savaric and Julianna, King and Queen of the Middle Kingdom have heard much good of Lady Chernislava Alekseeva.  She has demonstrated exemplary skill with a bow, a devotion towards archery instruction, a willingness to serve at events and eagerness to train novice archers in both basic and advanced techniques.  We are therefore minded to create her a Companion of the Order of the Dragon’s Barb.  We bestow upon her all rights and responsibilities attendant upon this rank, and the right to bear the badge of the order without let or hindrance from any person.

Done by our hands this 12th day of May, 2012, Anno Societatis 47.

I then tried to do a little research online to see WHO these people actually were.  I was able to find some information about Lady Chernislava Alekseeva, but little about Arlecchino. 

Lady Chernislava Alekseeva – Dragon’s Barb

The information I found about Lady Chernislava Alekseeva seemed to indicate that she had a Russian persona.  As is common in the SCA it seemed that her persona didn’t necessarily hold true to a certain location or time period.  I found pictures of her in various forms of garb, including Japanese while doing drumming.  Rather than try an emulate a Russian manuscript I simply chose to do something based on a page from a book of that time period where the illumination would match the award being given.  As she was very active in archery and was receiving the Dragon’s Barb, I hoped that she would appreciate a period painting based on the a page from a book owned by Catherine of Cleaves.  I altered the illumination slightly to allow for the badged at the top.  I also chose to use the recipients heraldic colors as my main color scheme.

As this was my first attempt at calligraphy I found that I had to do this portion 4 times before I ended up with a product I was satisfied with illumination.

Here is an image of the calligraphy.

I then sketched the illumination using a mechanical pencil.  When I was satisfied with the layout I inked the design in with a metal nibbed quill pen using India ink.

Here is an image of the fully inked scroll ready to receive paint.

The remainder of the scroll was done using gouache paint applied with a brush.

Here are some close-ups and the overall completed scroll.

Arlecchino – AoA

I couldn’t find much in the way of information via the internet for Randy Winderlich.  I was able to find many images of the various portrayals of the Commedia Dell'arte character Arlecchino.  I chose to simply to a late period vine work edge with a caricature of Arlecchino and the mask worn by the character.  Here are some images I found which inspired the final design.

This was only my second attempt at calligraphy I found that I had to do this portion 3 times before I ended up with a product I was satisfied with illumination.  Turns out that I spelled the recipients name wrong and had to start over.  I then used my prior copy as the basis of my text and therefore ended up spelling it wrong again.  Ughh!

Here is an image of the calligraphy which I ended up using.

I then sketched the illumination using a mechanical pencil.  When I was satisfied with the layout I inked the design in with a metal nibbed quill pen using India ink.  I know that this isn’t a period design, but for this recipient I hoped that the free hand caricature of his inspiration would be appreciated.

Here is an image of the fully inked scroll ready to receive paint.

The remainder of the scroll was done using gouache paint applied with a brush.

Here are some close-ups and the overall completed scroll.