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What is this and Why am I doing this?
What is this and Why am I doing this?
This scroll was a special commission piece from the recipient's wife and friend.
It isn't every day that I get to play around with the design of a scroll that was requested to be "D&D based."
They had approached me with the request to complete this scroll after seeing my work at Coronation, where I won the title of Scrivener Royal.
The recipient's wife and friend, plus a few members of Dun Carraig helped pitch in to create this design. Throughout this process of learning more about the recipient, I got to hear lovely stories of everyone's encounters with this person.
Needless to say, they are well-loved.
I also had the great pleasure of interviewing my wordsmith to help explain his process for creating unique words tailored specifically for the recipient.
Materials used
Materials used
Handcrafted, mixed media paper by Indigo Art Papers - PERIOD MATERIAL, it was known as bombycina or bambagina or bambacina
100% cotton sheet, 90 lbs/ 200 gsm
size: 8x 10 inches (203 x 254 mm)
Tom Norton's walnut ink - PERIOD COLOR, but not made of walnuts
Chosen because I thought this was the real walnut ink because the store advertised it as walnut ink. I only found out later that it was only pigmented to look like walnut ink.
I found this ink AFTER I had applied the drawing ink with the Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton Calligraphy ink in Sepia - not a period material, but is in a period color
I chose this ink because it was the only one that was readily available to me that had the properties that I wanted: a very specific color of dark sepia, non-clogging formula, waterproof, archival, fade-proof, opaque in color with a matte finish. While I could have gone for other inks, I needed this particular one to obtain the results that I wanted.
I was strapped with the resources that I had available to me, so I completed my sketches and inking while continuing to search for an appropriately colored wash.
A compass and a ruler from a cheap geometry set to draw circles and lines
A mapping quill - PERIOD MATERIAL
A feather calligraphy quill - PERIOD MATERIAL
A light table - optional
I didn't really need this for anything else other than I did most of my work at night, which made it really hard for me to see anything
The light table gives me a rather sturdy source of light to work with during my travels that isn't as obtuse as a lamp
Lined sheet of looseleaf paper - the concept could be period, it's a piece of paper with lines drawn on it with water soluble ink
FAQ: Why did you use paper?
FAQ: Why did you use paper?
Paper was first invented by the Chinese in 649 to 683. Cotton paper was referred to as 'charta bombycina' or 'cotton paper' was created between 794 or 795 in Bagdad.
You can read about the entire process on this website created by the Amalfi paper museum: https://www.amalfipapermuseum.com/the-handmade-paper/. The Amalfi Paper Museum is housed in an old paper mill dating back to the 13th century, this particular museum is located in at Via delle Cartier, 23 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy.
I chose paper because this is a Da Vinci-inspired project, and he is known for creating many of his notable works on paper ie: Head of Leda (1505-8),
On the Quest to find inspiration
On the Quest to find inspiration
I consider myself to be a 'high output' scribe, which means I make between 3-10 per month. Not including any private comissions that I may pick up along the way. Usually, I average around 5-6 especially now that I've returned to school.
With an output like that, I find myself struggling to find inspiration for many of my projects.
Thankfully, the recipients wife and friend both reached out to me with ideas.
Me and Lord Julius at AEthelmearc QRC. I asked him for a photo for me to use on my website, and he sent me this.
Words by Lord Julius Gautieri
Words by Lord Julius Gautieri
What makes a Noble? A Noble is shaped from a mixture of the values of the society. Blood from service to those around them, sculpting clay from comportment to all in the court, and ashes from the fledgling prowess in all that they choose to do. Remarkable deeds have caused inspiration to take root in the hearts of others, springing forth and nourishing their spirits like a brook of clear waters. Crafting oneself into a Noble of the court is a process which takes coin and passion, yet is a Difficult Challenge. After a Noble finds themselves capable, they are animated through a process of slow introduction to the society that requires a welcoming environment that has been fostered over time. This Gentle has been created in such a manner, exceeding all expectations laid before him. His blood sacrificed at our own coronation, ashes shown from the success of all challenges set forth before him, and the clay is obvious for all in the court to see. This mixture has sculpted Chris of Dun Carraig into a Lord fitting of our court, and thus do we, King X and Queen Y, see fit to recognize this effort and raise Chris of Dun Carraig to a Lord of our court. Done on this day, December 9th A.S. LVIII, at XXXX.
Based on the D&D 3.5 monster manual description of the creation of a homunculus.
FAQ to Lord Julius: What inspired you to write these words?
FAQ to Lord Julius: What inspired you to write these words?
Julius: Cyrus said something about the scroll's being "D&D based" so I looked at the recommendation and realized it was primarily service oriented. I flipped through the 3.5 manual wondering about good monsters (I chose 3.5 since I had the monster manual and it has some wonderful lore writing) and chose a homunculus, a monster which is created for service.
Inspiration photos - my buckler
Inspiration photos - my buckler
I received this buckler as a gift while I was in the East Kingdom. While I was researching this scroll, I found myself staring at my shield and thinking about how cute it looked.
I also turned to the internet to look at drawings and illustrations of seahorses. I've put some images below of some photos that inspired me.
FAQ with Julius: How did you take the elements from the source and adapt it?
FAQ with Julius: How did you take the elements from the source and adapt it?
Julius: Since this was an award of arms, awards of arms usually talk about introducing someone to the society, so I took that and spun it. A homunculus is created for service, and the SCA molded the recipient into a noble of the court, someone who deserved an AOA
Preliminary sketch - November 10, 1:01 AM
Preliminary sketch - November 10, 1:01 AM
I was playing around with potential design ideas when I found this colored pencil at the bookstore at work. Naturally, I had to buy it and play around with it.
The sketch gave me the right 'feel' for the project, but I felt that it needed to move in another direction.
Inspiration Art: Drawings of da Vinci studies for human-powered 'ornitotteri'
Inspiration Art: Drawings of da Vinci studies for human-powered 'ornitotteri'
FAQ with Julius: How does the scroll wording play into the SCA?
FAQ with Julius: How does the scroll wording play into the SCA?
Julius: I did a quick search to make 100% sure the concept of a homunculus is period, I found that they are and come from alchemy, so I took the description of blood and ash to make the being and twisted it into how the literal objects could represent the important pieces that made the noble worthy of recognition to the court.
Let's get started - November 15, 11:28 PM
Let's get started - November 15, 11:28 PM
I decided to start drawing this piece using a compass that I bought from the dollar store.
In progress - November 16, 12:00 AM
In progress - November 16, 12:00 AM
Somewhere in the process of everything, I quickly blocked out the seahorse with pencil and forgot to take a photo.
In progress - November 16, 12:44 AM
In progress - November 16, 12:44 AM
In progress - November 16, 12:58 AM
In progress - November 16, 12:58 AM
Close- Up of the Fins
November 16, 1:09 AM
Close- Up of the Fins
November 16, 1:09 AM
I looked back at my fins and realized that I needed a bit more of something else. Perhaps some more attitude.
Close- Up of the Fins
November 16, 1:31 AM
Close- Up of the Fins
November 16, 1:31 AM
There we go! I added some more shading and texture to it.
In Progress - November 16, 11:34 PM
In Progress - November 16, 11:34 PM
Added in more cross hatching because I wasn't happy with how dark my ink was.
In Progress - November 16, 11:46 PM
In Progress - November 16, 11:46 PM
In Progress- Adding a nice wash
In Progress- Adding a nice wash
I watered down my walnut ink to get this lovely brown consistency.
In Progress - November 19, 9:44 PM
In Progress - November 19, 9:44 PM
A drawing for scale
A drawing for scale
I decided to add a cute little model for scale. Hmmm... it's a fashionably dressed, left-handed fencer wearing tall boots.
I wonder who that could be?
Extant of da Vinci's writing
Extant of da Vinci's writing
This was the most clear calligraphy that I could find that was credited to him. I ended up flipping it over using editing software because I can't write backwards. Some people have great success with it, I have never demonstrated any skill at it.
Extant of da Vinci's writing
Extant of da Vinci's writing
I saw this page from the television show, 'Da Vinci's Demons'.
Extant of Da Vinci's writing from a notebook circa 1505, flipped over using photo editing software.
My writing on top with Da Vinci's extant handwriting on the bottom for comparison.
NO- my writing wasn't slanted, the camera was slanted when I took the photo.
Side-by-Side comparison
Side-by-Side comparison
Replicating Da Vinci's handwriting was a unique challenge. I created an alphabet based off of the extant sample.
Creating an alphabet isn't too difficult. It just involves isolating specific letters and writing them on a separate piece of paper.
Testing the Text for Size
Testing the Text for Size
This is one of the most challenging steps of designing any scroll: adjusting the text to fit the scroll.
For this particular scroll, I wrote out a few lines of the scroll text on a blank piece of paper and looked at it through my light table. This is a process of 'guess and test' where I look at the text, adjust the text, and see how it compliments the image.
There are formulas for figuring out how many words can fit on a scroll, but it's up to the artist to decide where those words will be placed. After several tries, I finally decided that the scroll "looked" like I wanted it at that particular size of text.
After deciding what size text to use, I returned to my box of quills and nibs to see what I had on hand.
In Progress - November 27, 10:37 PM
In Progress - November 27, 10:37 PM
Lucky for me!
I found the perfect quill on hand. I had received this quill in a prize box for some scribal competition, and it was in the size that I was looking for. The shaft had been damaged in transport, but I was able to re-cut and shape it again.
In Progress - November 27, 10:59 PM
In Progress - November 27, 10:59 PM
The slow-going process of adding text.
In Progress - November 27, 11:46 PM
In Progress - November 27, 11:46 PM
After much staring at the page, the negative space - aka all the white spaces, started to bother me. I returned to looking at Da Vinci's notebook and saw writing in all sorts of directions on the page: Some were crammed in beside doodlings, and some writing was vertical.
I decided that some vertical writing was definitely needed in this piece.
So I looked back at the scroll text and began to re-map how I wanted the text to lie on the page.
In Progress - November 28, 7:40 PM
In Progress - November 28, 7:40 PM
Almost done! Just adding the last bits of text after I finished work.
ALL FINISHED! November 28, 9:39 PM
ALL FINISHED! November 28, 9:39 PM
The Scroll - presented with watermarks
The Scroll - presented with watermarks
After a long journey, my scroll was presented at court to a very happy recipient.
Departures from Period Technique:
Departures from Period Technique:
I applied the sketching and cross hatching before painting with water-soluble ink. This technique would only be possible in period if I was using silverpoint. A method to achieve the same 'feel' of silver point was to use waterproof ink to do the cross hatching and sketching then applying the wash over top. I was originally going to apply watercolor over it, but I wasn't happy with the results I was achieving on my test swatches. I ended up using watered down walnut-colored ink.
Things Learned:
Things Learned:
Unless directly specified, assume that 'walnut ink' purchased from the store- even the ones that they claim are made on site, are likely made out of pigments made to look like walnut ink instead of actually using walnuts.
Paper was first invented by the Chinese in 649 to 683. Cotton paper was referred to as 'charta bombycina' or 'cotton paper' was created between 794 or 795 in Bagdad.
The paper I used for this project was handmade, cotton rag paper.
Cotton rag paper has its own unique challenges, which are different from other forms of paper. They include: different absorption rates, they react differently to water and water-soluble ink/watercolors, and be aware of feathering!
Da Vinci made many of his works on paper, especially his more notable sketches, drawings and notes.
I'm tickled by the idea that there is a mill in Italy that's been in existence since the 13th century. This mill specializes in teh creation of handmade and cotton rag paper. It's possible that Da Vinci could have used paper made in this mill!
The Amalfi Paper Museum is housed in an old paper mill dating back to the 13th century, this particular museum is located in at Via delle Cartier, 23 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy.
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