Artistic skills used in the SCA to recreate pre 17th Century art commonly used as awards.
The Itinerant Scribe reflects on a journey that transcends physical travel, evolving from a 14th-century Irish persona to a 15th-century Bruges scribe. This transformation includes a shift from traditional arts to the practice of Tai Chi, which she plans to teach. Embracing movement as a form of art, she continues to share her discoveries.
Mistress Astrid’s Laureling showcased the power of community, artistry, and generosity. Numerous contributors, from Baroness Kathleen’s embroidery to Mistress Aidan’s exquisite scroll, brought together a memorable celebration. Each individual’s effort, including food and shelter logistics, highlighted the collaborative spirit that defines the SCA, making the occasion unforgettable for all involved.
Becoming a Laurel in the SCA isn’t something that happens overnight. How long does it take, you ask? Well, that’s a bit of a journey with no set timeline. In the world of medieval reenactment, meeting the peerage standard for all its kingdoms can be quite the quest. When I started in the Kingdom of…
One thing I look for when I want to learn a new skill is a list of all the things a brand new person would need to start. I could ask people who are more skilled than I am but I tend to be a bit socially awkward and I also sometimes feel like it harder for me to…
August 8, 2023 Strathmore Bristol paper 19×25”, Holbein Gouache, Windsor Newton Gold Gouache and Calligraphy Ink Illumination by myselfCalligraphy and Words by Eamon Grey I had taken a few months off from scribal so that I could move, I know, again… Once I had settled in to my new place I let the Signet (the…
Welcome to my blog post dedicated to aspiring calligraphy and illumination enthusiasts! Whether you’ve been enchanted by medieval manuscripts or are simply looking to level up your handwriting and painting skills, learning the scribal art is an excellent choice. In this article, we have gathered a collection of YouTube videos tailored specifically for beginners in…
Ever wondered why some folks overlook the immense dedication, time, cost, and creative energy scribes pour into their work? And why are scrolls sometimes treated as disposable? Today, let’s dive into these intriguing questions and discover the captivating world of scribes within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Scrolls aren’t your average pieces of paper—they’re…
Last year about this time I gathered together my prior posts I’d written about scroll creation. The post was Easy Does It: SCA Scroll Creation. Though I didn’t plan it, the posted links round-up made a scroll creation how-to table of contents. And it’s been a very popular blog post. Since then I’ve added more, In case…
Tracing is not cheating. Well, it is if you are passing something off as your own work. But meticulously copying a medieval manuscript you admire is excellent practice. It works well for copying illumination motifs and is a period practice. This image of the manual is from the Public Domain Review Tracing is even better for calligraphy….
New Year’s Eve I spent time considering what I wanted to do with this blog. One goal is to be more organized and focused on my post topics. That should make the topics easier for you to follow. Scribal Art Collection Display To begin, I ferreted out my prior instructional posts. Previously they related to a project or…
Enlarged upper right miniature Project Title: Duchy Scroll for Issabell St. Charles Project Date: January 13, 2018/Coronation Text by: D. Magdalena vander Meere Inspiration for Text: Translation by: Calligrapher: Jehanne Bening Illuminator: Jehanne Bening Measurements: Support: Pergamenata, C and I area 12″ x 16″ Notable Techniques: Flat gilding using Tresser’s gilding size adhesive. Love it. Script: Early Gothic…
Project Title: Giraude Benet’s Laurel Scroll Project Date: December 9, 2017 Text by: Malachi von Uri Inspiration for Text: Translation by: Calligrapher: Jehanne Bening Illuminator: Jehanne Bening Measurements: 16 x 20 inches Support: Pergamenata heavyweight natural Notable Techniques: Gilding and interlinear lining. Script: Early/Proto- Gothic Pens: Mitchell 1 mm dip nib and Hunt 512 pointed dip…
While at my local Office Depot recently I came across white vinyl pencil-cap erasers. I wasn’t there to buy them, but they went home with me. I was excited to have white erasers for my 4H pencils tops. A silly convenience. Usually I find today’s eraser market confusing and the white pencil-cap eraser adds to…
As an SCA scribe, I’m both scroll designer and producer. Without a knack for each and both together the scrolls I do fall short. Luminous scribal creations are best handled by frequent practice, exploration, and experiment. Each scroll is unique for the accumulated knowledge and skills expressed at the time you produce it. Your entire scribal…
Illuminated Angel Pictures In My Home Our gift-giving season is fast approaching. It’s a busy time of the year for everyone. Often I’ve created gifts with calligraphy and illumination, especially 12th Night gifts. Calligraphy and illumination are useful for gifts within and without the Society. I’ve made gifts of bookmarks, small illuminations, and a birth certificate for my…
Project Title: Calon Cross Scroll for Zaneta Baseggio Project Date: October 14, 2017/Crown Tournament Text by: HL Saito Takauji Inspiration for Text: ‘The Prince’ by Machiavelli, James 3:13, and the structures of the Venetian government. La Serenissima Regina means ‘most serene Queen’. The mazor consegio was a self-nominating legislative body, and that works as an…
Medieval illuminated manuscripts came in all sizes. There are the giant church tomes, like the Codex Gigas in the National Library of Sweden. It is probably the largest, weighing over 165 pounds. Photo by Michal Maňas (User:snek01) (Own work) [CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons And the minuscule, palm size personal portable books, like the Stowe MS 956 psalm-book at the British Library. Manuscript with miniature portrait of…
HL Nikolai Kolpachnik Spinachev’s Baronial Arts and Sciences Championship Competition Entry. I’m not that great a cook. Mostly cooking doesn’t interest me. I’m also not a foodie or gourmet. High-quality or exotic ingredients don’t interest me. And I can’t be bothered with food skills that don’t involve a microwave or Keurig. Attending a scribal gathering…
The easiest, most common mistake to make is also the hardest to fix. Improper lettering. There are many ways I do this. The trick is to know the easiest way to correct them? In my opinion, it’s using a scratchboard knife. Scratch Art knives from Dick Blick Scratch nibs are commonly used to scratch through…
My preparations for Lonely Tower’s Scribes Class and the oops I incurred.