Wednesday 28 October 2015

A Heraldic tongue twister



There was an occasion when I was heralding an event for the Far Isles Medieval Society that I noted a guest had brought a shield with him and, without seeking consent of the herald (as was customary), had set it up displayed in the feast hall.

I was, thus, required to inquire the identity of those arms in Court.

This is a representation of the shield:




This required careful and distinct pronunciation, because the blazon for this is...

Or  Semé  Of  Thistles Sable

Now, try saying that four times fast....

Until next time

Adieu


Wednesday 21 October 2015

Butterfly painting final update



The painting is now finished.

I have called it Metamorphosis.




The main part of the composition is based on a earlier painting and it is about mutability and change in general.  Look closer at one of the blue flowers...

Until next time


Adieu

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Unusual heraldic charges- 2

The Warspoon

When I was serving the Far Isles Medieval Society as Falcon King of Arms, I was asked to design a new charge to form part of the achievement of Sir Nai Cantrell, Earl of Foresthall, knight of the Golden Oak.

Sir Nai had once defended himself at a revel using only his spoon and wanted a Warspoon on his arms.

I started with the concept of the warhammer and chose a fifteenth century all-steel example.

I then designed the bowl of the spoon to be tear-shaped to give it a sharpened edge.

Finally, I referenced the earl’s Celtic leanings by adding a heart pommel, based on welsh lovespoons. I also felt that this would lend a level of irony to the charge.

The final design would bow be used as a template for any other person wishing to have  a warspoon charged on their arms.


The charge was added to the proposed achievement of arms; the achievement was then passed by a herald, ratified by me (as King of Arms) and added to the Far Isles Roll.

This is what it looks like.



The blazon is : per chevron vert and argent in chief a maltese cross of the second and a warspoon or bowl in chief in base a armoured arm  embowed couped holding a sword proper

Until next time

adieu

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Butterfly painting update six



I have started to add glazes over the initial green to enhance the foreground detail and the illusion of distance.

For this I have used Sap Green, Lemon Yellow and Titanium White in the foreground and Viridian and Titanium White in the background.

The painting now looks like this:



Once it is dry I will do more work to the detail of the plants and butterflies.

Until next time


Adieu