Christmas Fairy

 Greetings

Given the time of year, I thought I would give this compute art another outing 

(pun intended)

Until next time

Adieu

New Painting 1

 Greetings

I have added the first oil glazes to the new painting.

It now looks like this

it used to look like this

As you can see the colour is already much richer.

I will continue to add glazes until I am happy with it.

until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 9

 Greetings

A little early Christmas present...Or what I'd like to find left for me under the tree...

Until next time

Adieu

Christmas

 Seasons Greetings

As a medievalist, I celebrate Christmas in the the old way from Martinmas (11 November) until Candlemas ( 2 February).

I have decorated the hall and living room and the wreath has been hung on the front door.

Sadly, this year I have not been able to make my own wreath ( as in previous years). The yew bush and bay are no more. They have been sacrificed to enable me to park off-road on my former front garden.

We did this as part of  the works getting the old side fence replaced. We have put gates across the old rear drive ( the patio), so we can still use it for visitors and workmen, but I finally I have my rear garden back and delivery drivers will stop trying to deliver to the back door

 As usual, I have set up the tree and decorated it with as many baubles etcetera as I can fit on.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas  and a Cool Yule

Until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 8

 Greetings

Here is a further version of this computer artwork

Until next time

Adieu

A New Painting

 Greetings

I have been working on a new painting.

I am experimenting again. This work is painted on primed hardboard, which I have cut to size for one of my stock of unglazed frames.

As with "Catspaw" ( which I have blogged about previously) , I am doing the underpainting in acrylic.

This means that the basic structure of the painting forms considerably faster.

I will then work over this with oil glazes to increase the depth and vibrancy of the image.

I have now completed the underpainting and the picture looks like this

Until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 7

 Greetings

Here is a new version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

Turning the Page 6

 Greetings

This is a further version of this computer art

Until next time

Adieu

new crest for great helm 4

 Greetings

Here are some pictures of the new crest  now that it has been fixed to my great helm.

I look forward to displaying it next re-enactment season.

Until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 5

 Greetings

Here is another variation on this piece

Until next time

Adieu

New crest for great helm 3

 Greetings

Here are some close-up pictures of the new crest.

These two show the twisting tail

I think this worked quite well, both in the carving and in the painting, especially as I had to make a couple of structural compromises.

Here is a close up of the hands. I am particularly please with how they came out.

This picture also shows the carving of muscles on the torso.

Finally, here is a close up of the front of the demi demon, showing the details of the left arm ,the pearl and the face.

I will post again showing the crest mounted on the great helm.

Until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 4

 Greetings

Here is another version of this computer art.

until next time

Adieu

New crest for great helm 2

 Greetings

An early post this week, as tomorrow promises to be very busy.

I have now finished painting the new carved crest for my great helm.

I am quite pleased with the result and will post more on this later.

Until next time

Adieu

Turning the page 3

 Greetings

Here is the next version of this piece.

Until next time

Adieu

Magic, Mayhem and Murder

 Greetings

I am posting a bit late again, as I have just spent all day solving a magical murder.

This was an on-line live action game which Teddy, Clare, Nikita, Jane and I took part in around Wimbledon.

We decided to dress the part.

We managed to solve all the trials and -in the end- the murder.

This was our first attempt at this sort of game, so we were not the fastest ( coming in 15 out of 31).

We did, however, win the Best Dressed category...

Until next time

Adieu

New crest for Great Helm 1

 Greetings

Apologies for the late posting this week. I woke up yesterday with a sensation of tightness in my chest that felt like it reach right back to my spine and nothing I tried seemed to shift it.

Consequently, I went to my doctor, who sent me to A & E. I then spent the rest of the day either waiting or having tests done to check that I hadn't had a  minor heart attack.

It turns out -I hadn't.. but they didn't give me any diagnosis of what it was. 

The best I can come up with is must have been something muscular, as the effect lasted for about ten and half hours and was not altered by going to the loo during that time.

Anyway, I'm fine now and also know from scans that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my heart.

Indeed, the doctor used me as an example for  two medical students...

So, back to normal service...

Some time ago, I posted about carving a new crest for my great helm from a small block of cherry wood.

Due to the size of block I could obtain, I was unable to carve the mitre 'in the round' and had to be satisfied with a flattened representation.

In the meantime, a large, ancient pear tree in my father's garden finally gave up the ghost and fell down.

In the course of clearing up the resulting mess, I sawed off a reasonable chunk of branch and left it by the radiator in my studio to dry.

Now, some good time later, I have spent a month or so carving it into a new crest.

This is how it looked  when I had  decided the carving was done and had given it a coat of gesso.

And here are two close up pictures of the demi demon rampant gardant holding the pearl.

I will post again when I have finished painting it.

Until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 2

 Greetings

Here is the first variant of this computer artwork

Until next time

Adieu

Turning The Page 1

Greetings

I have been busy on the computer...

Here is another piece of computer art. 

I quite a lot of fun with this image and  there are quite a number of different versions.

I will post more later. Some may require a small measure of censorship  for this blog...

Until next time

Adieu

Belt Pouch 3

 Greetings

Prior to sewing on the body of the pouch I had used a leatherwork tool to bevel the edges of the two panels and the flap. I had also used another tool to round them off further.

I now had to sew the body to the rear panel, which involved a lot of measuring and checking to make sure I started and finished at the right point. Measure twenty times sew once...

It went together correctly.

I punched holes in the strap and painted the edges of the thicker leather with diluted black acrylic.

The pouch has a slightly larger capacity then the old version.

and even stands up on its own...

All in all a successful project.

It will have its first outing next year.

Until next time

Adieu

Elf Regard 4

 Greetings

Here is the final variant of this piece

In all his glory, as nature intended...

Until next time

Adieu

Belt Pouch 2

 Greetings

Having cut out the front and rear panels and a fitting for the buckle, I then cut out a strap.

I sewed the hanger onto the rear panel and the strap onto the flap.

I also sewed the buckle onto the front panel. I also adjusted the front top opening on the front panel

I then decided to use a thinner leather for the body of the pouch and cut out a new strip.

I also reviewed the decoration of the flap and, after due consideration, decided to only sew on the Papal badge.

I then sewed the strip to the front panel

You will note that I cut the strip longer than my initial measurements ( just in case).

Until next time

Adieu

Leaning Judge 8

 Geetings

Here is the final variant of this work.

Until next time

Adieu

Belt pouch 1

 Greetings

Many years ago I bought a replica metal belt pouch hanger and buckle at a trader's stall at Herstmonceux Medieval Festival.

My leatherworking skills were in their infancy and I made a belt pouch from quite thin black leather. 

At first this worked alright and I added an enamelled Yorkist rose  to the flap. I later found a  Papal badge and added this above the rose.

As the years went by the thin leather began to stretch and sag. I added internal stiffening pieces, but (as you can see this still didn't work very well.

I decided to remake the whole thing and bought some thicker black leather at a re-enactor's market.

I took lots of measurements from the existing pouch and made a rough pattern from newspaper.

First I cut out the rear panel ,which included the bar attachment and front flap. 

After getting some ideas from the leatherworker on the BBC programme ,The Repair Shop, Teddy had bought me some more leather working tools. 

I used the shaver tool to thin down the leather where it had to go round the bar for the hanger.

\

Next I cut out the front flap and a strip of the same leather to join the two together and make the body of the pouch

Then I cut a strap with a slot for the buckle. I shaved the back of the slotted area and part of the rest of the strap to make the closure and sewing it to the front flap easier.

The cats are calling for their supper, so I will post more on this later.

Until next time

Adieu