Order of Brigit’s Flame for Rachell Baker

Award: Order of Brigit’s Flame for Rachell Baker
Date: February 24, 2018 (AS LII) at Lupercalia
Paper: 8″x10″ Bristol
Illumination: Gouache, Finetec gold, Micron pen
Calligraphy: Noodler’s Borealis Black, 1mm Brause nib
Inspiration: Bedford Psalter and Hours f.161v

Of her excellence in the arts of embroidery and costuming, and of her efforts in broadening the knowledge of our populace thereof, have we, Kaydian and Cassandra, King and Queen of Northshield, heard much, and thus are we minded to induct Rachell Baker this day, the 24th of February AS 52, into our Order of the Brigit’s Flame.

I had this sketched up on Bristol waiting for an assignment, and this was the perfect chance to use it.  I tend to work on pergamenata more often nowadays, but Bristol is still perfectly fine.  The original pages were a different dimension and a bit bigger, so the proportions don’t match exactly, but I’m overall happy with it.

Painting whitework continues to be a learning process.  So much depends on the consistency of the paint, which seems to change constantly as I paint, so I’m continually having to get it back to the perfect whitework thin-but-not-too-thin.

I still use a Micron pen for illumination outlines.  For this one, I tried a new way: pencil outlines, paint flat colors and shading, outline, whitework.  I was happy with how it came out.   Normally I outline in pen and erase all the pencil before I paint, but this works too.  I want to experiment in the future with using a dip pen for outlines both under and over the paint.

And I really need to build calligraphy practice into my routine.  It’s better than it was, but not as even as I’d like.  I also need to get some nibs of different sizes to play around with.  I use a 1.0mm Brause nib for everything, but I suspect branching out will help me match the proportions of the exemplars more closely.