Award: Award of the Baton Gules for Jimena Taionez Date: Ethereal Warriors and Warlords Court Paper: 5×7″ on pergamenata Illumination: Gouache, Colira Arabic gold, iron gall ink Calligraphy: Iron gall ink, 1 mm nib, Ames 8 even spaced Inspiration: MS M.854 fol. 123r
Service is the foundation upon which our society is built. For her joyful service to the Barony of Nordskogen do we, Gabriel and Caoilfhionn, Baron and Baroness, bestow upon Jimena Taionez this day, the 11th of July, AS LV, this Award of the Baton Gules.
Award: Award of the Azure Gauntlet for Madoc ap Jones Date: May 30th, AS LV Paper: 5×7″ on pergamenata Illumination: Gouache and period pigments, Colira Arabic gold, iron gall ink Calligraphy: Iron gall ink, 1 mm nib, Ames 8 even spaced Inspiration: W.90, Book of Hours – f.25r
Words by Their Excellencies Gabriel and Caoilfhionn:
While known for the art of cooking and service rendered, so too is Madoc ap Jones known for his skill and service in the art of archery. His passion and skill do greatly enrich our Barony. For this we, Gabriel and Caoilfhionn, bestow unto him the Award of the Azure Gauntlet. Done May 30th AS LV.
Award: Award of the Heliotrope for Wolfstanus Lightfote Date: May 30th, AS LV Paper: 5×7″ on pergamenata Illumination: Gouache, iron gall ink Calligraphy: Iron gall ink, 1 mm nib, Ames 8 even spaced Inspiration: The Arnstein Bible f.211r
Words by Their Excellencies Caoilfhionn and Gabriel:
A wall there might seem between art and service, but those who pursue both know it to be a dance. It pleases us to hear that Wolfstanus Lightfote excels not only in this art, learning and teaching, but also in embroidery, knitting, weaving, and more. In recognition of his skill, we, Caoilfhionn and Gabriel, bestow unto him the Award of the Heliotrope. Done the 30th of May, AS LV.
Under the eye of the Griffin, we, Vladimir and Petranella, August King and Stellar Queen of Northshield, to their well beloved Yngvar, Knight of the Society, health and sincere affection. Because we have very frequently realized your faithfulness, proven in many trials, to us and our kingdom, we do not doubt that you will rejoice greatly to know that we, your successors, out of reverence for our people, and all our ancestors and heirs, for the honor of the Griffin realm, on the advice of our venerable and well-aged peers, confirm and establish the following: we do by this present charter confirm that those who have completed two reigns on the stellar thrones, shall have the right to bear the title of Duke, to be acknowledged as Your Grace, and bear strawberry leaves upon a coronet of gold, to remind all of the prosperity and fruit you have borne to this, our most honorable and stellar kingdom.
In exchange for this title, you swear to uphold the laws and traditions of the realm which you have twice protected as king. Thus we do hereby establish and confirm your estate of a duchy with this patent of arms, and confirm these truths for ever. Given by our hands in Nordskogen on the eighth day of September, AS LIII, in the first hour of our reign.
Award: Order of the Hand of Tyr for Caecilia di Tre Rosa Date: Ethereal Mimisbrunnr Court Paper: 8×10″ on pergamenata Illumination: Gouache and period pigments, Colira Arabic gold, iron gall ink Calligraphy: Iron gall ink, 1 mm nib, Ames 8 even spaced Inspiration: BNF Latin 757 f.36v
Proclaim unto all assembled these words of Ri Ciaran and Banrion Elis. Northshield is much enriched by the extensive service of Caecilia di Tre Rosa – in the holding of offices, in the teaching of her arts, and in the provision of land for the storage of our kingdom’s beloved Griffin Stone. For these acts, among others, do we induct her this day, the 27th of June AS LV, into our Order of the Hand of Tyr. Presented at our Ethereal Court on the Feast day of Mimisbrunnr.
Award: Award of the Cygnus for Frug Marchand Date: Ethereal Border Skirmish Court Paper: 5×7″ on pergamenata Illumination: Gouache and period pigments, Colira Arabic gold, iron gall ink Calligraphy: Iron gall ink, .75mm nib, Ames 8 even spaced Inspiration:Hours of Elizabeth the Queen f.89v
On account of his indispensable and substantial assistance to his Shire of Mare Amethystinum in the matters of Exchequery do we, Ri Ciaran and Banrion Elis, bestow unto Frug Marchand this Award of the Cygnus. Done at our Ethereal Court on this feast day of Border Skirmish, June 13 AS LV.
This scroll was done on 5×7″ pergamenata, based on the Hasting Hours, one of my new absolute favorites. The illumination is just so delicate and varied. I pulled the border and central illustration from one page, the layout from another, and the A from another. I didn’t take a ton of in-progress pictures, so here’s what I have!
I draw the border in with a T-square and pencil, and the calligraphy guidelines with an Ames guide.
Filling in a more detailed sketch. Everything starts our as simple shapes (the flowers all start as simple ovals/circles), and then I add detail once everything is in the right place.
Calligraphy added. Filling in more details of the drawing (heraldry, leaves on the flowers).
Starting the background with a light wash of ultramarine mixed with cobalt blue.
Adding shadows, which are just the same color as the wash, but more concentrated.
Adding yellow ochre for the border and the initial washes for the flowers, plus the capital A with whitework.
Added shading in burnt umber for the flower leaves. For the central illustration, I generally try to work from back to front (so first the sky, then the walls and grass, then the tent, and so on). The painting process is very similar to watercolor. First a light wash of the lightest color, then gradually deepening to the darkest color.
And here I stopped taking pictures of my progress, because I was working to a deadline. Here’s the finished scroll. I decided to go back and add trees behind the flags. This was a super fun and challenging scroll to do! I learned a ton and look forward to doing more of this style.
Cecily of York Medieval Illumination 
