Quite some time ago, I was approached by one of Count Semjaka's squires- to create a long overdue backlog scroll for the 20th anniversary of the man's knighting.
It was a hefty project- goatskin parchment, 22k gold leaf, period pigments...the works. Now I didn't use all period pigments, because I don't have all the appropriate colors- but I found my gouache worked quite nicely in the spots where period wouldn't cut it.
Inspiration: Codex Gelnhausen
So I started with the layout, and I couldn't help but sketch the initial S. I practiced my text a few times to make sure it would fit in the space. I didn't have to edit much to make it fit.
Then sketching the floral bits in, so that my layout made sense.
Guilding, Guilding and More guilding...
I taped it down to an extra shelf that came with one of our Ikea cabinets, to keep the parchment from buckling once I started laying paint. This is the basecoat- OMG this is ugly as sin stage of the scroll. I always am like 'why am I doing this crap' when a scroll is in this stage.
The Final Product:
And detail shots:
Hidden (or not) within: Portrait of Tangwystl d'Courci, 1 Rose, 2 Hounds, 4 squire belts, many golden chains, and a lotus flower.
The scroll reads: Sing praise and let it be known throughout the vastness of the realm that we Reynard King of the Middle Kingdom, and Brynhildr our queen are well aware of the courtesy, chivalry, and skill both on and off the field of battle, of our friend Vaclav Semjaka. Henceforth he shall be in all places known as a member of the order of Chivalry. By this oath: "I here swear fealty and do homage to the Crown of the Middle Kingdom: To ever be a good knight and true, Reverent and generous,Shield of the weak, Obedient to my liege-lord,Foremost in battle,Courteous at all times,Champion of the right and the good." By this troth do we sign this 19th day of November AS 23.
