Scriptorium - The Constant Scribe

Tuesday

05Jan2010

WIP: Trial Layout

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 3:19PM

Walnut ink

Here's a piece I'm working on. This is the first layout. I thought it might be fun to post up images as I go through the process. There are a few things I know I am going to stick with--the focus words will be 'BE' and 'A GOOD MAN.' I like the way it forms a sentence that summarizes the idea in the quote. I'm also going to stick with the signature--I researched his signature and 'copied' it.

Eventually, it will be finished in gouache, and I'll be adding some color. I've thought about changing the hand. I've thought about switching from a formal arrangement to an informal one. I've thought about doing an illuminated letter. I've thought about adding a vine border. I'm still thinking.

I'm walking away from it now and I'll look at it again tomorrow. Have an opinion or suggestion? Leave it in the comments!

Kim |

12 Comments |

Commissioned work,

Creative Every Day,

WIP

Sunday

03Jan2010

winter blues

Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 7:35AM

Hastily lettered over random test sheets of watercolor.

Kim |

1 Comment |

Creative Every Day,

just for fun

Friday

25Dec2009

Playing with Zigs

Friday, December 25, 2009 at 8:13PM

My son's bedroom is right below my studio and when he's home, I can hear his music drifting up. He's been listening to the Beatles today. . .

Kim |

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Sunday

20Dec2009

Carolingian miniscule--practice

Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7:48PM

Update on Friday, December 25, 2009 at 6:11PM by

Kim

I had a some time today so I thought I'd see if I could fix the spelling error in the word 'calendar.' With a little fooling around, I was able to replace the 'e' with an 'a' but the overall result was less than pleasing. There's quite a bit of pixellating and distortion, but I learned a few things--next time I want to fix an image I'll go back to the original scan.

Kim |

4 Comments |

Creative Every Day,

practice

Sunday

20Dec2009

Family Christmas Card 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 8:37AM

Card front: Hand painted using Derwent water color pencils, embellished with silver pen

Inside card

(First stanza of the Christmas hymn "As with Gladness Men of Old" by William C. Dix, 1851

Kim |

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Christmas

Sunday

20Dec2009

Creative Every Day Challenge 2010

Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7:58AM

What a great Challenge! I'm looking forward to a year of creativity and inspiration.

Here are a few details about this wonderful challenge:

Creativity is meant in the broadest sense, so it doesn't have to be something art related. Your creative acts could be in cooking, taking pictures, knitting, doodling, writing, dancing, decorating, singing, playing with your kids, brainstorming ideas, gardening, or making art in the form of collage, paint, or clay...or whatever!

You do not have to post every day! I know for myself that having to post every day for a year would be too much. You can post about your creativity in whatever form you like, whether that be once a day, a few times a week, once a week, or once a month. Do what works for you!

This is a low pressure challenge, with the idea of bringing more creativity into our lives. I will not be the creativity police. I hope that we can all find ways, simple and grand to express our creative selves. Have fun with it!

Kim |

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creativity,

just for fun,

self expression

Tuesday

15Dec2009

Christmas Card 2009

Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 8:58PM

7 x 3 1/2 inches

Embossed, Deckle Edge

Gothicized Italic

Gouache

Winsor and Newton, Mistletoe Green, Alizarin Red, Gold

Kim |

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Christmas

Monday

14Dec2009

Whew!

Monday, December 14, 2009 at 10:28PM

My goal was to get all the Christmas orders done and in the mail no later than December 15th. I finished up the last two that need to be sent through the mail today, so I hit my target. Now I can buckle down and finish my own Christmas projects and if I'm lucky, I'll be able to design our Christmas cards and get them in the mail by Friday. That's a tall order, but I'll give it a go!

Kim |

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Christmas,

Commissioned work

Tuesday

08Dec2009

Wow! Christmas came early!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 1:05PM

My neighbors, Michael and Sharon, are both wonderful, accomplished artists. Their medium of choice is oils but they are trained in all mediums and are a wealth of information; being entirely self-taught, if I've got a question or a problem, I've got a great resource right next door.

I was talking to Sharon about mixing colors and clean up of nibs and brushes--basically picking her brain. Long story short: About 10 minutes after I hung up the phone, here comes Michael to the back door with an armful of art supplies--a HUGE assortment of watercolors, gouache, brushes, and Derwent pencils. He even brought over a watercolor palette the likes of which I have never seen and his favorite water color mixing tool--an old porcelain meat tray.