recent_crolls

Calligraphy and Illumination by Jehanne Bening

This page shows some of my recent calligraphy and illumination scrolls. Click on the small thumbnail image to view the whole work.

This Italian Renaissance-style scroll was done for Mistress Luciana, who did not receive one when she received the honor many years ago. I painted it on a piece of 12" x 16" vellum and also used 23 K gold leaf. By clicking on the link you can see my mock-up, its outlines, and the underpainting. Don't forget, you can click on any thumbnail image to see the completed work.

I created this scroll on vellum, an animal hide product, using gouache paints and 23 K gold leaf. Honorable Lady Nicolete received the Pelican, the highest sevice award in the SCA. You may see a closer view of the upper half of this scroll by clicking here.

This Russian-style scroll, though simple in appearance, included my first attempt at letters.These read in English but give the appearance of 12th century Russian letters. I worked this scroll on Pergamenata, a vellum-appearing ground, and used PearlEx mica gold powder in a binder of gum arabic. You may see a closer view of the upper half of this scroll by clicking here.

This illumination was painted on deerskin parchment recreating a 15th century Flemish picture of Souls' Assending to Heaven. I entered this in a competition July 14, 2007. The picture is about 5 x 7 inches. I also used 23K gold leaf, shell gold, and gouache paints. You can find a paper describing my method of illumination by clicking here.

For this Lilies War (combat among friends), I was asked to create another scroll for Mistress Lynette, a Court Barony June of 2007. Because of the limited lead-time I did the illumination first, planing ahead for the arrival of the text Even though I did not have the text until a week before I left for the event, the words fit nicely into the 12x16" scroll. You may view a close-up of its supper left miniature by clicking here.

This scroll was given to the winner of a special archery champion competition held in the Barony of Lonely Tower (Omaha, NE) May of 2007. To gather inspiration, I inserted the word "arrow" into the search square of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek website and found this illumination in a 14th century manuscript (The Hague, MMW, 10B23) .You may view a close-up of the archer on my scroll by clicking here.

I painted this scroll for Mistress Lynette DaveJean when she was admitted into the Order of the Pelican , June 15, 2006. The arrow refers to the valuable service she has given to archery, and yellow roses are her favorite. I painted this on Pergamenata (synthetic parchment) with gouache paints. The gold is PearlEx brilliant gold powder mixed in a gum arabic binder.

Countess Ariel received this scroll for her duchy, March 25, 2006. She wanted cats, so they even support her armorial device. This scroll is laid out in the style of an historic grant (except for all the cats) to go with the text style I was given. I painted the herald in the capital letter 'T' to look like Master Mikail, who announced the award when it was given. I worked this on Pergamenata, with gouache, and PearlEx brilliant gold and ink.

After Aron Helmschmidt was made a Huscarl January 21, 2006, I painted his scroll. You can sure tell the difference in the gold I used compared to the small picture above. The gold surrounding this letter 'T' does not shine. Experimenting with various materials and techniques, both medieval and modern is part of the fun.

I love pictures from the Manesse Codex. because of their heraldic display. I adapted this page for the Capstone award Mathieu Chartrain received in Lonely Tower January 10, 2004. It includes Mathieu's colors on the horse and Baroness Onora's device in the tree. The falcon refers to the Kingdom of Calontir, the snow goose is Lonely Tower's totem animal and the peacock is Baroness Onora's favorite.

The arrow and the quill on this scroll visually jump off the Bristol board page. This style of painting is called Trompe l'oile. I painted this for Rolf Hobart who also does calligraphy and illumination along with being an excellent archer. He was given this scroll when he was awarded Lonely Tower's Capstone, January 10, 2004.

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Last revised October 31, 2009