[Scriptoris] Some SECRETS for Original Charter designing

[Elaine]

Having designed several charters and scrolls and holding an Iris,   
may I offer a prime suggestion for beginning designers?

Leave some space around your art work so it can visually "breathe."  
Things look more important when there is an adequate margin between  
the artwork and the inside of the framer's mat. Don't be stingy.  
(Remember: "Money buys space. The more money spent, the more space  
flaunted."--Elaine Crittenden)

If you have made the design, and it looks crowded, go to a copy store  
and copy the original at sequentially smaller percentages until you  
find one that "works".

Take the copy home, put it face down on your light table, tape it to  
your sliding glass patio door, or place it on a glass-top table  
Position the "good" paper on it so you will be tracing it on the  
wrong  side of the "good" papter, and lightly  (no incised lines  
showing on the good side) trace the reverse of the copy on the back  
of the "good copy" paper.

Looks like this from the side:

back of the good paper-- trace lines
front of the good paper-- left temporarily blank
back of the copied design paper--blank side
front of the copied design-- inked by copy machine
glass
light source

Make the tracing dark enough that it will show through for you when  
you turn it over on the glass to do the "real stuff" on the good  
side, the blank one (the xeroxed one having been put in a "save  
file"). That way, the tracelines won't show on the front, and they  
will be easier to erase off the back. No chance of the erasing's  
smearing the finished art  work.

It's a sneaky way of doing it, but unless it's for a hard-nosed,  
documented competition, no one cares about how you do things; they  
just  remember how well you do things. You want the recipient to be  
proud of your work and to give you lasting word-fame (if nothing else  
in gratitude!).
; - )

YIS,
HL Lete Bithespring

Maxims:
"Old calligraphers never die, they just lose the point."---- Elaine  
Crittenden
"Excellent artists are never offended, because they know how to just  
brush things off." ---- Elaine Crittenden
; - )






On Nov 7, 2011, at 9:38 AM, Star Signet wrote:

> I wanted to share some answers to well-asked questions regarding  
> the Talon
> Charter competition.
>
> *Documentation* -  Documentation is not required. However, it would be
> lovely for you to cite the piece or pieces that inspired you on an  
> index
> card or bring color copies with your submission.  Information about  
> the
> concept and colors to use, etc are placed at the bottom of the scroll.
>
> *Scroll Specifics *
> 1.  Finished Scroll Size is 9x12.  This means the design and  
> calligraphy
> must stay within those parameters.  Think of it as a finished size  
> to be
> matted/framed.
>
> 2.  Paper - please either something with body or, if you need/require
> lines, a graph paper, as it will copy without the lines.  Keep in  
> mind that
> copies need to made of your design.   Also, make the paper larger than
> the required 9x12.  As mentioned above, information is added to the  
> bottom,
> below the design.
>
> 3.  Please ink the finished design with water resistant ink.  Keep  
> in mind
> the width of lines/design elements that may not copy well (see  
> notes below).
>
> If you wish to present a completed scroll as well as the inked  
> design, feel
> free.  If you have a specific idea on the colors to use, remember  
> to put
> those notes at the bottom of the scroll.
>
> 4. Calligraphy - For those of you who do both calligraphy and  
> painting, I
> recommend using a hand that is "period" to the design concept.   
> Meaning, if
> your design concept came from the 1450's, use a hand that is from  
> that era
> as well.
>
> Again, if you do not do Calligraphy or design, find someone to work  
> with
> you!
>
> 5.  Text - I know this was sent out but for those who need it  
> again, here
> is the text for the scroll:
>
> Know ye that we ______ King and Queen of Ansteorra in consideration of
> prowess in the field of _____ do by this our Charter award unto  
> ______ the
> Award of the Sable Talon of Ansteorra with all  responsibilities and
> privileges thereto appertaining. This is so done and given in our  
> ________
> on the ______ day of ______ Anno Societatis ______ being Anno Domini
>
> For those of you who are new to designing scrolls, please make sure to
> leave the blanks which are underlines in the above text.  Remember,  
> some
> have names that are quite... lengthy.  So keep this in mind as you  
> design
> your scroll.
>
> *Comments for new Charter Designers*:
> For anyone who is new to creating an original design, here is my crash
> course of things to keep in mind.  As the saying goes, there are  
> more than
> one way to skin a cat.  So, my way isn't the right way, 'tis simply  
> things
> I learned along the way.
>
> A.  Draw out a 9x12 box first.  Use this as your basis for your design
> and calligraphy.
>
> B.  Depending on your design idea, it may be smarter to lay out
> the calligraphy area first before planning the design.  This way  
> you do not
> make the text too small.  And you want to make sure to leave the  
> blanks
> large enough to accommodate the text of months, names, etc.
>
> Do not forget to put  REX  and REGINA at the bottom of award text  
> and make
> sure to leave the Crown room to sign.
>
> C.  Use pencil first!   Once you are satisfied with the design size,
> details, etc, then ink the design onto
> your finished paper.
>
> D.  Keep in mind that some details will not copy well.  If the  
> detail is
> too small, it won't copy as well and may be hard for the average  
> Charter
> Scribe to paint.  I would suggest you make one copy at your pencil  
> stage
> and see how hard some of your details are to copy.
>
> Always feel free to contact me with questions or, if you would  
> like, send
> me your design concept.
>
> I look forward to seeing everyone's scrolls!
>
> -- 
> In Service to the Dream,
>
> Lady Viviana Rowntree
> Star Signet Herald
> http://scribe.ansteorra.org
> _______________________________________________
> Scriptoris mailing list
> Scriptoris at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/scriptoris-ansteorra.org