Russian fantasy peasant girl – Lada

Posted by on Oct 1, 2012 in Blog | No Comments
Russian fantasy peasant girl – Lada

A watercolour ACEO commission. Client: S.Wright

Lada is a blonde peasant girl who lives with her widowed grandmother. A bit of a dreamer, she’s courteous and helpful and believes the best in people.

And some sketches from the process

The Lucet

Posted by on Nov 19, 2011 in Blog | No Comments
The Lucet

A lucet is a two pronged tool used for making a square braid that is springy. I’ve seen various reports on when they were used, but most seem to agree that they were used during the Elizabethan period, and the versions with the slightly turned out prongs are considered to be Victorian. There’s also evidence ...

Medieval Sphinx – playing with gouache

Posted by on Nov 15, 2011 in Blog | No Comments
Medieval Sphinx – playing with gouache

This is a really quick and dirty painting , playing with some cheap gouache and watercolour paper I hate . I’ve only ever done little bits with gouache as I tend to play with watercolours or acrylics so this felt a little weird. A friend lent me a book on illuminations, it’s glorious http://www.amazon.com/Illuminating-Renaissance-Triumph-Manuscript-Painting/dp/0892367032 I took a ...

Medieval Female Character Concept

Posted by on Aug 8, 2011 in Blog | No Comments
Medieval Female Character Concept

Medieval Character concept. Takes the early period angel sleeve, back laced gown, with a sideless surcoat. Click on the images to see larger versions.      

New Art – Tayva Dragonrider, Stone singer & Ivan

Posted by on Aug 6, 2011 in Blog | No Comments
New Art –  Tayva Dragonrider, Stone singer & Ivan

New art for August:
Tayva, a dragonrider, armoured and holding a lance, Ivan – a Samurai inspired fantasy commission, Stone Singer – A fantasy piece featuring standing stones, a red haired lady in a beautiful red dress, and snowy landscape

SCA Me :) Anglo Saxon

Posted by on Jul 30, 2011 in Blog | No Comments
SCA Me :) Anglo Saxon

I’m involved in the SCA (a medieval recreation group that is diverse in its interests), and due to illness I haven’t been as involved as I’d like. So this weekend I went to a Newcomer’s event – a really laid back event which introduces new members to the craziness! I’ve changed sizes so none of my old garb fits properly. I made a new chemise (the white t-tunic) and pulled out some old fabric (not period -some synthetic mix, the colour may have been possible with woad) and made a peplos (a Roman piece of garb that carried over to early Anglo Saxon) which is possibly sewn up the side to under the arms and pinned at the shoulders. I’ve got basic circle brooches(below), which are utilitarian, but are probably the safety pins of that era rather than the real pretty ones you want to wear. A rope of glass beads hangs between the pins.