Has Anyone Heard Of Henry Simpole?

[Carrie]

I'm thinking that at some point I'm going to have to do some drastic saving because I've got a commission piece idea in my head that I just can't shake. I'm still thinking something Anglo-saxon inspired. As in a zoomorpic interlace design, would be great done with birds. Maybe I'm thinking too complicated, I haven't a clue what's practical.

 

The great buckle from the Sutton Hoo site.

http://www.suttonhoo.org/images/tour/mound1/gold_buckle.jpg

Detail of the zoomorphic serpents.

http://www.suttonhoo.org/images/tour/mound1/gold_buckle_detail.jpg

 

For birds, I do like these two from the book of Kells.

 

http://www.art-imagery.com/images/kells_124v2_bird.jpg

 

http://www.art-imagery.com/images/kells_186r1_peacock.jpg

 

Lindisfarne gospels for very intricate zoomorphic bird patterns. Carpet page for the gospel of John and the opening page for Luke, along with the carpet page with birds at each corner.

 

I seriously can't get this idea out of my head, so finally decided that I needed to make a proper enquiry about it. Wonder if I'll be terrifying Henry when he reads that e-mail, no, no, far too complex, are you completely crazy, woman :roflmho:

 

 

 

[Ghost Plane]

That's how I started...

[Miranda]

Anglo-saxon inspired

 

Hi Carrie. Actually, it's Celtic--Irish, Scottish, Scandinavian and Iceland, i think.

 

I've been learning how to do this from a teach-yourself book.

The knots are broken down into a series of join-the-dots stages and once you understand that, making these complex designs becomes manageable Of course, I've a long way to go before mine lose the wobbly bits and the inevitable errors. But, let me tell you, it is a fantastic way of using lots of different pens and lots of inks that isn't just doodling or repetitively writing the pen and ink down.

 

Aiden Meehan is the expert. I have The Celtic Design Book, which includes illustrated decorative animals, knots, and a beginners section on mastering the techniques [haven't worked all the way through this]. I am working through Celtic Knots: Mastering the Traditional Patterns, A step-by-step guide, which gives a twenty week course. Just through to chapter two but am now confident that I really understand why I am joining what dots.

 

Dover publications are another great source:  they have a number of royalty free celtic design books with cds.

 

Hope this helps

Edited February 12, 2010 by Miranda

[Truffle Finder]

I was in Henry's workshop yesterday evening, and he was telling me about Carrie's idea for a Celtic pattern design, he is very enthusiastic to start.

He also asked me if I knew what had happened to George, does anyone know? Perhaps George might be able to enlighten us!

Truffle Finder.

[Ghost Plane]

Real life has a way of reaching up and smacking some of us. I'm assuming George is dealing with reality until I hear otherwise.

[Miranda]

I was in Henry's workshop yesterday evening, and he was telling me about Carrie's idea for a Celtic pattern design, he is very enthusiastic to start.

 

Truffle Finder.

 

Carrie wrote: I'm still thinking something Anglo-saxon inspired. And she knows what she is talking about. I, on the other hand, had failed to understand the rich design tradition of the Anglo-Saxons and just assumed it was Celtic. Blame my Irish and Scottish ancestry! So, please, everyone, it's an Anglo-Saxon design. And my many apologies for an incorrect correction.

 

 

On the other hand, I still maintain that drawing Celtic knots is a great way to use pens and ink. As would drawing Anglo-Saxon ones. Any books / websites out there?

[Ghost Plane]

Answer is about 4 posts above

[Miranda]

Any books / websites out there?

Answer is about 4 posts above

I meant books like 'Anglo-Saxon Design for Dummies', or How to have a flat belly and draw Anglo-Saxon Designs, 500 Low-Carb Anglo-Saxon recipes, Men are from Venus, Women are from Mars and Anglo-Saxon Designs are from England.

[Ghost Plane]

Ooooooooh. Dunno. My family was too busy trying to keep those pesky Anglo flatlanders out of our highlands.

[Truffle Finder]

Just thought I would keep you all up to date with what's going on back at Henry's workshop, he is going to start work on a Celtic/Anglo-Saxon [How to keep a Flat Belly!!!] Sutton Hoo Buckle design pen, which will be about the same size as the Myrtle, he is proposing that It could be a limited edition of about 20 or so. He is obviously quite inspired at the idea, and has started some drawings already, although it might be a little while before the finished article becomes available as he has got a waiting list which seems to be getting longer as time goes on! We will have to wait and see.

Truffle Finder.

P.S.Hasn't Neal Laver got some pictures to 'Post' on here?

[reprieve]

I'm glad to hear Henry is inspired! I love the photos Carrie posted, so I'm very curious to see what Henry will come up with.

[Carrie]

...he is going to start work on a Celtic/Anglo-Saxon [How to keep a Flat Belly!!!] Sutton Hoo Buckle design pen, which will be about the same size as the Myrtle, he is proposing that It could be a limited edition of about 20 or so. He is obviously quite inspired at the idea, and has started some drawings already...

 

Am I allowed to get excited already What have I started here :roflmho: Okay, I don't care whether or not I'm allowed to get excited, I am excited about this. Just bought the booklet about the Staffordshire Hoard as well. If you haven't heard about that hoard then please pop over to http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/ there's hundreds of images available on there. Who knows, it might provide even more inspiration.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3930953675_2dba352106.jpg

 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2010 by Carrie

[Ghost Plane]

Like the pattern on that triangular piece in the top left of the picture.

 

I was all excited until I heard the Myrtle size. You know me and my bias for bigger pens. :embarrassed_smile:

[Chris Chalmers]

But..........Ghost Plane - every girl has to have a little pen to carry with her for emergencies don't you think?

 

My Acanthus Leaf Parker that Henry made for Battersea Pen Home would come into that category - and even though I have large hands I love writing with it.

[reprieve]

I'm hoping it will have a screw cap. I love my Myrtle--it's a great, portable size, beautiful, and writes wonderfully--but the slip cap requires some force to pull on and off. There is a bit of a vacuum that makes it more difficult than usual, and less practical for quick notes. That is the only negative thing about the Myrtle, in my opinion.

[Chris Chalmers]

Does your Myrtle cap have little air holes? I have one pen with a pull off cap and if my finger inadvertantly covers the air hole I get a 'burp' of ink for my trouble.

[reprieve]

Does your Myrtle cap have little air holes? I have one pen with a pull off cap and if my finger inadvertantly covers the air hole I get a 'burp' of ink for my trouble.

 

Chris, the Myrtle does have a vent hole. I have experienced the burp of ink once or twice, but have since been careful not to cover the hole.

[Carrie]

I just had a surprise. At home I'm normally using Opera as a browser and the main page of Henry's website features the Henry Simpole Pen. I've just been onto his site at work and was pleasantly surprised to find that image on the main page actually rolls over through a sequence of images. That bespoke Conklin definitely had me going wow, very interesting to see the design worked round the crescent filler.

[Truffle Finder]

You may be interested to know that he was commissioned by The Battersea Pen Home to do about 20 Conklin Crescent Fillers in silver, and very few in gold, but he ran out of the original 1920's pens to work with, then about a year ago someone asked him to do one for him, and so he did, then he kept an eye open at American Pen Shows to get a stock of them, and made some more. At present he has one more left, and the only difference is that the last ones have a solid silver locking-ring. He said that he loves the 'quirkyness' of the Crescent-fillers. They are lovely pens.

Truffle Finder.

[Ghost Plane]

What nib?