Learning Scrollwork

[ASCIIaardvark]

I'm trying to teach myself scrollwork. For only a few days practice, it looks pretty cool already... at least when I sit back and squint at it - so continuing learning feels easy right now

 

 

I'm definitely open to constructive criticism.

My shading in this one is super inconsistent and the leaves' sizes and shapes are pretty inconsistent too, some don't even look like leaves.

 

[femamerica13]

That looks so good, by the way what is scrollwork?

[ASCIIaardvark]

Oh! Scrollwork is a style of decoration that fills a space -- usually lots of spirals and leaf shapes.

I wanted to use it for illuminated manuscripts, but it's more often used in engraving now... and now that I've started drawing it, I'm seeing it everywhere -- wood trim on houses, decorative iron on gates/fences/poles, etc.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scroll_(art)

[ASCIIaardvark]

It's a circle in a pentagon in a circle

I think the larger-proportion spirals look a little out-of-place, and the outer circle muddies the edges of the pentagon; maybe if I used different colors next time...

 

[ASCIIaardvark]

Fun with a couple of my most extreme nibs:

• Text done with Zebra G nib in FlexibleNibFactory unit in Addative Pens helix, Noodler's Dragon's Napalm
• Scroll done with Duke 551 fude nib in Gama Supreme, Noodler's Burma Road Brown

Still trying to figure out shading on the leaves. I kinda like how you can see the fude's strokes in the fill, and especially like the "negative space" reversal where my handwriting practice shows on the leaves instead of the background.

[txomsy]

Nice, I'll have to try that myself, looks entertaining, interesting, relaxing and gorgeous!

[amberleadavis]

Looks awesome!

[ASCIIaardvark]

 

On 5/7/2021 at 2:19 PM, txomsy said:

Nice, I'll have to try that myself, looks entertaining, interesting, relaxing and gorgeous!

 

Thanks! I'm studying from "Drawing and Understanding Scroll Design for Artists, Engravers and Collectors" -- it's a rather short book... But as I practice at each step, when I read the next section I often say "yes, I did notice that! glad you have a solution in this chapter"

 

Modern & Vintage in harmony:

 

Platinum 3776 UEF

Waterman 452

Noodler's Black

[ASCIIaardvark]

Happy Mother's Day!

 

I do cover-pages for the months in my diary & just finished May last night -- which is early for me

I borrowed the habit-tracker calendar from bullet-journaling, and have been really liking it.

 

Scrollwork was
* Noodler's Apache Sunset in Waterman 55
* Noodler's Baystate Concord Grape in ASA Spear with fpnibs.com 14k eef semi-flex -- IDK why that looks so blue in the photo
* Nooderl's Black in Waterman 452

 

[ASCIIaardvark]

Oh wow, tried my fude nibs and really love them for this -- the EF for shading, the BB for filling color... may need to ink up a few more fude pens XD

 

 

[ASCIIaardvark]

More fun with fude :3

Used a golden-ratio caliper to set the compass radius.

Speaking of -- anyone see the EOMI device? It's a compass + ruler + protractor + golden-ratio-caliper in one swiss-army pocket-tool. I want one!

 

[ASCIIaardvark]

Another take on the pentagram... I guess I like nesting shapes.

 

[ASCIIaardvark]

Tried making a rainbow, but my "indigo" (Organic Studio Nitrogen) looks almost black on this paper and I have 3 shades of violet.

 

 

Waterman Red / Gama Sneaky

Noodler's Apache Sunset / Waterman 55

Platinum Citrus Black / Pilot 823

Monteverde Green / Pelikan m1000

Iroshizuku asa-gao / Stipula Suprema Voyeur

Organic Studio Nitrogen / Gama Sneaky

Organic Studio Vandium / Pilot 74

Rohrer & Klingner Solferino / Narwhal

Noodler's Baystate Grape / ASA Sniper

center is Noodler's Black / Waterman 452 (not shown)

[ASCIIaardvark]

scrollwork for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA)

 

I've always thought Pittsburgh's flag was sub-par, with the over-complicated coat of arms and the castle that is specifically NOT Fort Pitt. They did at least get the colors right.

 

So I made some Pittsburgh-themed art that tried to be more evocative of the city.

 

The keystone shape is a Pennsylvania icon. The 3 hypocycloids were from the steel industry, then the Steelers football team. The rivers & bridges are pretty central to the city's identity. And I re-used the checkerboard 'cause it reminded me of Bavaria and it doesn't add any extra colors to the piece.

 

ran out of red ink & diluted with water, which caused this mess

 

 

here's the first version I did:

 

* Waterman 452, Nooderl's Black

* Gama Sneaky with fpnibs.com 14k semi-flex XXF, Waterman Red

* Pilot 823 F flex added by nibs.com, Platinum Citrus Black

* Stipula Suprema Voyeur M 14k flex, Iroshizuku asa-gao