RUM Scroll Painting Guide

Scholar Level Graduation Scrolls

Bars & Ivy

This one is done in the style of ‘Bars and Ivy’, with Gothic Textura Quadrata calligraphy (13th, 14th, and 15th centuries). Typically this scroll should be red and blue, with white work on top. Alternate the red and blue areas, so that there is a balanced mix. A rectangle along the side, for example, would be blue, outlined in gold, and any vine springing from this rectangle would also be blue, with red leaves. Then the next rectangle would be the reverse: red, with blue leaves. Any thin outline around a box is meant to be gold. The capital letters should be some mix of red, blue, and gold. All the red and blue areas then receive white work on top of them. See the samples for pattern ideas; most of them are from the Gutenberg School of Scribes (check it out!).

Scholars Degree of Bars and Ivy in black and white

Celtic

This one is done in a Celtic style, with knotwork and zoological beasts, with Insular Majuscule calligraphy (6th to 9th centuries). You can paint this in the Book of Kells style, using mainly the Condiment Colors: orangey-red (ketchup), medium green (relish), and golden-yellow (mustard). The border lines can be gold, light cream, or left white. The blocks of space in the animals, around RUM, and in the capital letters should be alternating solid blocks of color (red, green, and yellow). This illumination is really more like the Lindisfarne Gospels, which has an expanded palette. Tone down the condiment colors and add light green, light blue, cream, dark bluish red, and gold. Do the outlines and knotwork in gold. For both Kells and Lindisfarne, fill in the white space around RUM, above the word ‘Throughout’ and above ‘Scholar’s Degree’ with red dots, using outlines and simple patterns. You can outline just about everything with the red dots if you like.

Vines

This one is a simple bit of vinework with flowers, using Gothic Littera Bastarda calligraphy with ornamental ascenders (13th century onward). You can be most free with your color choices on this one. Try a red-and-blue scheme, or green vines and leaves with white flowers, or deep green vines and autumn hued foliage. As you wish.


Scholar Level Graduation Scrolls
Bars & Ivy This one is done in the style of ‘Bars and Ivy’, with Gothic Textura Quadrata calligraphy (13th, 14th, and 15th centuries). Typically this scroll should be red and blue, with white work on top. Alternate the red and blue areas, so that there is a balanced mix. A rectangle along the side, for example, would be blue, outlined in gold, and any vine springing from this rectangle would also be blue, with red leaves. Then the next rectangle would be the reverse: red, with blue leaves. Any thin outline around a box is meant to be gold. The capital letters should be some mix of red, blue, and gold. All the red and blue areas then receive white work on top of them. See the samples for pattern ideas; most of them are from the Gutenberg School of Scribes (check it out!).

Celtic This one is done in a Celtic style, with knotwork and zoological beasts, with Insular Majuscule calligraphy (6th to 9th centuries). You can paint this in the Book of Kells style, using mainly the Condiment Colors: orangey-red (ketchup), medium green (relish), and golden-yellow (mustard). The border lines can be gold, light cream, or left white. The blocks of space in the animals, around RUM, and in the capital letters should be alternating solid blocks of color (red, green, and yellow). This illumination is really more like the Lindisfarne Gospels, which has an expanded palette. Tone down the condiment colors and add light green, light blue, cream, dark bluish red, and gold. Do the outlines and knotwork in gold. For both Kells and Lindisfarne, fill in the white space around RUM, above the word ‘Throughout’ and above ‘Scholar’s Degree’ with red dots, using outlines and simple patterns. You can outline just about everything with the red dots if you like.

Vines This one is a simple bit of vinework with flowers, using Gothic Littera Bastarda calligraphy with ornamental ascenders (13th century onward). You can be most free with your color choices on this one. Try a red-and-blue scheme, or green vines and leaves with white flowers, or deep green vines and autumn hued foliage. As you wish.