CHRISTMAS CARDS
Medieval-inspired and sold as fold-over cards in packs of 5 or 10, these cards measure 18 x 11.5cm and the inside is left blank for your own personal message. In a pack of 10, at £7.95 these original cards cost less than 80p each!
TO ORDER, please EMAIL ME.
Original artwork: ink on A3 card.
TO ORDER, please EMAIL ME.
Original artwork: ink on A3 card.
CHRISTMAS TREE SCROLLS (12 per box)
Note that the frames in the first picture are not included.
As an alternative to Christmas crackers, the (mini) scrolls have a very Victorian appeal, and provide that extra touch of class whilst being different but traditional. They can be used INSTEAD of crackers, INSIDE your home-made Christmas crackers, OR just hung in the tree to be opened at any time.
Each white Christmas gift box (see picture) measures only 15.3 x 11 x 5cm and contains 12 different A5 size scrolls with colour coded ribbon - four of each of the following categories:
If the scrolls are treated with care they can be re-used next year or passed on to friends or family.
And at less than 75p per scroll (price per box = £8.95) they make a great Christmas present for anyone !!
>>> TO ORDER, please EMAIL ME. <<<
As an alternative to Christmas crackers, the (mini) scrolls have a very Victorian appeal, and provide that extra touch of class whilst being different but traditional. They can be used INSTEAD of crackers, INSIDE your home-made Christmas crackers, OR just hung in the tree to be opened at any time.
Each white Christmas gift box (see picture) measures only 15.3 x 11 x 5cm and contains 12 different A5 size scrolls with colour coded ribbon - four of each of the following categories:
- Christmas Wishes (RED ribbon, 4 scrolls)
- Christmas Quotes (GREEN ribbon, 4 scrolls)
- Christmas Jokes (BLUE ribbon, 4 scrolls)
If the scrolls are treated with care they can be re-used next year or passed on to friends or family.
And at less than 75p per scroll (price per box = £8.95) they make a great Christmas present for anyone !!
>>> TO ORDER, please EMAIL ME. <<<
See below for some further samples of my work (most recent at the top)
Therefore O students |
A quote from Leonardo da Vinci, and a commission for another 30th birthday. The recipient is a mathematician, so again this is a perfectly tailored quote. To help support the mathematical theme of the quote, I proposed to use (a modified version of) the Gothic script, which is more constrained, uses fewer building blocks, and is repeated almost in a regimental fashion. In addition, examples of mathematical rules have been inserted in a lighter colour, and decorated with a repetitive pattern of flourishes. Versal: Lombardic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up. Main text: Modified Foundational Hand. Ink on A3 card |
Glass half-full
Please click on the picture to enlarge
A commission for a 30th birthday. The recipient is an engineer, so this quote is perfectly tailored.
What made this work more challenging was to ensure all three tankards and versals were identical.
Versal: Lombardic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Modified Foundational Hand.
Ink on A3 card
(note that the card is coloured light yellow, but that the discolouring towards the bottom of the picture is due to sub-optional light conditions under which this picture was taken.)
What made this work more challenging was to ensure all three tankards and versals were identical.
Versal: Lombardic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Modified Foundational Hand.
Ink on A3 card
(note that the card is coloured light yellow, but that the discolouring towards the bottom of the picture is due to sub-optional light conditions under which this picture was taken.)
Wine is a great danger
Please click on the picture to enlarge
A quote from "Zeno's Conscience" by Svevo Italo.
This commission was left open to my own ideas. The red wine colour of the ink, the flowing flourishes, and the vine with grapes - they all refer to the main topic. Keywords of the quote can be found in the main versal.
Versal: Lombardic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Modified Foundational Hand.
Ink on A3 card
This commission was left open to my own ideas. The red wine colour of the ink, the flowing flourishes, and the vine with grapes - they all refer to the main topic. Keywords of the quote can be found in the main versal.
Versal: Lombardic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Modified Foundational Hand.
Ink on A3 card
Scientists quote
Please click on the picture to enlarge
A birthday gift commission: A quote from "The Call-Girls" by Arthur Koestler.
The commission included a specific request to keep the artwork simple. The deep purple lettering, as well as the keywords in the main versal, make this special.
Versal: Modified Gothic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Modified Foundational Hand.
Ink on A3 card
The commission included a specific request to keep the artwork simple. The deep purple lettering, as well as the keywords in the main versal, make this special.
Versal: Modified Gothic. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Modified Foundational Hand.
Ink on A3 card
Family Tree
Example of a family tree (click for larger version)
I was asked to create a family tree - a (com)mission I gratefully accepted, and any reluctance about the great new challenges this commission introduced turned out to be misplaced. See here the result - the magenta capital letters and the grape vines were part of the request.
Bring on the next challenge I say! :-)
Ink on A3 card.
Bring on the next challenge I say! :-)
Ink on A3 card.
Youth is happy
Please click on the picture to enlarge
A present for a friend's birthday, in a style designed to capture the message itself: joyful, colourful; traditional but warm and with a rebellious streak (referring to the flourishes).
Although I have a love for medieval writing, my own work does not attempt to replicate medieval scriptures, but merely be inspired by them to help me develop my own style.
Versals (capital letters): Lombardic script. Click HERE to see the the 'Y' in close-up.
Main text: elaborated and modified Insular Minuscule (small letters) and modified Gothic Majuscule (capital letters).
Ink on A3 card
Although I have a love for medieval writing, my own work does not attempt to replicate medieval scriptures, but merely be inspired by them to help me develop my own style.
Versals (capital letters): Lombardic script. Click HERE to see the the 'Y' in close-up.
Main text: elaborated and modified Insular Minuscule (small letters) and modified Gothic Majuscule (capital letters).
Ink on A3 card
Darwin's conclusions
Please click on the picture to enlarge
A birthday gift commission: the final paragraph of the conclusions of Darwin's "On the Origin of Spieces".
I have tried to let the artwork not detract from the text too much, and to keep it more in keeping with the concept of 'nature' which is at the heart of this piece of text. This has been achieved with subtle references to nature - the muted sage green in the versal (also reflected in the colour of the mount); the decorations which refer to vines and berries; the pink flower towards the bottom; and the flourishes or 'swigs' springing from the ascenders and descenders of the lower case letters (in: b, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, p, q, and y).
Versals (including first letter of each sentence): Lombardic script. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: elaborated and modified Insular Minuscule (small letters) and modified Gothic Majuscule (remaining capital letters).
Ink on A3 card
I have tried to let the artwork not detract from the text too much, and to keep it more in keeping with the concept of 'nature' which is at the heart of this piece of text. This has been achieved with subtle references to nature - the muted sage green in the versal (also reflected in the colour of the mount); the decorations which refer to vines and berries; the pink flower towards the bottom; and the flourishes or 'swigs' springing from the ascenders and descenders of the lower case letters (in: b, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, p, q, and y).
Versals (including first letter of each sentence): Lombardic script. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: elaborated and modified Insular Minuscule (small letters) and modified Gothic Majuscule (remaining capital letters).
Ink on A3 card
The road going home
please click to enlarge
Another commission for a wedding present, and the first time I was asked to incorporate a music score of a melody written by the client.
Not an easy feat - in fact, it was the most difficult part of the job! Not bad for a first attempt, I think?
Ink on A4 paper
Not an easy feat - in fact, it was the most difficult part of the job! Not bad for a first attempt, I think?
Ink on A4 paper
Ode to Silves
Famous poem by Al-Mutamide, 11thC AD (click for larger version)
This is one of the most famous poems by Al-Mutamide, the poet-prince who reigned over the Algarve ('Al-Garb' or 'The West') in early medieval times. The poem ('Ode to Silves') is a translation from Arabic into Portuguese, as can be found in the reception area of the Moorish castle in Silves (the former capital of the Algarve). For an English translation, please click here. This poem was on display in my stall at the 2011 Medieval Fair in Silves (Portugal).
Main versal: Inspired by other Medieval art. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Versals (large capital letters) and text style are loosely based on the medieval manuscript 'Foral Manuelo' from 1504, as can be found in the book 'Forais de Silves', issued by Silves Council and available from the Archeological Museum inside the old city walls. Left part of versal decorations is based on simple versals commonly found in early medieval monastic bibles.
Ink on A3 card.
Main versal: Inspired by other Medieval art. Click HERE to see the main versal in close-up.
Main text: Versals (large capital letters) and text style are loosely based on the medieval manuscript 'Foral Manuelo' from 1504, as can be found in the book 'Forais de Silves', issued by Silves Council and available from the Archeological Museum inside the old city walls. Left part of versal decorations is based on simple versals commonly found in early medieval monastic bibles.
Ink on A3 card.
Certificate
Certificate for medieval fair (click to enlarge)
To the left is the A4 size certificate I sold at the 2011 Medieval Fair in Silves (Algarve, Portugal).
As with the poem in the previous example, the versal, text and here also the decorations are based on the 'Foral Manuelo'.
Note that this vellum-like paper had the original artwork photo-copied onto it, leaving the open space on the second line vacant to fill in the customer's name.
Original: ink on A4 paper.
As with the poem in the previous example, the versal, text and here also the decorations are based on the 'Foral Manuelo'.
Note that this vellum-like paper had the original artwork photo-copied onto it, leaving the open space on the second line vacant to fill in the customer's name.
Original: ink on A4 paper.
Portuguese proverbs
Well-known Portuguese proverbs (click for larger version)
Here are some Portuguese proverbs:
Versals: Lombardic script.
Main text: Bastard Secretary (left example) and modified Bastard Secretary, based on the medieval manuscript 'Forais de Silves'.
These were for sale at the 2011 Medieval Fair in Silves (Portugal).
Ink on A4 paper.
I love doing these - I find them immensely interesting from a cultural-historical perspective, and language barriers are not an issue (as further suggested by examples 4 and 7).
- "De génio e de louco, todos temos um pouco":
"Of genius and mad person, we all have a little"; - "Faz o bem sem olhares a quem":
"Do good without looking at whom"; - "O que arma a esparrela muitas vezes cai nela":
"He who prepares the trap frequently falls in it"; - "Queres um conselho, pede-o ao velho":
"If you want advice, ask the old man".
Versals: Lombardic script.
Main text: Bastard Secretary (left example) and modified Bastard Secretary, based on the medieval manuscript 'Forais de Silves'.
These were for sale at the 2011 Medieval Fair in Silves (Portugal).
Ink on A4 paper.
I love doing these - I find them immensely interesting from a cultural-historical perspective, and language barriers are not an issue (as further suggested by examples 4 and 7).
Ever to excel
Well-known Greek proverb, from Homer's Iliad (click for larger version)
To the right is a Greek proverb - 'Ever to excel', from Homer's Illiad, commissioned as a birthday present for
a Greek friend of the client.
Versal: Lombardic script, main writing in modified/modernised Rotunda.
Ink on A4 paper.
a Greek friend of the client.
Versal: Lombardic script, main writing in modified/modernised Rotunda.
Ink on A4 paper.
Blessing of the Apaches
Example of a wedding poem (click for larger version)
A commission for a wedding present, also read out at the wedding ceremony. Sadly, I do not have a picture of it framed.
I decided to keep the main versal relatively simple in order for the piece not to become too 'loud', as additional flair is provided by the red capitals and the swigs springing from the tall letters.
The capital letters of the married couple's names are in blue for contrast.
Ink on A4 paper.
I decided to keep the main versal relatively simple in order for the piece not to become too 'loud', as additional flair is provided by the red capitals and the swigs springing from the tall letters.
The capital letters of the married couple's names are in blue for contrast.
Ink on A4 paper.
Henk Smit - info@henksmitcalligraphy.com - +44(0)7900 334 880
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