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Dragonhand — Medieval scroll, 15th Century
Published: 2005-10-26 20:42:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 4312; Favourites: 19; Downloads: 981
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Description
15th Century medieval scroll style, painted in goauche. The calligraphy is blackletter.Related content
Comments: 5
Thats beautiful! I wish my calligraphy was as even as that! what did you use for the gold?
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The gold (like the rest of the painting) is an opaque watercolor called gouache. (I'm sorry if you already know all about this, but I want to get you any information you'd like.) It's also known as Designer Colors or Designer's Gouache. My first tubes were made by Windsor Newton, but the best brand (in my opinion) out there is M. Graham and Co.
Windsor Newton is still the gold I use, as Graham doesn't make it yet. *le sigh* It's the best gold I have found out there. It spreads evenly, and is nice and opaque. It's a wonderful gold until I learn the art of actual gold leaf. (It's on my rather long list of things to do. 
As for even calligraphy, the secret is in the pencil lines to show both the x-height, ascender and decender line spacing, as well as plenty of vertical lines so you always have one nearby to pull parallel too. Wait 24 hours or a bit more for the ink to dry, and erase the pencil. It's a pain for layout, but it's worth it for the results. XD
Check out Graham gouache, watercolors, acrylics and oils at [link]
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Thanks! I use a cheap brand gouache at the moment as my local art shop sells that and windsor newton. Its fine for practice I think though. I do have some gold windsor newton gouache though. I haven't used it as in the jar it was sepperated and I wasn't sure weather to discard the liquid as I do with most paint tubes, or if it was meant to be mized in. I also have gold leaf, but the climate here can be tricky for that. I have to have a still environment, and its far to hot most of the year to have windows shut and fan off, even for a little while.
And thanks for the hint about the verticle lines! I never thought about that.
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Mixing the liquid back in would be fine, but even if it dries out totally, it's still a water based paint that can be reconstituted. (Lucky for me. I'll pry it out of the tube and put it in a bowl if I have to to be able to use it still. XD )
Also, if the calligraphy needs a 10 degree slant, like humanist italic, those are even MORE invaluable - though they're even more of a pain to set up on the sheet. Figures. ^_^
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