The History of the Kingdom of The West
Scrolls

Calligraphy Layout, Step 2.

Photo and Contribution
by Tatiana Nikolaevna Tumanova

Calligraphy Layout, Step 2.
After a trip to the disgusting suburban art mart where I am unable to find any suitable paper by the sheet and have to purchase an entire huge pad of paper which I don't really want, it's time to sit down and do the text again, after cutting out part of the salutation.

This second attempt shows that with the necessary cuts, the text will just fit -- however, there won't be any room along the bottom edge to fit in the seals. The signatures are going to have to go on the very bottom edge as it is. Ugh -- am I going to have to inflict pendant seals on Johann? While they're lovely to look at, framing a scroll with pendant seals is very expensive and I won't do them unless they're specifically requested by the recipient and they're prepared to bear the cost. And this is a surprise, so I can't ask Johann. Okay, let's just move those seals over and stick them on the ends of the wooden frame, which was originally going to end in fancy carved finials.

The hand is looking nicer as I practice it, although I make a mistake by going down two lines instead of three when starting the second line of the text. I make a note of that for the third (final) writing, although it looks like that's going to eliminate the motto scroll. Too bad, I like motto scrolling -- but I think there's just enough room for it underneath the arms. I also tinker with the dragon on the arms a bit more and clean up the drawing of the arms and the encircling laurel wreath.

-- Tatiana Nikolaevna Tumanova

The West Kingdom History Website was created by and is maintained by Hirsch von Henford (mka Ken Mayer).