S.A. Holt Studios

Hi there,

Well, the 2 sided scroll is coming right along. I have another couple colors on it and have even worked out how to do some really small design elements that were confounding me.

I still have more little areas to paint, but I also have gotten some of the “larger” areas done as well. I say “larger” because I think the biggest area of one single color is maybe 1/2 x 1/2 inch tops.

It’s looking better and better (and more and more finished) all the time. I’ll be happy when it’s done and to it’s recipient, so I can post the pics.

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

Well, last Tuesday I was able to get some color on side 2 of the 2 sided scroll. I have chosen to go with Ultramarine blue and Nicosia green for the 2 main colors, with red, black and white accents. So far it’s lookin’ good!

I taught a little beaded jewelry making workshop at my home this weekend for friends. My good friend Kat, who taught me to do beaded jewelry came down and sat with a couple of the ladies and really helped out a lot! Thanks, Kat!

The rest of us did some fairly simple beading and we all had a wonderful time. One of the ladies is originally from Puerto Rico and provided us with a great sound track for the day. It was a blast!

Today/this evening, I need to get back to working on the 2 sided scroll. More painting, yea!

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

Well, I’m still putting gesso and gold leaf on the 2 sided scroll. I have 2 larger sections with tiny areas in them, plus an outline going around the entire design. It already looks really good, and very shiny!

I should be doing more work on it tomorrow to get the gold leafing done. Then, it’ll all be painting from there.

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

Yep, that’s right… I’m still gold leafing the 2 sided scroll. The past couple of weeks have been fairly busy focusing on SCA and Docent stuff that has come up. Today, I’m back at making the scroll (and my cats) sparkly!

There are lots of little tiny areas already leafed and done. There are an awful lot more little tiny areas left to do. I keep taking eye-saving breaks, so it’s taking longer than if there was large areas of leafing. The trade off is that it’s going to look absolutely stunning when completed!

Pics will be posted after it is awarded.

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

After a brief watercolor outbreak, I’m back to working on the 2 sided SCA scroll. I finally have the calligraphy, all the drawing, and now side one has gesso. Now I’m excited because I know it’s going to look good!

The calligraphy will have raised gold leaf, and little red dots surrounding the major capital letters.

Yes, I have also decided on gold leaf. I think the silver would just not look right on this specific tone of vellum. It’s light tan on the side with the calligraphy, and deeper tan, almost yellow ocher, but more brown, on the carpet page side.

I can’t wait until it’s finished, the recipient has it, and I can share the pics!

Off to see if the gesso has dried sufficiently for applying another layer.

Enjoy! (I know I am!)
S

Hi there,

I had another art day at the house on Sunday for my friend, Lesa. She came over and we did watercolor painting.

Here are the scans of the pieces I made. They are 9 x 12 inches each.
These will be posted on my eCrater account for purchase in the next few hours.

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

So, I took a little break from the ATCs, and the scroll I’m working on. My friend Anne and I had an art night on Tuesday this week. She wanted to learn how to do some watercolor painting using the salt technique. She did an excellent job for her very first time at it.

I got a little packet of 4 1/2 x 6 1/4 inch note cards, and we painted all of them. Here are the pics of the ones I made.

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

This weekend was wonderful! I taught my Authentic Medieval Scribal Materials (hands on) class on Saturday and hosted a Scriptorium on Sunday at an SCA event.

During the Scriptorium, I got the first color of paint on the ATCs. They are moving right along.

Also, during the Scriptorium, a reporter and photographer for the Sierra Vista Herald, the local newspaper came in and interviewed some of us and took lots of pictures. I am actually quoted in the article, along with several other friends.

Here’s the link:

http://www.svherald.com/content/news/2010/06/14/kingdom-art-and-sciences-collegium-takes-learning-past-new-level

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

I am still working on the Authentic Medieval Materials ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). I haven’t had time yet this week to get back to them since my last post. I know for sure I’ll be able to get to them later in the week, or early next week. I don’t have any pics of them to post yet. I’ll post them once they’re all finished and looking good.

Enjoy!
S

Hi there,

Thank you for making my first sale on my eCrater on-line store a success! The Memorial Day through my B-day sale is now over and the prices are back to normal.

I am currently working on a new product, Authentic Medieval Materials Artist Trading Cards (ATCs). These cards are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. The authentic materials are as follows:

Animal skin vellum
Gesso
Gold Leaf
Loose pigments + egg yolk as binder = hand mixed Tempera paints

These designs are based on the Bourdichon and Huth books of hours.

I have 7 of them drawn up, and the gesso applied. The next steps will be to burnish the gesso, apply the gold leaf, burnish the gold leaf, mix and apply the paints. All of these steps are time consuming. I do not have a firm date of release for these, so stay tuned!

Thanks!
S