Illumination

Illumination combines calligraphy, drawn and painted lettering, and silver and gold leaf into a unified whole

Pestilent Congregation of Vapours

The use of gold leaf in works of art with lettering is an ancient skill. Rather than relying upon colour alone, the application of the reflective gold or white gold leaf makes use of light in a different way to colour. Light shining upon colour can create a rich and deep experience. Light shining on gold and reflecting from its polished surface creates another dimension of effect upon the viewer.

My Heart was Pruned

Gold can be used to highlight as in this example of its use in depicting the sun but doubling as a halo around the head of the divine. This illustrates well the difference between light shining upon colour, the yellow rays of the sun or the head of the divine, as opposed to the light reflecting from the gold.

Hands

Gold leaf can be used extensively as in this illustration of the hands of the divine in the act of creation cradling the sun and the stars of the firmament. The rich purples and blues of the painted background contrast dramatically with the light reflecting from the surface of the gold leaf.

One Day Tells its Tale to Another

Gold leaf has to be laid upon an adhesive surface. Either raised gold which uses gessoe made from plaster and containing various adhesive elements, or flat gold which is laid upon a surface of gum.

Advanced Calligraphy Techniques

by Diana Hoare

This book was commissioned and published by Cassells.

In order for the book to be one which was worth keeping for reference it was decided to sub contract some of the writing to other well known calligraphers who agreed to be part of the project.

The brief was to talk about one project and where the inspiration for that project had come from.

The front part of the book consists of various commercial and artistic projects completed b y Diana but working collaboratively with others has created a book which is worth keeping for reference even though the time frame for its completion was incredibly tight.

Painted Lettering & Gold leaf on Vellum

Medieval manuscripts were made with vellum, produced from the skin of cows, sheep or goats. The very best vellum was made from calf skin.

Some of the Medieval bibles which were created in the scriptoria of monasteries would have used countless skins to make.

The skin is prepared by soaking in a bath of lime, scraping to remove any fat and then stretching and drying on special racks. Vellum is still produced today although it is very expensive.

The art of gilding is an ancient Medieval craft. Gold leaf is laid either on a gesso ground, raised gilding, or on a specially prepared gum from the Arabian desert called gum ammoniac.

This is supplied as it is found in the desert, mixed with sand, seeds and pebbles. It is prepared through long soaking and sieving to produce a smooth, sticky milky substance which can be laid onto the vellum. The ground can be moistened by breathing onto it and the gold carefully laid and then gently burnished to create a high shine.

The art of gilding is an Medieval craft. Gold leaf is laid either on a gesso ground, raised gilding, or on a specially prepared gum from the Arabian desert called gum ammoniac.

This is supplied as it is found in the desert, mixed with sand, seeds and pebbles. It is prepared through long soaking and sieving to produce a smooth, sticky milky substance which can be laid onto the vellum. The ground can be moistened by breathing onto it and the gold carefully laid and then gently burnished to create a high shine.