Illumination Class Notes

Here's a brief intro to illumination, from a class handout I regularly teach.

Paper

·      Calfskin vellum, or a vegetable substitute like pergamenata.

·      Paper should be at least 140lb Hot Press watercolour paper. Check the surface and make sure it is smooth and clean looking before you buy.

·      Some types to avoid are- cold press, drafting vellum, Bristol board and newsprint.

Gouache Colours

·      Red: crimson or primary red

·      Blue: ultramarine or cobalt

·      Green: viridian or emerald

·      Orange: pumpkin

·      White: China white, titanium or zinc

·      Black: lamp black

·      Yellow: primary or canary

·      Brown: umber or ochre

·      Pink: salmon or rose

Metals

·      In period gold was used either as leaf or in a suspension.

·      23k gold leaf

·      Windsor and Newton Gold ink is a very nice, useable colour.

Brushes

·      You will need a couple of good quality brushes- 3.0, 10/0, 0 (liners and rounds)

·      Make sure when buying brushes that you check them and make sure the hairs are not bent, broken or uneven.

·      Natural sable is better and will last a very long time if you take care of them.

·      Never trim or pluck hairs from the brush.

·      Don't use your brushes to mix paint.

·      Never leave your brushes standing in water.

·      Don't let them rattle loose in a holder or bang the tip on anything.

·      Don't let the paint get into the glue at the top of the brush.

Other Supplies

·      Ultra-fine technical pens (.005) or a crow quill pen and nib with black ink

·      Gum eraser

·      Mechanical pencil

·      Ruler

·      Exacto knife

·      Pencil holder

·      Folder or portfolio

·      Palette

·      Mixing sticks

How I Do It

1.     Pick your illumination from your source. Decide on scale for the page. Keep in mind that someone is going to want to frame this and try to keep within standard frame sizes.

2.     Leaving a margin of at least one inch from the edge of the paper, pencil in a box to denote your outer edges.

3.     Sketch your design within this box, making corrections until you are satisfied.

4.     Make sure the signatures and seal will fit.

5.     Trace over the pencil lines with black ink and allow to dry.

6.     Erase all your pencil marks. Pencil will show through some inks, so be diligent with your marks.

7.     Add gold leaf or ink.

8.     Colour in using your exemplar.

9.     Layer on your white work.

10.  Re-ink your black lines carefully.

Tips

·      Change your water every time you change colours to prevent discolouration.

·      Don't overload your brushes.

·      Keep your hands and work area clean to prevent dirty work.

·      Make sure your lighting is good and take lots of breaks.

·      Think small. No, smaller than that, even.

·      Don't bang your brushes and pens by carrying them in a pencil box. Try a brush roll.

·      It's ok to thin and mix colours. Leave them in the palette to dry and then re-wet them (gently) to use again.

·      If you store gouache wet (in a container as opposed to dry or in the tube) it will discolour and grow mold or other fun and interesting things.

·      Try grinding your own pigments and using natural vellum. It's very different and a lot of fun.

·      Natural pigments glitter. Try experimenting with your colours to get a subtle glitter by adding things like gold dust, crushed pigment, or mica.