Award: Pelican
Recipient: Grainne ingen Anlon meic Cerbhaill
Materials: watercolor gouache, various period pigments, pergamenata, gold leaf, gold ink, ink
Total work time: 35 hours
Painting Assistance: Lady Bryna of Kildare
Calligraphy and Illumination: Maol Mide
Based upon the peacock border pages [ff.97v-98] from the Hours of Englebert of Nassau by the Master of Mary of Burgundy. The major illumination of the Annunciation was removed from folio 97v. and the smaller illumination was moved from folio 98 and adapted for the left hand side of the scroll. The piece was adapted by changing the coloration of the female figure to match that of the recipient, my friend Grainne. Also the castle in the background of the original was replaced with a building modeled after the main hall at Camp Indian Springs, the campsite where Grainne’s local group traditionally holds their events.
Grainne’s device includes a peacock so this border seemed the perfect match for her Pelican scroll. She specifically asked for something small in size so the full page as just smaller than the opening in a 8.5x11 inch viewable frame and mat.
Lady Bryna did a grat deal of the underpainting in the peacock feathers and her awesome help gave my hand a very needed rest.
