Catanea writes...

Jun 17

Design, Neil Cutler; calligraphy, Amanda. Pretending to be a Scotch distiller in a previous century.

Design, Neil Cutler; calligraphy, Amanda.

Pretending to be a Scotch distiller in a previous century.

May 19

My inscription in the “Llibre d’Honor” - guest book - of the Escola d’Art d’Amposta “ESARDI”. It is always difficult to find the way to reflect the experience in the inscription. Who knows whether it was a good idea?

My inscription in the “Llibre d’Honor” - guest book - of the Escola d’Art d’Amposta “ESARDI”. It is always difficult to find the way to reflect the experience in the inscription. Who knows whether it was a good idea?

May 06

Puer Natus EstAmanda Adams 2000after Oxford, Corpus Christi College ms 282as reproduced in Tim O’Neill’s THE IRISH HANDoriginal size: pencil lines indicate: 150 x 210 mm[second edition mmiii] Puer natus estnobis et filius natusest nobis cuius imper-ium super humerumeius; et vocabiturnomen eius magniconcilii angelusMultiplicabitureius imperium et non finitur pacisConcede quaesumusomnipotens Deus:ut nos unigenititu nova per carnemnativitas liberetquos sub peccatiiugo vestuti servitustenet perFratres multi-multifarie multisquemodis olim deus lo-quens patribus in Pro-phetis novissime autemdiebus istis locutusest nobis in filio.

Puer Natus Est
Amanda Adams 2000
after Oxford, Corpus Christi College ms 282
as reproduced in Tim O’Neill’s
THE IRISH HAND
original size: pencil lines indicate: 150 x 210 mm
[second edition mmiii]

Puer natus est
nobis et filius natus
est nobis cuius imper-
ium super humerum
eius; et vocabitur
nomen eius magni
concilii angelus
Multiplicabitur
eius imperium et non finitur pacis
Concede quaesumus
omnipotens Deus:
ut nos unigeniti
tu nova per carnem
nativitas liberet
quos sub peccati
iugo vestuti servitus
tenet per
Fratres multi-
multifarie multisque
modis olim deus lo-
quens patribus in Pro-
phetis novissime autem
diebus istis locutus
est nobis in filio.

May 04

Elements from the Visconti Hours borders and decoration, made into a bookmark-shape to use as a teachng tool for this style of decoration…ferro-gallic ink, gesso mordant, gold leaf, gouache &c. on vellum. Amanda pinxit.

Elements from the Visconti Hours borders and decoration, made into a bookmark-shape to use as a teachng tool for this style of decoration…ferro-gallic ink, gesso mordant, gold leaf, gouache &c. on vellum.

Amanda pinxit.

Apr 20

Some French hedgehogs wanted a sign for their door. I have been called “Tiggywinkle” in my time, so I was ready. Edged brush, gouache. There was no time. It’s the first and only draft.

Some French hedgehogs wanted a sign for their door. I have been called “Tiggywinkle” in my time, so I was ready.

Edged brush, gouache. There was no time. It’s the first and only draft.

Apr 19

I cannot say “gilding the K” as two metals are involved, so I shall say: Illuminating the K. (February 2010. “Lettrine K” and the occupation of the month for July. Gold and silver leaf, ferro-gallic ink, and gouache on vellum. Amanda Adams)

I cannot say “gilding the K” as two metals are involved, so I shall say: Illuminating the K.

(February 2010. “Lettrine K” and the occupation of the month for July. Gold and silver leaf, ferro-gallic ink, and gouache on vellum. Amanda Adams)

Another of the new letters I did to bring the alphabet up to its full complement before the Olot exhibition. This one is a “repeat” - although no two are ever alike. Instead of using a zodiac sign, I like to do the “occupation of the month” - in the case of July, it is cutting the hay. As it is Keith’s birth-month, it is always (so far) a K. And I like the opportunity to use silver leaf (yes - it will blacken with time, while the gold remains gold) on the scythe. I always imagine the letter is “for” Keith, but somehow, the each of the previous three have been sold. Never to people with Ks as initials. Why don’t people commission their own letter, occupation, sign? 

Another of the new letters I did to bring the alphabet up to its full complement before the Olot exhibition. This one is a “repeat” - although no two are ever alike. Instead of using a zodiac sign, I like to do the “occupation of the month” - in the case of July, it is cutting the hay. As it is Keith’s birth-month, it is always (so far) a K. And I like the opportunity to use silver leaf (yes - it will blacken with time, while the gold remains gold) on the scythe. I always imagine the letter is “for” Keith, but somehow, the each of the previous three have been sold. Never to people with Ks as initials. Why don’t people commission their own letter, occupation, sign? 

Apr 18

As I am not at home on the “big” computer, but it is a long time since I’ve posted anything…here in this computer, I’ve found this old Versal exemplar, but it’s bright and cheerful so I am putting it up to raise my spirits in the face of Eyjafjallajökull’s ash possibly making it impossible for me to get home from England… Maybe these Versals are a little too Lombardic (I’ve seen worse, in manuscripts)…

As I am not at home on the “big” computer, but it is a long time since I’ve posted anything…here in this computer, I’ve found this old Versal exemplar, but it’s bright and cheerful so I am putting it up to raise my spirits in the face of Eyjafjallajökull’s ash possibly making it impossible for me to get home from England…

Maybe these Versals are a little too Lombardic (I’ve seen worse, in manuscripts)…

Apr 10

Gilding the A. February 2010.

Gilding the A. February 2010.

Apr 09

I had to replace eight letters which had been sold over the last…since our last exhibition where I showed a complete alphabet of illuminated letters, in order to have a complete alphabet again for the Olot exhibitions in February. “A” was one of them. This time, I was pleased to adapt an A from one of the manuscripts of the Life of Saint Amand, whom I regard as one of my patrons, of course. So here it is. Gouache & gold leaf on vellum. [technically, this letter is available for purchase]

I had to replace eight letters which had been sold over the last…since our last exhibition where I showed a complete alphabet of illuminated letters, in order to have a complete alphabet again for the Olot exhibitions in February. “A” was one of them. This time, I was pleased to adapt an A from one of the manuscripts of the Life of Saint Amand, whom I regard as one of my patrons, of course. So here it is.

Gouache & gold leaf on vellum. [technically, this letter is available for purchase]