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Brian Smith

@uniqueobliques

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Do any other calligraphers work with Saral paper? And if so, am I the only one that thinks they should be “hung by their toes” for packaging Saral like this??? In three long, separate strips, all rolled together in an interwoven mess. Why oh why can’t they just roll it in one piece…just try to get one piece out of that box without having the whole mess unload on your floor…and then, good luck rolling it back up smoothly to replace it in the box. I would think that it is easier to put toothpaste back into the tube than this. 🥴 by @uniqueobliques

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2 months ago

A medieval page that I did a few days ago…I used Fabriano Hotpress paper (140lb), and I “aged” it with coffee and some Ranger ink. 🤭. It looks pretty old, which is what I was going for. Aging the paper is fun, and it can absolutely transform a piece of calligraphy, particularly something that is done in a “vintage style”. Try it sometimes…you will impress yourself! 😉 by @uniqueobliques

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3 months ago

This is my latest medieval-style manuscript effort. This one was quite a challenge for me, and required quite a few hours (and a lot of patience!) 🤭🤭. I based it on a page from a Book of Hours…the original was done ca 1440. I hope you like it! 🥰🙏🙏🙏 by @uniqueobliques

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3 months ago

A new piece I finished last night…it is a random page from ms. W45 (which you can view at thedigitalwalters.org)
The original was penned between 1275-1299. I tried to make my version as “authentic looking” as I was able. Anyway, here it is…on 9” x 12” Strathmore “Smooth” drawing paper. Gold leaf, and watercolor, text is Blackstar India Ink (my favorite)…versals are Afghan Lapis (thank you Jane H!) and Kuretake Sumi ink in (Vermilion color). For some reason, I’m drawn to these old medieval manuscripts. They all have “that look”, if you know what I mean? I try to recapture that “elusive look” in my pieces…but that’s not as easy as it might appear! 😂😂😂. Anyway, I hope you like this one. It is part of Psalm (Ps 8:5-10).

English translation follows:
“You have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have set him over the works of your hands. You have placed all things beneath his feet: all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field; the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is your name in all the earth. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works. I will rejoice and exult in you; I will sing praise…”
(The last line continues onto the next page in the original codex with “nomine tuo Altissime” from Psalm 9)
I added this little translation, because I’m sure lots of you guys get tired of seeing my pages written in Latin vulgate…so i thought I’d give you a little glimpse into the actual meaning of the page. I hope you guys like it! by @uniqueobliques

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4 months ago

I took a “swing” at a page from the Luttrell Psalter. Whew, I can tell you that this was a lot more work than I thought it would be!!! 🤭 I still want to clean up a few things on it, and I want to frame it…but not tonight! 😂😂.
Anyway, I imagine many of you guys have seen this page online before, as it’s kind of well known. I was drawn to it because it is so bizarre and unique! Anyway, here is my humble version of it. I hope you like it! 🤞🤞🤞💕 by @uniqueobliques

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5 months ago

A few more medieval pages. I do enjoy writing like this, trying to make it look authentic. I will be attempting a more challenging piece in the near future…already doing some preliminary drafts. 🤞🤞🤞 by @uniqueobliques

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6 months ago

A small medieval style page I just completed last night. It is a half-sheet of a 9” x 12” page, so the dimensions are 6” wide x 9” tall. I used Strathmore “Smooth Drawing Paper” (80 lb). The text is Psalms 8: 1-3 in Latin Vulgate. I like writing in the Latin, because it just “looks right”. These medieval pieces just don’t look right when I do them in English…they look best in their original language…curious…mysterious…what does this say in this cryptic ancient hand? (Honestly, I doubt that many people actually read them anyway, they are mainly just to enjoy visually, I think. ☺️🤷🏻‍♂️ by @uniqueobliques

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6 months ago

A couple of “1/2 sheet” pages (about 6 inches x 9 inches”. I finished these up this morning. Still trying to get a more realistic “aged look”. 🥴☺️ by @uniqueobliques

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6 months ago

A new medieval-style piece that I finished last night. Based it on an old page from an ancient medieval psalter ca: 1250-1275.
That’s a loooooong time ago! I wonder what that old scribe would have thought at the time…if someone told him that the piece was writing would endure for over 775 years, and that a calligrapher from Louisiana would be looking at it and using it for inspiration in the year 2026. 🫨🫨🫨🫨 by @uniqueobliques

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7 months ago

A few of my recent pieces. I absolutely am obsessed with medieval calligraphy! It has somehow captured my spirit! ☺️ 🏰⚔️ by @uniqueobliques

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7 months ago

A new piece i finished tonight! I tried some experimenting with the way I aged the paper. I think it looks pretty old and authentic? 🤷🏻‍♂️
I did this on a sheet of Arches 140 lb. hot press. Textualis quadrata bookhand, lettered with Blackstar India Ink. Gold is 23.75k gold leaf. I hope you like it! by @uniqueobliques

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7 months ago

Testing the filigrees with some medieval textualis. I’m not quite ”there” yet,but hopefully getting close. 🤞🤞🤞. Nothing worth learning is easy! 🥴😁😁
Paper is Strathmore “Smooth Drawing Paper”, 80lb. In 9” x 12” (this is a full sheet).
Black text is Dr. Martin’s Blackstar India Ink, blue ink is Monte Verde Carribbean Blue, and red is Diamine Dragon Blood. 🩸
The text is Psalm 14 (or Psalm 15, depending upon which version you are using)…written in Latin Vulgate. by @uniqueobliques

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9 months ago