A grant in honor and matriculation

[Chas]

Oh, I'm not disputing that! One of the best heraldic artists IMHO is Andrew Jamieson, who is better known for his emblazonments of English arms but does excellent work with Scots arms. Of course Yvonne Holton, Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms and Herald Painter to the Court of the Lord Lyon, does fabulous work! I'm very partial to Patricia Bertram, but she may be in full retirement now. And then there is Mark Dennis, Ormond Pursuivant of Arms . Wonderful!

It was because of Yvonne Holton's work that i made my original comment. All the fabulous work, of hers, that I have seen has been done privately, not as Herald Painter to the Lyon Court.

We tend to judge young children on their ability to cope with colouring books. It is considered important that they should be neat and be able to stay within the black lines. Why then would anybody draw an outline and then ignore it and paint over it and past it?

Often objects that look really good from 10 foot away don't bear scrutiny from 10 inches away.

Regards

Chas

[Gregmc]

Oh, I'm not disputing that! One of the best heraldic artists IMHO is Andrew Jamieson, who is better known for his emblazonments of English arms but does excellent work with Scots arms. Of course Yvonne Holton, Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms and Herald Painter to the Court of the Lord Lyon, does fabulous work! I'm very partial to Patricia Bertram, but she may be in full retirement now. And then there is Mark Dennis, Ormond Pursuivant of Arms . Wonderful!

Yes, I will have to agree on the work of Stewart Jamieson for sure. What I like about both he and Anthony Wood in particular is their use of chiaroscuro. The depth that is captured is stunning. To me, it is the art work that has attracted me, and then my interest developed from there. Anthony Wood and his late wife Margaret autographed his Heraldic Art & Design; Shaw and Sons, 1996. He also included some extra facsimlies of some of his work and a very nice letter. So, I'm rather partial to him.

[Sketraw]

piperdbh,
I don't have a definate design yet but what I'm leaning towards would be a variation of a traditional Duncan arms. The upper portion very much like John Duncan's arms in his avatar. below the chevron I was thinking a green field with some sort of oak leaves/acorns. This would represent my duncan heritage in the upper and the oak for me represents connecticut (oak is our state tree), where my ancestors from Scotland settled.

[creagdhubh]

Wonderful, John!

[JSFMACLJR]

I think the shield would look nicer if it were all gules (red). The "red, gold, and green" looks too much like the national flag of some country.

[JSFMACLJR]

I think the shield would look nicer if it were all gules (red). The "red, gold, and green" looks too much like the national flag of some country.

[creagdhubh]

Good point, Sandy. I didn't see that before, but now it's much more apparent. I simply saw the red and green being complimentary colours, but you are correct in your observation. I believe the country is located somewhere on the continent of Africa.

[Bluescelt]

My line from my ggrandfather is my grandfather (2nd son) to my father (2nd son) to me (only son). So following differencing that would add an Or Engrailed Border for me. I had originally had the whole field Gules with the Chevron Argent and the Cinquefoils/Oak Or. I also replaced the lower field with green (I know... those are the colors in the Italian flag!). It is a more pleasing combination.

[Cygnus]

Differencing is really less of a science and more of an art - so I doubt that Lyon will feel constrained to use the Stodart System so rigidly, and neither should you (unless, of course, you are particularly fond of the bordure engrailed Or).

[Bluescelt]

Actually, I do do like the look of it.