From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V8 #76 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Friday, October 25 2002 Volume 08 : Number 076 ======================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with unsubscribe scribes-digets in the body of the message. Leave the subject line blank. Do not include any additional text. Re: [scribes]: gesso Re: [scribes]: gesso [scribes]: re: Sanding Gesso [scribes]: Gallery of my Maiolica Art [scribes]: looking for Polish manuscript sites? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 08:31:11 -0500 From: "Amy L. Hornburg Heilveil" Subject: Re: [scribes]: gesso At 02:41 AM 10/23/2002 -0700, Isolde26 wrote: >Regarding gesso, can one layer more on after a coat has dried? I find that >I have thick and thin spots and I would like to get it more even. > >Any help would be appreciated. I usually put on at least three coats, sometimes many more (the most was when I wanted something to really stand up and the gesso was thin, so I wound up doing 25 coats of gesso). After you have your layers of gesso built up, you need to sand it down with the finest sandpaper you can find until it's smooth. You'll know it's smooth when you burnish it and look at it in the right angle of light - you'll see the smoothness, or the single divit that will make you crazy and you'll continue sanding. Smiles, Despina =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 10:24:41 -0400 From: Randy Asplund Subject: Re: [scribes]: gesso Hello Isolde, You can and likely should add more layers of gesso. It all depends on the composition of the gesso though. If your gesso is low in bulk former it will need more. If it is high in that content then it is "possible" to get away with one, but you shouldn't have put that high a proportion of bulk former in there in the first place! The most important thing here is to create a smooth surface that is going to evenly reflect light. To do that you need to make the gesso higher than the surface texture of the page. Anything more than that is superfluous. You can go high, and I have seen this in period pieces many times, but by far the most common height I have seen is barely noticeable. If you go too high the book doesn't close right and the gilding takes more abrasion (right, remember we are emulating book techniques! If you are putting it right into a frame as most people today do, then go ahead and make mountains!) Some surface preparation is usually necessary to the gesso after it has dried. Again, it depends on what the gesso is made with. Use a PVA binder and it can be smoother than hide glue, but it is harder to sand. I almost never sand. I just paint it out as evenly as I can, scrape with a knife (that's the medieval clean-up method) and then burnish it down with either my fingernail or a little bone burnisher I made. You can see some of this process at: http://randyasplund.com/browse/scribepg/scribe.html Hit the link for the making of the TI cover. RanthulfR > Isolde26 wrote: > > Regarding gesso, can one layer more on after a coat has dried? I find > that I have thick and thin spots and I would like to get it more even. > > Any help would be appreciated. > > YIS, > Isolde the Nimble Fingered > An Tir. > > Tytyvyllus me admittere impellit. - -- VISIT RandyAsplund.com To see a Universe of art ranging from Magic: The Gathering to Star Trek and Medieval Manuscripts: Original Art & Prints for sale! Randy Asplund (734) 663-0954 Science Fiction and Fantasy Illustration 2101 S. Circle Dr., Ann Arbor, MI. 48103 =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 13:08:16 EDT From: Birdheaded@aol.com Subject: [scribes]: re: Sanding Gesso - --part1_23.2665e19f.2ae83180_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Always remember to check the contents of your gesso before sanding. Sanding a gesso sottile with white lead in it is VERY dangerous. If it is necessary use a dust mask, gloves and poison box (or double plastic bag) to make sure you do not poison yourself or contaminate your surroundings. Sincerely, Hildegarde - --part1_23.2665e19f.2ae83180_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Always remember to check the contents of your gesso before sanding.  Sanding a gesso sottile with white lead in it is VERY dangerous.  If it is necessary use a dust mask, gloves and poison box (or double plastic bag) to make sure you do not poison yourself or contaminate your surroundings.

Sincerely,

Hildegarde - --part1_23.2665e19f.2ae83180_boundary-- =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 19:11:21 -0700 From: "Gael Stirler" Subject: [scribes]: Gallery of my Maiolica Art This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C27B91.74FE6A60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Greetings from Gutenberg School of Scribes Here is a link to a new gallery of my recent works in maiolica (Italian style ceramic painting technique). http://www.rencentral.com/GSS/maiolica-gallery.shtml I took up this art form a couple of months ago on advise from participants of this list. I was getting bored with paint, ink, gold leaf and paper and wanted a new challenge. Also I observed that some events really needed trophies rather than scrolls. I mentioned that I thought ceramic painting would be a possible alternative. Someone on the list directed me to Mary Schirmir's pages and they really inspired me to try it. http://www.marysmaiolicaarts.com/ As a scribe, I found my skill and training ideally suited to maiolica. I would like to see this fascinating art form practiced more often in the SCA to create awards and trophies to serve their Majesties. Since many painters and illuminators also worked as maiolicists in period, it seems a perfect match for those of us who want to expand our skills. I would be happy to correspond with others who are doing this or would like to. I am teaching classes in Maiolica at the Known World Academy of Rapier this weekend and at Estrella War in February. Lady Dairine mor o'Uhigin Tir Ysgithr, Atenveldt - ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C27B91.74FE6A60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Gallery of my Maiolica Art

Greetings from Gutenberg School of Scribes

Here is a link to a new gallery of my recent works in = maiolica (Italian style ceramic painting technique).
http://www.= rencentral.com/GSS/maiolica-gallery.shtml
I took up this art form a couple of months ago on = advise from participants of this list. I was getting bored with paint, = ink, gold leaf and paper and wanted a new challenge. Also I observed = that some events really needed trophies rather than scrolls. I mentioned = that I thought ceramic painting would be a possible alternative. Someone = on the list directed me to Mary Schirmir's pages and they really = inspired me to try it.

http://www.marysmaiolicaarts.c= om/
As a scribe, I found my skill and training ideally = suited to maiolica. I would like to see this fascinating art form = practiced more often in the SCA to create awards and trophies to serve = their Majesties. Since many painters and illuminators also worked as = maiolicists in period, it seems a perfect match for those of us who want = to expand our skills. I would be happy to correspond with others who are = doing this or would like to.

I am teaching classes in Maiolica at the Known World = Academy of Rapier this weekend and at Estrella War in February.

Lady Dairine mor o'Uhigin
Tir Ysgithr, Atenveldt

- ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01C27B91.74FE6A60-- =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2002 09:37:44 -0700 (PDT) From: Barb Ding Subject: [scribes]: looking for Polish manuscript sites? Greetings all, I suck at web searches and don't read Polish; I'm looking for stuff that's around 1300 and located in western (modern) Poland or from that era near the modern German-Polish border. I've only found one or two things ont he web and virtually nothing in my books; a _very_ few German examples. This is for a backlog knighthood and the format is a triptych style - English text to left, center panel for me to fill in with something spiffy, Polish text to right. Heavily Christian imagery is just fine for the recipient. Any help would be most appreciated! Dorren __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V8 #76 ****************************