Layout for Celtic blessing

[Man you script]

This is what I want to transcribe;  I've only ever written out the first line of each verse.


I'm thinking the first line aligned to left like this:-


Deep Peace
of the
Flowing air
to you


In Red/burgundy.  Then the rest of each verse to the right of that and aligned right in black with a much smaller nib..


Each 'D' in 'Deep' will be a large uncial and the insides of the bowls of those 'D's will be illuminated relevant to the verse.  Maybe a decorative border below each 'D'  not too elaborate.


Thinking sharp italic.


I want to use a piece of calfskin velum I've had for over thirty years but have been too scared up until now!  It's a full skin, bar the limbs, which I cut off to practice on.  It's not quite A1 size and going by the Society of scribes & illuminators website shop, it's worth about £245!  I should only need half of it.

[Erica McPhee]

Wow - this sounds lovely and I am sure will be a gorgeous piece. I strongly suggest working out a full draft in pencil on a piece of paper (at size) before going to the vellum. Make any notes in terms of colors, styles, etc. in pencil on this draft.

Practice writing the piece out in full at least twice. This will give you a sense of spacing and alignment. You don't want any surprises on the final.

You could also choose a font that is similar in shape to the hands you will be using and play with the layout that way. This will ensure you are ready to move to the paper and then the vellum.

Lastly, draft out each D illumination and decorative border ahead of the final and be sure they all work together.

This sounds like an amazing project! I hope you will share photos!

[Man you script]

Thank you so much, I will not even show the vellum a nib until I've written it out rough and then in full and then full dress rehearsal on good paper at least twice - and they can be used as gifts, hopefully Christmas presents this year.


I hadn't thought of full size in pencil, will do that, thank you - and will indeed share progress.  A big deep breath coming up for the deep peace!


I first saw this when two Irish nuns from a local convent brought it in for me to transcribe, and frame, just the first line of each verse.  I instantly liked it a lot, did it for myself with a celtic knot border once, gave it to my sister and she discovered the full version which she pestered me to do, but I never did, she can have the full dress rehearsal!


The last verse was read out at my mother's funeral.


If you google "A Celtic Benediction" or "Deep Peace"  and click images, there's a lot done in calligraphy, one example below, but so far I've failed to find the full version in calligraphy.   John Rutter also put it to music, again just the first lines, not all of them - and added some of his own words.  I have sang it, in a Welsh male voice choir I was once a member of.


I wonder if originally it was just the first lines and someone added the verses later.


Has anyone here done it, in full or otherwise?  I couldnt find anything.

[Erica McPhee]

Oh my! That is BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to see your progress.

What a lovely choir piece as well.

@Ken Fraser  may have some insight.

I have a fondness for all things Gaelic. Thus my three: Delainey Brenna, Kaiden Rory, and Erilyn Ailie. 

[Man you script]

Re-think.


(Edit)  More to follow, just made a reply and for some reason the text was miniscule, must have pressed something wrong!!

[Man you script]

Lovely names! 



I plotted it all out for a size 2 nib for the first lines to the left and a size 4 for the rest of the verses.  It's too big for my piece of vellum.


I don't want to go below a size 4 nib, too spindly, less thick/thin contrast, and I don't want it to have to be read too close up.  I wanted the first lines to use a nib at least two sizes bigger than the rest of the verse.  I don't want two columns, I want it portrait.


So I'm thinking one big block of uncials, all the same size, aligned left, first lines in red.  First 'D' of each verse out to the left, ornate and all connected to make a left border, with waves, wind, stars, etc.  Aligned left - less layout worries.


Uncials more appropriate for a "Celtic Benediction" anyway!


If I'm rusty on calligraphy, I'm even more rusty on uncials!  I doodle quite a bit, but never in uncials.  All good fun though :-) 


(My daughter is "Rhainnon" BTW, and not after the Fleetwood Mac song either)

[tiffany.c.a]

Your new layout idea sounds just as nice as the previous one.
Layout design is definitely a practice in problem/solution, maybe going through drafts of a few “solutions” till you get to “a solution” that works well (however the artist determines that), and then go with it as “the solution” for the final. There are so many possibilities.

[Erica McPhee]

I agree - the new layout sounds lovely. I'm wondering if perhaps you could do the first verse as you initially wanted and then the rest as you have described in the second layout? Or would it look too uneven?

Love your daughter's name!

[Man you script]

It's going very slowly but I'll get there, and entry level cataracts that have recently upgraded themselves are not helping!


I attempted a paste up but my chosen layout paper was bad, and afer ruling it all up, I was a bit deflated.


I've only really done a lot of practice/doodling, but it's still fun,  and I have decided before going further I need to transcribe the uncial alphabet, with variations, about 60 times, pin that up on the wall for reference. 


The two small pieces at the bottom here are scraps of real vellum.

[Erica McPhee]

I love seeing your progress! I find composition and doing pieces like this so challenging. But I also think it really is the only way to truly “know” a script. And pushing yourself to do it all in one swoop on a finished piece is the ultimate satisfaction (in my opinion). It takes us to the next level. So bravo to you!

[Erica McPhee]

P.S. Sorry about the cataracts! I imagine it is so frustrating. I have been experiencing diplopia in my right eye which comes and goes but is stronger the more I do calligraphy intensely. Puts a damper on practice!