Art Journal Page: Illuminating Letters

illuminated letter

The next art journal session in The Studio is on Monday, and this morning I’m prepping my samples. We’re going to attempt to create an illuminated letter. I’ve put together instructions for a basic Celtic arched lettering, but this is my take on a more Gothic Celtic style of illuminated lettering.

I started by sketching out the letter and background block and the twining vines. In a quick test I discovered that the Zig Memory Systems 2-way Glue Pens, or the Sakura Quickie Glue, when left to dry clear stays open (hence the temporary adhesion ‘way’) and able to catch gilding flakes or sheet. The benefit of this finding is the relatively easy application of glue to complex shapes that would otherwise require fiddly painting. As to the rest, Posca Pens and Dylusions Paint Pens were all I used before ageing the result with Pumice Stone Distress Ink and sealing with DecoArt Americana Sealer/Finisher Matte Spray.

Used in this layout:

  • Caran D’Ache Neocolour II
  • Napkin decoupage using Ranger Multi Medium: Matte
  • Zig Memory Systems 2-way Glue: Squeeze and Roll
  • Speedball Metal Leaf: Gold
  • Posca Pens: 1M / 3M / 5M
  • Dylusions Paint Pens: Black & White
  • Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Pumice Stone
  • DecoArt Americana Sealer/Finisher Spray: Matte

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