Canvas Commissions

Hey there!

This week I'm working on something a little different from my usual fiber projects. 

I've been asked by a friend to create a custom set of paintings for him using some of his favorite quotes. I've decided to approach this project from a fantastical perspective. I'm creating a set of pseudo-medieval shield paintings with nonsensical heraldry. 

Here are the quotes I've been given;

"Ordinary effort, ordinary result."- Ethan Hawke
"What is to give light must endure burning."-Victor Frankl
"Happiness is not mostly pleasure, it is mostly victory."-Harry Emerson Fosdick

So far I've been doing lots of sketches and research. I'm trying to take a little sprinkle from various eras and traditional styles. So far I'm working on creating black canvases with bright shields and bold heraldry. I'm using mostly primary colors with silver and gold. The quotes will be displayed on banners below the shields. 

On to some super sloppy sketches;

At this point canvas #1 (crossed swords) is set in stone since it's almost done. We're almost set on the design for canvas #2 as a chess piece with holly leaves. 

I'm in the process of creating the third piece which will most likely be a compass rose featuring a shield with a torch or crossed torches emblazoned on it. 

The first piece is almost done, it just needs the quote lettering on the banner.

This one will most likely say; "Ordinary effort, ordinary result." In my dreams the banner would be large enough to fit the entire quote; "Ordinary effort, ordinary result. Luck is the residue of design. Be steadfast. The anvil outlasts the hammer." I doubt it'll fit though since these are pretty small canvases (12"x 9") and I still don't know how I'll be tackling the lettering since you can see from the sketches above, I have terrible handwriting! 

I've got some more messing around to do with the last image to get it all cleaned up and as polished as the first two designs are then I can get to painting!

Drop by soon for more updates!

Thanks for reading! 

-Ash