So I display some coat of arms around the house, which causes my friends to eventually ask about this and that. Eventually, some friends have asked about adopting arms of their own, which I am more than happy to offer my input and time. Here I present two heraldic achievements I have designed and drawn, as well as an heraldic badge.
The first is for Michael Rideout, the escutcheon a pun on the name and the crest symbolic of his personality. Mr Rideout’s favourite colour is red, and asked that I try to include as much red into the arms as possible.
The second is for Mark Garcia, who has a fondness of Death personified and requested a skull be placed in his arms. The escutcheon is symbolic for Mr Garcia. The style is influenced by modern artists, and I will eventually draw a more traditional and elaborate version like I am oft to do.
The badge is also Mr Garcia’s; he initially wished me to simply draw a skull as a badge. Instead, I decided to skip the cliche imagery and go with crossed scythes and pitchforks, the tools of Death and Hell respectively, within an antique crown, as Death was depicted wearing in older drawings, tied together by an heraldic knot, to allude to a hangman’s noose.
<div class=“bbcode_center” >
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kp1hkADkwAQ/TeV3AySm4sI/AAAAAAAAADM/EpHDszuJ8L8/s600/Alexander+%C2%A9+2011%E2%80%94Coat+of+arms+of+Michael+Alan+Rideout+II.png
Very nice on both accounts. I’ve also had friends request design assistance, but once I actually start getting into the nitty gritty of it, they seem to lose interest. Kind of sad haha.
I can understand that some loose interest. It’s more a curiosity and such, but when discovering how easy it is to adopt, and learning that their family does not have an ancient coat, tends to push away people simply because it is quite different than their preconcieved notions. A shock to the system, if you will.
That’s why I usually try to incorporate something very personal in the arms, and explain hos it is theirs and theirs alone. To pass on to their children. Adding the pun to Mr Rideout’s arms, and explaining the symbolism behind the crest, made him very attached to the coat of arms. Adding the skull for Mr Garcia also made him quite interested in his oat of arms. I did the simpler design for him because I thought he would loose interest, but he’s been asking when he gets a more detailed drawing like Mr Rideout had received. So i suppose they will stay with the two friends.
Both of these are fantastic! Thie first, more detailed one, is wonderful. I love the canting at you have provided and I think it works perfectly. It’s all beautiful artwork.
There is a hat-in-the-air joie de vivre about your work Alexander which I’ve always admired. I’ve said this before; you put a smile on the face of he heraldry. I look forward to the day I can commission you to create a version of my own arms. Well done!
very nice !
Exceptional. The renderings are so deep & full of life. . . . or death.
I love Mr García’s badge!
I’m surprised you didn’t suggest something like this for the arms :p
Oh, Alexander! Nothing could make me happier than see you progressing so well!
I like the dynamic mantling and the galloping horse rider the most ! and the fluff of the bird in the crest that feels almost real !
All your designs are equally interesting .
Love your style, Alexander
Well done, indeed, Alexander. Your designs really jump off the page. The bird really looks alive - it’s an intriguing effect. I’m impressed.
The arms of Karl Heinrich Kopke (Laval, Québec) also seem to have a bit of a morbid flair.
http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/ProjectPics/v291_20070017_arms_KHK_sm.jpg
http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=1299&ProjectElementID=4162
Your work is absolutely beautiful, I am extremely impressed.
I am also extremely impressed!
Very well done! The detail work, shading, and the depth of color in your style is absolutely first rate.
I do like the grain growing from the skull in the Canadian grant, it is a very attractive design.
And thank you all for the kind words, I appreciate your compliments. I am actually glad Mr Garcia is happy with the arms, I do want the chance to draw the bear and dragon.