Bookplate for Mr Kosmodemyansky (based on his arms). Etching (eau-forte, copper).
Designed, produced and printed by Michael Shelkovenko:
Mr Kosmodemyansky of the City of Moscow (2006).
Composed by me. Painted by Michael Shelkovenko:
Vignettes for the armiger and members of his family (2007).
Designed and handdrawn by me (then vectorized):
Thanks Mitya I will be in touch concerning this artist. He is excellent and worthy of Invitation. These further samples are superb. Thanks for posting them.
1995 was a jubilee year for an ancient Russian city of Ryazan: the city celebrated its 900th anniversary. And it was a Year of Pig (according to the Eastern - Chinese - calendar: ‘twas the 75th Pig Year in Ryazan’s history). That is why a Russian troyka of… pigs pulls a cart (unseen) with Ryazan Kremlin and its main cathedral on it in this composition (trumpeting angels - though in other poses - are exterior decorative statues of this cathedral. The arms of Ryazan are above all. Etching by Michael Shelkovenko (eau-forte, copper, 1994):
I have often thought of trying engraving…but although I have the patience of a saint I think this process would make me irritable….I have tried replicating the ‘feel’ of an engraving with fine pens but it is never the same. My late lamented friend Daniel de Bruin sent me some fine engraved bookplates by various people but not heraldic ones alas.
Uh, it seems that heraldic engraving is even more rare in modern world than a fern in blossom. I know nobody in Russia (except Michael). Sorrow!..
Heraldic engraving is such a detailed and beautiful art. I really wish I had the patience, or even just the time to learn to do something like that, especially with it being a dying art that you see so little of in the modern world.