Hi Folks,

My dad (Boyd Sylvester Garrison of California) wants me to design arms for him.  I have sketched out some (really bad) artwork of designs he and I discussed.

I apologize for the poor illustrations, but I believe the artwork is at least clear enough to get the point across.

I would ask for anyone with time to spare and willingness to help, to rate the examples 1 to 5 based on design content.  I honestly don’t mind if you rate all of them a 1 if you think they are all poor designs.  I appreciate honesty more than flattery.  Thanks!!!

- Jeff

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c98/fean77/GarrisonDeviceIdeas.jpg

The two recurring charges in the designs are the red-tailed hawk (common to southern California), and the mullet of eight points symbolizing his interest in astronomy.

Would you mind sharing the rationale for these charges? A big part of attractive heraldry is the creative use of symbolism, so what these charges represent could help generate ideas.

Based on the art alone, I think designs B and C are the only really nice ones. Design F is starting to head towards the more busy side of the spectrum, but I can still live with it. Design A is simple, which is always good, but I don’t know if I’m a big fan of a jumbo sized star. The other two, I think, look ugly… then again, maybe I’m just biased against birds displayed. :p

P.S. The artwork is not too bad. With a little practice, I think you’d be surprised what you could do.

At first glance I liked C the best. What about modifying B by adding a second mullet in base counterchanged?

The red tailed hawk is good. It makes for a unique charge. I like the idea of an embattled line of partition to allude to a garrison wall (dovetail makes me think of carpenters) and the star is good. I might try parting the shield in fess rather than in chief (visually a little more sky above the wall).

I definitely like C the best.

/Ronny

Would you consider moving the star to dexter chief?  Nothing wrong with a little asymmetry, and it would then allude obscurely to the California state flag.

A sable chief would better convey the idea of astronomy—star visible at night.  Making the star argent would do the same.  This would also reduce your palette to black, white, and red—more is generally not better when it comes to tinctures.

Agree with George on embattled vs. dovetailed.

A = 5

B = 2

C = 4

D = 5

E = 5

F = 3

If you continue to develop "C" then I would seriously consider what Joe suggests about using black rather than blue. Also, you might consider more than one star. Three would look good or you could even do a chief semee of stars since in astronomy it is more than one star at which one looks.

My favorite one is actually "E".

Also, I agree that your artwork ain’t that bad!

B is the best.

Joseph McMillan;67825 wrote:

Would you consider moving the star to dexter chief?  Nothing wrong with a little asymmetry, and it would then allude obscurely to the California state flag.

Gee, what a great idea!

arriano;67830 wrote:

Gee, what a great idea!

I quite like Fr. Selvester’s idea of a semee of stars… Something like this?

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Claus,

Very nice—but no tuft on the back of the head:  it’s a hawk, not an eagle.  (Generally the only way of telling one from the other in heraldry.)

I would add a much shorter beak. I have noticed that there are differences beyond the tuft, at least in "Fairbanks Crests"

Ah, the problems with not being gifted enough to actually draw… Perhaps someday I should learn how to… For now I must use clip-art and do the best I can…

I’m not sold on the chief, semy or otherwise. I like the embattled line as a cant on "Garrison," but I’d like to see the hawk soaring rather than weighed down. I also agree with Joe’s comment about keeping the number of tinctures to a minimum.

What about: Argent a hawk displayed Sable beaked langued membered and queued Gules above a base embattled Sable?

I would let the mullet go. Two charges (hawk and base) are enough.

I really like Mr. Berntsen’s rendition, per Fr. Sylvester’s suggestion.

As for soaring, the hawk could be attempting to get itself over the wall, an interesting symbolism, if it fits the armiger.

BTW (NOT to get off-topic), Claus, your simplified arms in your avatar are excellent!