Today I received the link to a scan of my arms as painted by Andrew. I am astounded by the quality and level of detail. I especially like the owl in my crest. The extra ant on the helmet is a nice touch as well.
Chris, this was fun to do. I mixed a ‘warm’ green to compliment the gold and although the owl is proper I still stylised him heraldically. I added a chain to the helm so that when you are next in the tournament and it gets knocked off you wont lose it ! 
The ant breathing hole you have already noticed on the helm. The colours of the original are richer, these photo’s I take never do the work complete justice.
Very nice, once again. Chris I agree with what Andy said. The colors are so much richer in person - the photos never do it justice. Just wait until it shows up at your doorstep!
Ditto Andy and Jesse - The pictures are NEVER as good as in person…
I am definitely looking forward to receiving the actual art; I have no doubt that the photograph fails to do it justice.
And yes, the chain is a nice touch. I wouldn’t want to be fumbling for my helmet while also having to wheel my mount and get another lance.
Beautiful! I particularly like the mantling. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is a freshness, a crispness, an energy about it that one doesn’t often get in such elaborate lambrequins.
Thank you everyone for your kind comments !
Superb Chris, a pleasure to view your arms by a master. I’d never noticed the little ant before. Is there a story behind it?
In addition to the usual heraldic meanings, ants have considerable history in computer science, algorithms, and AI.
Richard G.;90382 wrote:
Superb Chris, a pleasure to view your arms by a master. I’d never noticed the little ant before. Is there a story behind it?
cachambers007;90364 wrote:
Today I received the link to a scan of my arms as painted by Andrew. I am astounded by the quality and level of detail. I especially like the owl in my crest. The extra ant on the helmet is a nice touch as well.
Why anyone would be astounded with the artistry of Andrew Jamieson is beyond me. He is who he is (one of the world’s best heraldic artists) for very good reason.
David Pritchard;90544 wrote:
Why anyone would be astounded with the artistry of Andrew Jamieson is beyond me. He is who he is (one of the world’s best heraldic artists) for very good reason.
Leonardo was one of the great artists in all of history, but one can nevertheless be astounded standing a few feet from the portrait of Ginevra de Benci in the National Gallery of Art:
http://www.nga.gov/image/a00006/a0000637.jpg
Now here’s what’s beyond me (and, I suspect, David as well): how people who have seen a hand-painted emblazonment by Jamieson, and a hand-drawn digital emblazonment by Ljubodrag Grujic, can then gush over the awesomeness of a mediocre, clip-art-based, over-processed version of the very same arms! I could understand being impressed by mediocrity if one had never seen excellence, but this happens here all the time.
As they say on ESPN: "C’mon, man!"
I adore this piece. Thanks for sharing Andrew’s emblazonment of your arms with us Chris! :D
David Pritchard;90544 wrote:
Why anyone would be astounded with the artistry of Andrew Jamieson is beyond me. He is who he is (one of the world’s best heraldic artists) for very good reason.
I really do miss that "Like" button…
Joe, one thing you do need to remember that:
1. Some of the "gushing" is as much encouragement
2. Some of the "gushing" is an appreciation of differing styles
and of course, some just "gush"..
...or just feel, occasionally, like saying more than "well, we’ve seen worse…"
moving on -
Originally Posted by Andrew Stewart Jamieson View Post
Should I start looking at a new career ?
I work in Human Resources (that’s what we call it to justify more $$ than just "Personnel")—we generally have two pat responses:
"Repeat after me: Welcome to Walmart"
or
"Repeat after me: Would you like fries with that?"
Better just stick with the old store! We’d sure miss the eye candy…
I agree with Joe.
One can be in the presence of a master’s painting, knowing the artist is a master, as Joe posted above, and still be "astounded" by it even if he’s seen it or other art from that artist.
In my experience, frankly, if one is not "astounded" by the beauty, majesty of art on that level then one isn’t properly dispossed to truly appreciate art for what it is, rather for what it says as a social statement, or a compulsion to ‘collect’.
I’ve seen that in both the heraldic and non-heraldic art world.
