I’ve not spent as much time doing heraldic illustration as I’ve liked. I’m really trying to make an effort to fit this hobby in my life more. Below is a practice sketch I did in pen and ink and then touched up in photoshop and illustrator. I’d appreciate some thoughts or ideas on how I might improve the composition from here - particularly when it comes to the form/shape of the lion and especially his face.
(Note: The hatching of the torse is in error, I intended to do Vert instead of Purpure, but didn’t notice till I was half way done :?
If you did up a number of clipart worthy images of this quality Jeremy, I think a lot of people would want to use them (I know I would).
Jeffrey Boyd Garrison;100136 wrote:
If you did up a number of clipart worthy images of this quality Jeremy, I think a lot of people would want to use them (I know I would).
Yep! 
I have no criticism or advice to offer, as it looks very good to me.
I like it!!! :cool:
My one suggestion (which may be obvious) is that charges should not be both hatched and colored; one or the other. Doing both is generally a giveaway that the person using the charge doesn’t know what the hatching means (as, of course, you obviously do).
Seconding Joe’s comment. Hatching is often quite useful for B&W work, if it’s done properly; and some of us old-timers are so twisted that we almost "see" the colors in our mind’s eye. But in colored work, at least past the rough-draft sketch phase, it’s unnecessary visual clutter.
Joseph McMillan;100150 wrote:
My one suggestion (which may be obvious) is that charges should not be both hatched and colored; one or the other. Doing both is generally a giveaway that the person using the charge doesn’t know what the hatching means (as, of course, you obviously do).
Thank you! Here I thought I was being somewhat clever.
Hi Jeremy,
I am by no means an expert, but if you will allow me. I have found by using varied line widths it helps add dimension. The form and shape of the lion is good. In my opinion the area of improvement is the mouth. The side lines of the mouth are thin lines and rather hard to determine. I would suggest (only my opinion of coarse) to shade a bit with pencil or on a color piece a darker tone, inside the mouth around the tongue. This will help to clarify the inside of the lions mouth (without the need to make the side mouth lines thicker and possibly throw off the visual flow). The only last thing I see (not that there is anything wrong with it, just something I noticed) is the Lion’s "beard" (can’t recall the correct term right now). To my eye is appears to be a little large in proportion to the rest of the mouth and head.
If you wish to work more in illustrator I would be happy to answer any questions if I am able.
Excellent work Jeremy!
Thank you very much, Terry!
All,
Here’s another pen and ink to vector image draft. By using the rope instead of mantling, I hope to give it a more nautical feel.
http://jeremyhammond.net/owncloud/index.php/apps/files/ajax/download.php?files=hammond01.png&dir=/
Jeremy it might just be me, but I can’t see the new drawing,
j.carrasco;100771 wrote:
Jeremy it might just be me, but I can’t see the new drawing,
It ain’t just you. I can’t see it from plain americanheraldry.org, www.americanheraldry.org, or copying the url of the picture (http://jeremyhammond.net/owncloud/index.php/apps/files/ajax/download.php?files=hammond01.png&dir=/) directly into my browser. The first two options display nothing, the third option (which should give nothing but the pic) gives me a login screen to owncloud.
Nick
Bah! Apologies… Here it is.
http://www.americanheraldry.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1287&stc=1&d=1380568673
That looks mighty nice! I like the rope surround. And the overall "feel" of the emblazon.
—Guy
Another attempt of my own differenced arms. This time no computer. This is a photograph of a pen and ink drawing colored with pencil. (It more accurately appears orange, as opposed to red/gules) in real life)
http://www.americanheraldry.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1289&stc=1&d=1380822282
Nice artwork!
I notice that the first of the two have the wreath Argent & Orange, while the second is Argent & Vert.
Does this reflect different mantelings for the two versions, if drawn as a full achievement?
Have you considered a three-color wreath? - e.g. Argent, Orange & Vert? Three-color wreaths are of course less common than two-color but not off the grid.
