Christel Leake

Welcome to my Arts Display. My name is Christel Leake and I have been in the SCA for 28 years and lived in multiple kingdoms. Currently I can be found in the Palatine Barony of Allyshia in the West Kingdom.

Below is a selection of my finished works of the past couple years. Most of the time I don't show works in progress as surprises are easily ruined. I have included references and exemplars where they were readily available.

Unfortunately I didn't start photographing my work until about two-three years ago at the urging of my Laurels. Please be gentle as this is my first time setting up any sort of webpage like this ever (what can I say, I exist fairly medievally).

I am always happy to receive feedback, answer inquiries, and facilitate learning opportunities. Please sign my guestbook below and feel free to find me on Facebook.

Happy Arting!

Le Crapaud Crew, CoronAVirus 2020

Matted and Glassed view of Le Crapaud Crew Coronavirus 2020 based on multiple exemplars utilizing diapering, floral vine work, landscape, and a twist on arches. 8.5"x11"

Close up of The Apex Murder Peacock Quarter. It says "Majestic Voice" in Latin on the sword. This quarter is to thank Duke Sir Hanz for continuing Le Crapaud during the pandemic. 2"x3"

Slaying the Magic Golden Cock. (No actual creatures were harmed in the making of this image). It says Danger in Latin on the Sword. The shield is a poor recreation in miniature of the fighter's beautifully painted real shield by her own hand. The pink and purple crest is to represent the Danger Muppet aspect. The Sword above is a nod to the Unicorn Princess. The garb and armor is representative of extant garb and armor belonging to the fighter. The overall card is inspired both by Crapaud fights and by topics on Between 2 Peers. This was made to thank the one and only Duchess Sir Helga. 2"x3"

To thank Countess Alice for her recording and sharing of the monthly Crapaud tournaments during the pandemic this card represents her as Alice of the Trees and Lady of the Lake (a nod to Between 2 Peers can be seen in the pink flower in her hand which is actually a post it note on a stick). 2"x3"

This quarter was made to thank Duke Sir Hauoc and none of this piece would have been made without his inspiration. I will forever be grateful that he honored me as La Fleur and thus I wanted to thank him especially while also including the others who made that possible. There is nothing written on his sword for he is a strong and silent type. 2"x3"

Court Barony Scroll

This is the two page spread created during the 48 Hour An Tir Scribal Challenge this summer. It is a Court Barony created for Edward Cire of Greymore. Gold Leaf, Shell Gold, and a mix of M. Graham and WInsor & Newton Gouache paints on pergamenata sheets 8 1/2"x11" each. Calligraphy by myself.

Illumination

I was thrilled that I won first place in the advanced division. Then I was further honored when the painting based on the Codex Manesse was used as the cover art for The Page.

Calligraphy

This is the text. Calligraphy is not my strong suit and I am working on figuring out how to make my spacing more justified in appearance without breaking words. If I'd had more time I would have done line fillers to make the text sections more rectangular in appearance. The flourished letters were a challenge as well as my blue ink refused to adhere to the pergamenata so I painted the blue flourishes with a 000 paint brush.

Invitation written on behalf of Their Royal Majesties as part of a bid to host the Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium. Gold Leaf, shell gold, and gouache on 8 1/2"x11" pergamenata. Based on the Bohun Psalters Egerton 3277 f. 13v http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Egerton_MS_3277

Colors altered by choice to represent the West Kingdom.

All the Bunnies- Trumpeting and Otherwise these bunnies are ready to get to work. You can see they have ink and quill, banner, heraldry, and manuscript plus trumpets! Always hopping to it.

The text on this was difficult to complete as it used multiple colors of inks and had gilding and painting around Royal and Titled Capitals (of which there were a great deal). Trying to get the spacing and leave the room for decorating felt very squashed and tight but overall I am happy with the end result.

Bear to honor my Laurel Viscount Master Sir Bjorn Jorsalfar of Bearhaven who keeps telling me I can do calligraphy and it will get better. He is exceptionally skilled at Gothic hands which are very straight and sharp whereas I am more inclined to curvy hands like Carolingian and Uncial.

Allyshian Heraldry

This was my entry for the heraldic art competition run by Baron Carrek. It didn't win but it did become the event cover page for an event in the Barony of Allyshia so that is fun. On 5"x7" pergamenata done in Gouache and shell gold.

Full Color Historiated V

This is a full color trading card sized Historiated Initial V based on Renaud the Fox and the Pandemic featuring a Plague Doctor and was my entry for the Scribal War. I won the Color and Letter Category I entered. Done on calf vellum 2 1/2"x3 1/2" using gold leaf, gouache paints, and speedball acrylic inks.

Line Drawn Historiated V

This was the line drawing. Both of these were done on actual animal vellum provided by David Bianco in a trading card size. This is line drawn with a croquil and ink then touched up with a micron.

This is my documentation for the Scribal War entry.

Rose Leaf Promissory turned Scroll

This was supposed to be a promissory for my husband Wilhelm's Rose Leaf. I had about six hours and had to be sneaky. I was informed it was scroll quality so now it is his Rose Leaf Scroll. I may add more later. It is based on a page from The Hours of Catherine of Cleves and was pretzles and pies and a cook book because he received his Rose Leaf for the period feasts he has cooked and provided documentation for. On 8 1/2'x11' pergamenata using gouache and quill and ink with some touch ups with micron pen for black.

B is for Badger

This was a trading card won as part of a fundraiser. The recipient goes by the name of the main animal and is a youth combat martial. Meant to have a storybook feel. Wallet sized 2 1/2"x3 1,2" on pergamenata with sumi-e gold and gouache with pen and ink.

Challenge Cards

This is a set of five trading cards done as part of a challenge from my Laurel Viscountess Mistress Hilarie the Puppeteer. Unfortuantely I cannot find the exemplar but they all came off the same page of a period manuscript.

Dogs of War

What a Boar

Lion Around

Oooooh Shiny Squirrel!

Archers are cool!

Sleepy Dragons

Dragon Initial S made for a friend's family member- fantasy piece based on actual medieval dragon sculptures seen in Germany. 8 1/2"x11" on pergamenata with gouache and a special added bonus of glow in the dark underlay for eyes and hearts.

Fealty Scroll

Fealty Scroll done on behalf of then Viscount BaronSir Kolskegg and Viscountess Baroness Mistress Katelinen and given to the King and Queen of the West. The calligraphy was done by my husband Lord Wilhelm Appatheker vom Schwartzwalt. This is on pergamenata using gouache and Kuretake gold shell paint. This was based on: "Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a Wildman seizing a lady out collecting flowers, from Book of Hours, Use of Sarum (‘The Taymouth Hours’), England (London?), 2nd quarter of the 14th century, Yates Thompson MS 13, f. 62r." and can be found here: https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/yates-thompson-manuscripts

Baronial Scroll Blanks

Eagle

An Allyshian Eagle Scroll Blank

Runic

A Runic Allyshian Scroll Blank based on the Funbo runestone U 991 in Uppland, Sweden.

Kingdom Scroll Blanks

Ponere Statera

A scroll blank based on a woodcut. It says "Ponere Statera" in Latin and means To Maintain Balance. Unfortunately when my computer crashed I lost my references on this one but I think I wrote it on the back so maybe the recipient will see this and get that info to me. Quill and Ink (with touch ups from micron pen) on pergamenata. Calligraphy by me as well.

German Woodcut Love

A scroll blank for general use in the West based on exemplar medieval wood cuts on 11x17 Pergamenata done with croquil and Speedball Acrylic ink.

Virtues Quest

A scroll blank for then Baroness Katelinen's Virtues Quest to be copied and passed out for the populace of Allyshia to fill in and turn in. It was based on a mix of woodcuts and medieval Hebrew calendars.

Exemplar

This is the exemplar of the Hebrew Calendar I pulled the shapes and general positioning from. Unfortunately I also lost this reference in the computer crash.

Chivalry Page

I did not draw all of this though I did tweak the drawing some for painting purposes with my Laurel's guidance. It is the Chivalry image page from the Book of Ours project and I was very nervous working on it because so may of my friends are Knights and I wouldn't want to let them down. It is based on the Morgan Bible which really likes that salmon pepto pink. As we do battle regularly with Caid I opted to make the fight scene something that could have played out at Great Western War.

Detail top left

Detail top right

Detail bottom left

Detail bottom right

Creativity Header

This is the Creativity header from the Book of Ours project. I did not do the calligraphy but I did paint the header and the line fillers. Unfortunately I do not know or remember who did the calligraphy or original drawing.

Da'ud's Award of Arms

Exemplar for Da'ud's AoA

Documentation for Da'ud's AoA.

This is an AoA for Lord Da'ud ibn Ali and is gouache on pergamenata. It is matted and framed under glass. It was inspired by his original SCA name Lawrence of the Sands which is why there are hour glasses of sand at various stages instead of moon phases as in the exemplar below. It contains ermine spots as a nod to Ermine Company and the populace badge abbreviated artistically. You can read further documentation and see the exemplar below.

Leif's Dragon Banner

Silk banner dragon painted for Leif Wilhelmson. 18"x60"

Exemplar for Banner

Valkyrie

Trading card of a Valkyrie and Northern Lights based on extant finds. This was made in Alaska during Crown tournament. Pergamenata, watercolor, and Kuratake shell gold paint.

Marriage Celebration Scroll

This piece was commissioned by Viscount Sir Eric for Lady Arganteliian on their honeymoon. He wrote the poem for her himself and it is truly a mash up of their SCA lives together not based on one exemplar but a diverse array of exemplars. This scroll is filled with personal touches but I will not share them here out of respect for his passing. I wish he could have still been here to hand it to her himself.

Jorgen's AoA

AoA scroll for Jorgen Rasmussen done on white pergamenata using gouache and Finetec gold paint with Speedball calligraphy pen and ink.

Top

Detail of Viking Ship, Arthropod, Whale, Mermaid, and Demi Sun

Side

The Giraffe Eel Hybrid

Bottom

Archer Knight Lobster

Allyshian Award Tokens

Wire wrapped dyed blue agate slices.

Pretty as a Peacock

Trading Card of a pretty peacock done in a fairytale storybook manner based on gallica.bnf.fr Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Français 9041, fol. 5v and the peacocks in The Hours of Catherine of Cleves.

Heraldic Banner

Silk Banner painted for my Laurels being displayed by my mother and child.

The Dream- A poem for all of us during this pandemic. I was honored to have this featured on the SCA official pages and in The Page. I hope it brings comfort and inspiration to all who read it.

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