Carrek MacBrian

Parchment & Pigment, Wood & Wire, Word & Wit

I've been a member of the SCA for about 20 years at this point. It has come to influence almost every aspect of my life and has taken me places I never expected. Primary among these is becoming an artist. I have always been much more into the technical side of things; I spent high school working on technical drafting and learning how to program routers.

Being something of a fringy (read: poor) at the beginning of my SCA career I was immediately drawn to brewing. I experimented with mead, cider, and ciser and I eventually moved into infusions and cordial making. It was so much fun fiddling with recipes trying to get things just right. I eventually went on to win several Principality and Kingdom brewing competitions. This virtual format isn't really set up for a tasting, but I hope to have something to share at upcoming events. Y'know, when there isn't a plague.

About 12 years ago I moved to the Barony of Darkwood, and there I found my home. Darkwood welcomed my household and I with open arms. Many of the populous have encouraged my artistic growth and expression. One of my chief mentors was Baron Juan Santiago, who suggested that I apply for the Ranger Program. The Ranger Program is designed to help individuals experiences a broad variety aspects of the Society that they may not have thought of. To gain entry into this you have to hand calligraph a petition. I was hooked and have had perpetual ink stains on my fingers ever since. I spent hours working on my lettering, doing draft after draft until I ran out of time. I presented it to their Excellencies and was admitted.

Another aspect of the Ranger program was to write and preform several bardic pieces. I studied hard, and work and crafted and came up with several pieces, both poetry and story and presented them to the populous over several events. The last event being White Shield. Santigo is a crafty one and bade me enter the Bard of the Oak competition to present my piece for the Ranger Program. I competed and was blessed to with victory and held the office as Bard of the Oak for two years. I've provided several of my pieces below.

The art that has really stuck with me is calligraphy and illumination. Having an Irish persona, I fell in love straight away with the Book of Kells. This gospel is a seminal work and I think perhaps the greatest single work of calligraphy and illumination in the Western World. Thanks to Trinity College making the Book available online I can honestly say I have looked through every page. I hope one day to visit Trinity College and see the actual book in person. I work to continue exploring new artistic styles and new hands and look forward to years of discovery to come.

Several years into my studies I was lucky to find a mentor who's passion and madness gelled well with mine. Aldith Angharad St. George took me on as her apprentice in AS 50 and we have learned much from her. She has become a dear friend and I am grateful for her wisdom and shenanigans.

I have continued to acquire new skills, hone the skills I have, and learned more on various tangents along the way: Basic smithing and metal working, kumihimo, finger loop braiding, viking wire weaving, wire jewelry making. I have crafted my own quills and brushes, made and used my own pigments. I may suffer from a case of "make-all-the-things!"

Calligraphy & Illumination

Calligraphy and Illumination kinda snuck up on me to be honest. As I mentioned above, my first piece was a petition to join the Darkwood Rangers. Since I started though, I have found thousands of hours of enjoyment. Words fail to convey just how fulfilling it can be to take something as aetherial as an idea and rendering into the real world.

Leaf of Merit

In the style of the Book of Kells, a carpet page on the verso and the text of the award on the recto. I wanted to represent Nikolai's tireless work as a constable, hence the gate book and scales for measuring coinage.

Another aspect of this was that I wanted to represent a person of color in the Scribal Arts. I don't often see scrolls with people of color rendered. There are period examples of this, but by and large they are less than flattering.

But these are the current Middle Ages and representation matters.

Patent of Arms

A Scythian "style" scroll for Mistress Helga Skjaldmear, with marginalia based on the Scything Princess Tattoos as well as scything jewelry. The borders motif is based off a belt buckle and the bezants are Scythian coins. This was my first foray into gold leaf and I spent long hour burnishing and embossing this.

Rose Leaf

A Rose Leaf scroll I was commissioned to create this scroll at 12th Night and due the first week of February. This was a real challenge for me. I based this graphic off of a base image in The Book of Kells. The triskel in the upper right is for the wax seal.

Grant of Arms

I based this scroll on a page from Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (c. 732CE). The letter contains key patterns, interlace and Celtic animalia. This is the Grant of Arms of Randal of Camusfearna, his induction into the Yeomen of the West, and his entry into the Royal Missile Company.

Barony Scroll

The display capitol on this piece is based on ms. 0321, f. 070v, a Tours Bible. The plaque features a portrait of the recipient, a fencer fighting a Calygreyhound. I decided to push out of my comfort zone here and move into a gothic hand, in this case proto- gothic. The gilding is a wonderful invention called mica powder. This is some of my earliest blending and white work.

Grant of Arms

A "naked" Grant, this is based off of the Canon Tables found at the beginning of most medieval gospels. Prior to about 1550, bibles did not have chapter and verse delineations, so Canon Tables helped locate specific important passages. The top center is a purple phoenix surrounded by various Celtic motifs. Designing the interlace pattern arch took a long time and a lot of graph paper. The hand is Insular Minuscule.

Promissory/ Charter

Leaf of Merit

A promissory I calligraphed during the rein of Geoffrey and Katherine. The border is a Celtic Tree of Life.

Promissory/ Charter

Ash Leaf

A promissory I calligraphed during the rein of Geoffrey and Katherine. The border is a Celtic Key Pattern.

Promissory/ Charter

Award of Arms

A promissory I calligraphed when my Knight and his Lady first reigned.

Award of Arms

A challenging commission to be sure. The client wanted this to be in the style of "goth/-my little pony." I really enjoyed playing with the vine work.

Here is some detail on the white work and the diapering. Mistress Hilarie helped me with the skulls. There are few surprises hidden amonst them. This, I have to say was just loads of fun to do.

A replacement AoA

This was another commission for a reign auction. The client wanted to get a replacement AoA for a friend. I am really with happy how it turned out.

Kufic Minuscule

I was inspired by THIS Quran Leaf so I created this arabesque script which I call Kufic Minuscule. I need to do a scroll in this soon.

Preamble

I was inspired by THIS bag and it's message. I wanted to show that Arabic calligraphy is not only beautiful, but absolutely complimentary with American Culture. And truth be told, I wanted thumb my nose White Nationalists.

I dare you not to read this in the School House Rock melody.

Scribal Trading Cards

The following are cards I created for the Knowne World Scribal Trading Card Program. All must be on 2.5x3.5 pieces of paper, the size of a playing card.

Some simple bar and ivy.

This isn't Spanish. No, not at all.

A Celtic motif I like.

Key patterns, all measured and figured out by hand.

A Gothic 'W' with diapering and silver mica powder.

A heraldic style thistle.

A Celtic V

A historiated Celtic 'D' with the irish hero, Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

A Celtic 'B'

A Celtic 'T' with a tri-spiral motif.

A Celtic Key Pattern

A Celtic 'B'

First Inter-Kingdom Scribal War

The COVID-19 epidemic has kept us all in doors and away from our friends and family. Luckily our SCA family from all over the Known World has come together for much arting and sciencing. On the Vernal Equinox, David de Rosier-Blanc of Antir announced a great Shelter-In-Place Scribal War. We would compete as Kingdoms for bragging writes and parchment to feed our scribal passion.

The West came together in numbers and competed in the first scenario "Illuminated Capitols". This was my entry, the letter "þ" (thorn). COVID was weighing heavily on my mind so I used that to inspire my creativity.

Here are 3 plague doctors climbing the Tree of Iðunn, risking the wrath of the gods to gather the golden apples of eternal distill an elixir to cure the sick. The actual piece is about 2" wide by 3" tall.

Wood working

I started working with wood to help support my consort with her weaving addicti...passion. I found I really enjoyed working with wood and making something concrete that others could use. Since then I have worked hard to improve my joinery skills to create useful, functional and beautiful items.

Bag Frames

Haithabu style bag frames. Made of oak and stained with danish oil. I actually had to plug the holes at each side to work with the bag makers materials. While they matched the extant artifact, my partner had gone a different direction. Sometime you just have to pivot.

Inkle Loom

A inkle loom I made for as a gift for Maurya Etain Sableswan. Everything is oak, from limbs to throw, to feet. I really pushed my joinery skills on this, and I am pleased with it.

The reverse side. I got to use some of my illumination abilities on this project. Those are her arms on the front limb. She received this as a step down present at 12th Night.

Stand Up Inkle Loom

A stand up tablet weaving loom that I made for my lady as Yule present. It can carry a 9 yard warp. The body is pine, and the pegs are oak, all with a walnut stain.

Boards and more

A board loom with a Celtic tree of life motif, a Knaves Noddy Board that is the size of a pack of playing cards and a couple of Nålebinding needles.

Shuttle

A boat shuttle I crafted out of oak for my lady.

Metal, leather, and miscellany

Copper, brass and silver wire rings. There are Celtic spectacle, Norse vortex and Hercules Knot rings. From 18ga. up to 26 ga

A 20 ga, copper wire woven bracelet I made, a 16 loop, single weave. The finished diameter after pulling this through the draw plate is about 3/8" diameter

A quiver I made as a prize for the Hawks Haven Grand Archery Tournament

When your consort is a weaver, you pick up a thing or two. This is some half inch wide trim I made for a Purgatorio Prize Chest.

A cloak I made for the winner of the White Shield Rapier Tournament.

Corned beef I cured and soda bread I baked. Nom nom nom.

Roman desert cakes I made for a feast of The Hero's Journey. Those are hazel nuts at the center.

A 26ga silver anklet I am working on. It's a single weave, 8 loop. This is probably 60 feet of wire.

Bardic Pieces

Here are some of the shorter bardic pieces I have written. I also love to tell stories, often Jack Tales, exerts from the Prose Edda and The Book of Invasions. While my stories tend to be light hearted tales of adventure and craft, I often find that my poetry can be a bit more serious and at times even melancholy. I look at it this way: Glad prose tells you how the poet is feeling. Melancholy prose tells you, you aren't alone.

Perhaps when events resume I'll see you at one of the Bardic Circles and I can spin a tale or two.

Allthing

Now Winter’s come and frost chills deep
No fires burn in hold nor keep
We are called from far and wide
We are called to our Baron’s side

Sheath thy sword and gird thy sling
Darkwood comes to stand Allthing

Calls crafty Juan, Calls witty Rose
Stand as one, must heirs be chose
Tell us true what names to speak
To Royal ears in few a week

Sheath thy sword and gird thy sling
Darkwood comes to stand Allthing

Come Jarrod tall with thy spear
Come Brid thy strength without peer
Come Lucious trident and net
Come Ann with grace you beget

Sheath thy sword and gird thy sling
Darkwood comes to stand Allthing

Now tis time each with staff spoke
Tall and proud, Thou Western Oak
Answers to wit, guide us true
Honor and all say Coil Dubh

Sheath thy sword and gird thy sling
Darkwoods COME to stand Allthing

Fealty

Neath Ancient crag and vaulting sky
Stands a castle bold for which none vie

Ancient and sturdy are the walls and keeps
But now silent and calm where but one now sleeps

Under watchful eye he holds faithful to his choice
Silent and stark, his pace he keeps without voice

Deeds of his are write upon the land
Where he kept his lords peace by strength of hand

Conflict becomes peace, a testament to valor
Though now his face has lost its youthful palor

A warrior keeps his word as he keeps his blade
Close and keen and strict, though others' honor fade

Though now forgotten by his honored Lord
A samurai is ever faithful to his given word

Hræfn

The woods are still tonight
As the path I follow turns
Round a bend and o’er the bridge
Where water dark now churns

But past this bridge across my way
An oaken trunk now lays
Limbed and leafed, stout and broad
Low lain before its days

I pause to find I cannot pass
Yet must dwell upon his days
The golden glen around him nursed
In varied verdant ways

How many seedling did he plant?
How many fawn did shade?
Who will teach the trees to grow?
Or scatter sun streams ‘pon the glade?

The forest creeks in mournful groan
For the loss of our great kin
We sit and weep a bitter brook
And vigil keep for him

Justice

Oh Themis! Your might astounds!
We who here vie for you heart
For your grace, our love abounds
Fear and Hope your flashing blade

Vixen swift you lead me through
Paths strange and long untold
And yet still I chase you true
O’er the world as you have bade

But not lone do I seek you
And many would your temperate charms
To be of those happy few
To proceed as envy stays

Though unsighted my heart you see
Yet unbiased pray gauge my love
Blood me not and grant mercy
When faults the good outweighs

Lady Fair please know this true
My love is ever earnest
Should I catch to bide with you
Would awake with a Fury lain

Palio

Il Palio! The Piazza mills with Life

For our contrade, fire will burn our hearts!

To prove our home the pride as proving starts

And stand above the throng , in cheering strife

With glory, accolades, and ‘haps a wife

More Pluto’s Horde, or Helios’ Cart

I yearn to be the man to ply his art

Astride a beast, first born of Neptune’s Fife

I blink, and find I ride a snorting steed?

But I, a sculptor know not how to course!

Damn argent tongue burnished bright with wine!

We leap, past sense it seems, not yet agreed

this test of ours, thrice round our skills be tried

As I, As I , recline, upon the starting line

Night

The sun goes to her rest within a bed of foam
and night she spreads her cloak o’er the bowl
But now what kith and kine are loosed to roam
neath shining pearls set fixed in heavens shoal

As nature vests a silken sable shall
silent shadows slip from cave and canyon

And gentle wind a-lites from silent mall
shadows embraces as old companion

Yet now the hunter arise and to feast.
No mask, nor ruse , the most sincere of beast

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