When starting on this illuminated letter, I knew of the amount of detail that would have to be involved after reading the Book of Hours and My Name is Red. Both works either showcase the intricate designs or describe them through words. However, in both cases the books let the reader know just how much time and effort is put into creating an illuminated manuscript.
When entering the scriptorium, I knew what I wanted to do with my letter and the context (song lyrics) that would go along with it. However, I didn’t realize just how long the process of even creating a simple pen-and-watercolor design would be. I didn’t finish putting al of the colors into my letter, let alone adding gold leaf or writing down the rest of the lyrics! This scriptorium project allowed me to have an even greater appreciation for the works that illuminators did in the past with even fewer resources and longer waiting periods.
