What a lovely three days we had in May when eight keen illuminators-to-be got together and produced amazing results in just three days. The courses are held in mid-May each year and are limited to eight people. This year there were two participants from Canada, an American and one participant from Hong Kong, as well as four British. It made for a very jolly and very keen group.

The course focuses on the traditional materials, tools and techniques of mediæval manuscript illumination, including vellum preparation for painting, making, laying and using gesso, cutting quills from feathers, using 23·5 carat gold leaf, using burnishers, the processes of painting miniatures and much more.

It’s a huge amount to get through even with three days, but everyone set to with great enthusiasm. Despite all the best conditions, careful measuring and making, gesso can still be rather temperamental and so it proved on this course! Various approaches were tried, but it wasn’t possible even at the end of the course to burnish the gold to the shine that we all would have liked. The gesso needed to ‘settle’ for that; however, it was a very good experience for everyone on the course to have practical ideas to consider for what to do when it doesn’t work! So often it can be perfect on a course with the tutor there for quick answers, and then not so good at home when there’s no one at hand to advise.

Here are the results and the reason why the images are rather wonky is that I was trying to get the gold to glisten as best it could!

These are the comments from those on the course, but not necessarily next to their wonderful results:

Wonderful. I had an absolutely fabulous time and can’t wait to start working on projects at home. I’ll be telling my friends that if they ever get the chance to take this course they should absolutely do it.

 

 

Absolutely fabulous!! Well worth coming from Canada. I am so very glad to have made the journey and truly value the gift of the skills shared and encouraged. THANK YOU FROM MYSELF and all of our friends with whom we will share what we have learned (and will encourage to come). It was a privilege to learn from a master craftsperson such as you.

Absolutely fabulous – everything you could wish for on the subject. Great camaraderie, great facilities, lots of historical information. Loved every minute.

 

 

 

I truly enjoyed listening to your stories and demonstrations. I love how you’ve turned everything surrounded by mystery into something everyone can do. I loved it and wouldn’t change a thing.

 

 

 

Patricia really is the master of illumination. She is clear, knowledgable, even students without anything about illumination can get it done. Excellent and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in illumination.

 

Very good combination and helpful to have an in-person teacher who could give comments and observe to fix mistakes and technique. Would recommend to any serious student of mediæval illuminated manuscripts.

 

Excellent! Everything is well explained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a great time and learned a lot. Lovely setting and facilities.