Based on a Hebrew Bible, France, 15th Century

Here is the line drawing, and here is the color section of the scroll.

Materials used on this scroll consist of:

• Bristol board, 8.5" x 11"
• Higgens India Ink
• The following gouache paints:
• Ultramarine Blue
• Carmine
• Chromium Oxide
• Bleedproof White
• Light Grey
• Medium Grey
• Gold

Tools used were:

• ruler
• mechanical pencil
• size 7 brush
• size 3/0 brush
• crow quill nib with holder

By comparing the line drawing with the painted scroll, you should be able to determine where the colors are applied. It is usual practice to first lay gold leaf when painting an illuminated page, and in keeping with this tradition, I first applied the gold paint. Next, using the size 7 brush, I laid the Ultramarine Blue, the Carmine (red) and the Chromium Oxide (green). The dragon's body was painted in three tones: Ultramarine blue at the top, medium grey next, and light grey at the bottom. Once the flat colors were laid in, I used the 3/0 brush to apply the bleedproof white detailing.

As you can see, it was really quite simple.

The border detail was found in Bibles and Bestiaries.

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