Here’s my take on a dangle design monogram using the Lombardic Capitals lettering style.

I drew the design in pen using Uniball Unipin pens on dot grid paper. After scanning the pen and ink design into my Microsoft Surface Studio I removed the dot grid and created a transparent background.

Then, I coloured the design digitally, using a Microsoft Surface Pen and Autodesk Sketchbook Pro.

The Lombardic Capitals are very medieval in style and so I wanted my dangle designs to reflect this. I spent some time yesterday researching medieval, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic jewellery, floor tiles and ornamentation, which I then used as inspiration for the dangle designs.

I chose jewel-like colours for the design – these colours are often used in medieval manuscripts.

I must admit I’m not sure either about the blue background behind the letter A or the green border to it. Working digitally means I can easily change my colour choices here once I work out what I’d like to do with them.

The final step was to add some texture to the colours, some drop shadows and to create a background in colours and pattern reminiscent of vellum.

I say it every time but I mean it – I really did enjoy creating this one! 

A Dangle A Day is released on 8 Jan 2019.