Illuminated Capital Design
Discover the beauty of Lombardic Capitals, the elegant decorative letters found in medieval manuscripts. Over three sessions you'll learn to construct these timeless letterforms, decorate them with ornamental motifs, and bring them to life with acrylic colours.
Three live sessions, two hours each. Session times will be confirmed and emailed to registrants. If you're unable to attend live, the recording will be available for 7 days.
Your seat and the workshop recording are saved to your account.
What we'll cover
Whether you're drawn to lettering, ornamental art or historical design, this workshop helps you understand both the structure and the aesthetics of illuminated capitals while developing your own decorative style.
Understanding Lombardic Capitals
We'll begin by exploring the history, anatomy and construction of Lombardic Capitals. You'll learn their proportions, curved forms, stroke relationships and the principles behind building these distinctive medieval letters. Through guided demonstrations, you'll practise constructing the letters from scratch and develop a strong understanding of their structure before moving on to ornamentation.
Ornamenting the Letterforms
Once the letterforms are complete, we'll transform them into beautifully decorated initials. You'll learn how to incorporate acanthus leaves, floral motifs, vine scrolls and ornamental details while maintaining balance, harmony and readability. We'll also discuss composition and how decorative elements can enhance the letter without overpowering it.
Painting the Lombardic Initial
In the final session, we'll bring the design to life with acrylic colours. You'll learn how to choose harmonious colour palettes, layer colours, add shading and highlights, and create depth while preserving the elegance of the ornamentation.
What you'll walk away with
By the end of the workshop you'll have completed a fully painted Lombardic Capital, and the confidence to create illuminated initials for monograms, book pages, certificates, decorative artwork and personal projects.
Your seat and the workshop recording are saved to your account.