Calligraphy Study II

Trent Pehrson Trent Pehrson

An exploration of custom inks, aged paper, and manuscript illumination in the Celtic tradition

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Illuminated standing figure with colored garments and unfinished architectural ornament
Detail of an illuminated figure with a patterned halo and decorative clothing
Aged manuscript page with large decorative letterforms and ornamental sketches
Aged manuscript spread with an illuminated figure, animal motifs, and ornamental designs
Experimental ink and color samples, calligraphic lettering, and an early artist's seal on aged paper
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About This Exhibit

Calligraphy Study II is an experimental exploration of the materials, techniques, and visual conventions associated with manuscript production in the Celtic tradition. The study investigates the development of custom inks, methods of artificially aging paper, and the integration of calligraphy, illustration, and ornament into a unified manuscript aesthetic. Rather than reproducing a particular historical manuscript, the work explores how elements of this tradition might be adapted through contemporary experimentation.

A central concern of the study is the relationship between materials and visual expression. Experiments with ink formulations, pigments, and paper treatments investigate how color, texture, and surface irregularities contribute to the character of a manuscript. The aged paper evokes the appearance of historical documents, while the contrasting pigments and decorative marks explore the visual possibilities of writing and illumination on such surfaces.

The figurative and ornamental compositions draw upon the rich visual language associated with Celtic manuscript illumination. Stylized human figures, animal motifs, geometric patterns, and elaborate decorative structures are arranged alongside calligraphic experiments. Some areas remain in preliminary pencil while others are developed in vivid color, exposing the process through which an illuminated composition takes shape. This juxtaposition of finished and unfinished elements emphasizes the work's investigative nature.

The collection also includes a sheet of ink and color tests documenting experiments with lettering, pigment, and surface treatment. Among these marks appears the first rendition of Trent Pehrson's calligraphic seal, an early exploration of a personal artistic insignia within the broader practice of decorative writing.

As a study, Calligraphy Study II is concerned with developing the practical and aesthetic foundations for a larger manuscript project. It examines how the physical properties of ink and paper, together with the expressive possibilities of calligraphy and illumination, can contribute to the creation of an object that is both a vehicle for written language and a work of visual art.