Can anyone recommend a good heraldic artist?

[davidlpope]

As the header says, I need an heraldic artist. I have an idea for a personal blazon, and am *pretty* sure I've got my Norman French grammar and syntax down. I'm looking for someone to fix any errors/mistakes in usage and get me a fair looking representation.

In case any of you are curious, my presumptive blazon, created out of whole cloth (and not much else) goes: On a field Or masoned sable, a Cross-crosslet sanguine; in chief embattled bleu-celeste, two Mockingbirds volant addorsed proper.

I'd forgo the use of sanguine and bleu-celeste in favor of Gules and Azure. You can ask you artist to use a particular shade of red and blue to fit your fancy. Stains and bleu-celeste are rarely used well. I'd also urge you to reconsider the mockingbirds proper, in favor of martlets Argent. At such a small size the mockingbirds proper will get lost on the blue chief.

Try: Or masoned Sable a cross-crosslet Gules; on a chief embattled Azure two martlets Argent.

[Harold Cannon]

I would be more than happy to help. I also agree with what David said. I believe that a coat of arms should pass the postage stamp test. If you shrink the image down to the size of a postage stamp it should still be recognizable. If you are interested in discussing it further please feel free to message me.

[davidlpope]

I'd forgo the use of sanguine and bleu-celeste in favor of Gules and Azure. You can ask you artist to use a particular shade of red and blue to fit your fancy. Stains and bleu-celeste are rarely used well. I'd also urge you to reconsider the mockingbirds proper, in favor of martlets Argent. At such a small size the mockingbirds proper will get lost on the blue chief.

Try: Or masoned Sable a cross-crosslet Gules; on a chief embattled Azure two martlets Argent.

If you leave off the cross, this will look like two birds flying over a wall made of gold bricks...

[BadenochWolf]

If you leave off the cross, this will look like two birds flying over a wall made of gold bricks...

That is entirely the intended effect!

[BadenochWolf]

I'd forgo the use of sanguine and bleu-celeste in favor of Gules and Azure. You can ask you artist to use a particular shade of red and blue to fit your fancy. Stains and bleu-celeste are rarely used well. I'd also urge you to reconsider the mockingbirds proper, in favor of martlets Argent. At such a small size the mockingbirds proper will get lost on the blue chief.

Try: Or masoned Sable a cross-crosslet Gules; on a chief embattled Azure two martlets Argent.

With no offence intended to you or @Harold Cannon, the tinctures and choice of bird were intentional. Were I to continue the arms to helm, torse, mantling, and crest, the torse and mantling would be sanguine slipped bleu-celeste, with a mockingbird displayed as crest. The tinctures are modern but entirely proper. Sanguine directly alludes to blood: shed in combat by the bearer; in crosswise, to the blood of Christ. Bleu-celeste alludes to both a family history of service in the Air Force, and the bearer's own time with US infantry and airborne divisions. The mockingbird is a personal canting badge. The whole field, when taken together is intended to look like two birds taking wing over the golden New Jerusalem, washed in the blood of her King.

[Mike_Oettle]

BadenochWolf, you have some interesting preferences there. While I am sure you have good reason to prefer your odd colour choices, the mockingbird is a different kettle of fish.
The challenge will be to get it drawn so that it is readily recognisable. Harold (or some other artist) might succeed in this, but it is not a foregone conclusion.
As you say, bleu celeste is a colour associated with air force service. It was originally merely a mediæval oddity, but it has featured in grants from the College of Arms since the First World War, as well as in Royal Air Force unit badges.
Your use of the word slipped with regard to the torse and mantling is strange to me. A torse is usually blazoned as being of (metal) and (colour) – thus or and sanguine. Mantling will have the colour on the outside, and be lined with the metal: sanguine lined or.
I would be most interested in seeing the final product.
Regards,
Mike

[ctbuchanan]

I used David Wooten of http://www.neoheraldry.com/ to create the artwork for the Achievement of the CBSI with very good results. His artwork is my avatar.

[Cardinal]

I don't have anybody to compare with, but I have been completely satisfied with Harold Cannon.

Good communication and collaboration, and a keen artistic eye.

Harold's work is top notch.

Best,
Cardinal

[BadenochWolf]

BadenochWolf, you have some interesting preferences there. While I am sure you have good reason to prefer your odd colour choices, the mockingbird is a different kettle of fish.
The challenge will be to get it drawn so that it is readily recognisable. Harold (or some other artist) might succeed in this, but it is not a foregone conclusion.
As you say, bleu celeste is a colour associated with air force service. It was originally merely a mediæval oddity, but it has featured in grants from the College of Arms since the First World War, as well as in Royal Air Force unit badges.
Your use of the word slipped with regard to the torse and mantling is strange to me. A torse is usually blazoned as being of (metal) and (colour) – thus or and sanguine. Mantling will have the colour on the outside, and be lined with the metal: sanguine lined or.
I would be most interested in seeing the final product.
Regards,
Mike

You're right, I had my torse and mantling worked out wrong. That's what happens when you reply too fast. I think in the case of the birds we have an issue caused by dissimilarity of scale. Others are considering shrinking the arms to postage-stamp size, at which point a mockingbird would just look like any gray bird. However, I was thinking of the opposite: arms used as a personal banner. In either case, a mockingbird proper is something I do not wish to leave off my arms. The gray color alludes to my maternal line, and the bird itself is a canting badge of my (paternal) last name.