By Ruth Rowland
Journal: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy
Watercolour and calligraphy practice inspired by Mary Shelley’s 1831 introduction to her novel, Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice
She describes a stormy night in a cottage on the shores of Lake Geneva and the waking nightmare at the heart of her writing:
“I saw - with shut eyes, but acute mental vision, - I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together.”
“I saw - with shut eyes, but acute mental vision, - I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together.”
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice: Detail
I started to focus more seriously on my watercolour practice during lockdown and find it works well alongside my calligraphy studies. This moody, storm-swept watercolour landscape is created with the same limited palette that I've used for the calligraphy worksheet.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice: Stormy Landscape
It’s great to get back to my gothic calligraphy practice too, it seems so right for the season and of course, for Mary Shelley's hauntingly gothic novel that has inspired this practice session.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice: Brush Gothic
I'm enjoying working with both square ended brushes and nibs, playing around with size, shapes, colours and textures. It's a work in progress, I plan to continue my gothic practice over the darker months - the perfect hand to while away the long Winter nights.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice: Decorative Initials
You can see my recent colour studies (posted on Instagram ) inspiring this practice session. The swatches really helped to create those moody secondary and tertiary hues for the muted gothic palette I needed to illustrate the feel of the writing.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice: Colours
I wanted these practice sheets to feel like something you might have found lying abandoned on a table in that little cottage on the banks of Lake Geneva on that dark and stormy night. If you haven't read Mary Shelley's 1831 introduction to her novel, it's wonderfully atmospheric - perfect for Halloween.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Halloween Watercolour & Gothic Calligraphy Practice: Colour Studies
Watercolour Mandela
Watercolour Textures
I hope you've enjoyed these Halloween-inspired pieces, if you're in the mood for more gothic vibes, take a look at my Someone Came Knocking Halloween Calligraphy project in my Journal folder.
Happy Halloween!
