Using Freestyle Acanthus Leaves

Gael Stirler

This leaf is simply made of a series of stretched out trumpet leaves. (See next lesson for more on trumpet leaves.) I mixed blueberry and pansy plants and a lot of little stars in with the acanathus leaves in this border. Click on the picture to see the whole scroll. See how the acanthus leaves in this border aren't attached to anything. Sometimes they spring from the edge or corner of the border or from the ends of an inital.

See how simple and graceful these leaves are. Notice the simplicity of the highlights and shadow. These are not as complicated as the ones described at length above. See all the "stars" and "floatees" in the background? I think they represent motes, gnats, or seeds floating in the air.

In contrast, the leaves in the this picture are extremely complex. Acanthus leaves were often used to support people, animals, and monsters in the borders. These figures are called "vignettes" because they are in the vines.

This example links to a manuscript page that shows how acanthus leaves can be mixed with animals and plants, too. In this "fool the eye" painting the words are painted on a scrap of parchment "stuck" to the "scroll" which is spread on a faux marble slab. I think this is a very clever composition.

This example shows how effective very simple acanthus leaves in red and blue on a black background can be when you add lots of little curls in white.

Go to Lesson 8: Wide Carolingian Borders.
Go back to Lesson 6: Painting Acanthus Leaves.