This is a classic example of calligramancer heraldry. Though as such, there is not a great deal one can learn from it just at present, but I shall attempt. The calligramancers devised their own form of heraldry centuries ago, and while there are perhaps more written records pertaining to this particular sect’s history than any other, all these records were taken down by members thereof. So it is hardly surprising that perusal of said histories is one of the more dangerous home occupations.
According to Clarinda Hemp’s notes on the subject, the central figure often denotes something “roughly equivalent to a personal familiar, though not exactly, actually not very like at all.” The figure positioned directly above it seems to act as a modifier of some sort to the central figure; I believe it serves as a technical notation regarding the thing’s exact nature to other calligramancers, but I am uncertain to the symbol’s exact meaning.
The outer symbols are less mysterious, if they are indeed examples of Baldwin’s Stars, the “nasty, pointy ink blots of death” Clarinda wrote about. These exist as a sort of numerical code; a trio in a coat of arms signifies that the bearer used his arts to rendered military service to crown.
-Ophelia Himmle, The Search for Guppy
Oracle of the Closet Group Topic, Illustrator, Umbraverse, Uncategorized
The concept has been sitting about for a while now. Back to Dickens.
Oracle of the Closet Illustrator, Umbraverse
It all began when an employee of Nine Palms Retirement Community became exposed to the contents of a mysterious thermos confiscated by internal security forces. It ended when a number of Nine Palms residents escaped the community in a garden shed secretly modified with a few thousand helium party balloons. The aforementioned security forces were unable to prevent this as they were, at that time, pinned down by the aforementioned employee, encased in a flock of inexplicably vicious pigeons.
Oracle of the Closet Group Topic, Illustrator, Random, Umbraverse
Just for something to post: I reworked the stationary last spring.
Oracle of the Closet Illustrator, Random
In Buckland it is often more important to keep trees out of the fields than crows.
Oracle of the Closet "Real Art", Group Topic, Pen and Ink, Photoshop
Okay, this is by far the most random thing I have ever posted. Actually it’s the most random thing I have ever made. It consists of roughly one part inspiration from Josiah’s seal, two parts fondness for vague visual symbolism, and about fourteen parts pure Bill. In other words, it was a complete mental tangent and I haven’t the foggiest idea how it managed to get made. I could always cheat and say that it’s my tribute to Web Cave but I don’t think that actually occurred to me until I was about halfway through.
Anyway, I did the concept sketches over Christmas and when we were given our first 2D assignment (make something presumably 2D and vaguely self-portraitesc) I already had the designs and whipped up the chap on the right, and I have been working on the rest, off and on, ever since.
The subjects themselves are finished, but the setting needs work: once I figure out what kind, I‘ll complete the work and be at peace. That is until Bill convinces me to redo the entire tarot deck with inside jokes or something.
Oracle of the Closet Illustrator, Random
No one in the League is quite sure where he came from, or why Ophelia Himmle finds him so interesting. Not that these questions occupy them all that much, generally they only pay him enough attention to tell if he is going to try to blow anything up too close to their chairs during tea. They are fairly certain that he is quite mad, but don’t find that sufficient reason to look down their noses, particularly when they have the much more suitable excuses of his being theoretically younger and more male than they, already.
Oracle of the Closet Illustrator, Seals, Umbraverse
Ophelia’s nephew, ward, and resident equivalent to a medieval serf. Undersecretary to the Office of Avatar Affairs, not that he quite understands what that means, even though he came up with the name himself.
Oracle of the Closet Illustrator, Seals, Umbraverse
Ophelia’s apprentice and accomplished toilet-paper-mancer.
Oracle of the Closet Illustrator, Seals, Umbraverse
