Top 10 Favorite Renderings of 2024

Contenders, but alas, not finalists for the top 10 favorite renderings.
Row 1 (L-R):  Trinity Washington University, Sisters of St. Augustine, St. Joseph's Academy
Row 2 (L-R): Mundelein College, St. Paul's Harvard Square, St. Peter's Abbey
Row 3 (L-R):  St. Peter's Seminary and the George Washington University
Arms rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Happily lost in the world of digital heraldry throughout the better part of 2024, I quickly noticed something surprising to my somewhat judgmental eyes which recalled an observation made by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941).  To paraphrase the great American heraldic designer, la Rose posited as a blazon falls into the hands of an artist, the draughtsmanship ultimately renders the verdict on whether or not a coat of arms is both clear and perspicuous.  Not that I am by any stretch close to mastering digital heraldry, but it is evident that when certain design principles are followed a poorly emblazoned coat of arms can be transformed for the better.  

The other observation I've noticed from the artist's chair is consistency wins the day.  I've stuck to, more or less, the standard heater shield shape, bold colors, thick outlines, and no shading (only because I haven't learned that yet).  Looking back now on probably a hundred or so arms completed, I do find applied consistency in this particular art form is beautiful, especially when grouping together different arms.

So, from that large well of completed renderings, I am sharing my top 10 favorite renderings as they were memorable in my learning process.  Enjoy!

Top 10 Favorite Heraldic Renderings for 2024

10.  St. Thomas Choir School

Arms of St. Thomas Choir School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

St. Thomas Choir School is a foundational school attached to St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City.  The design made the list for the very reason that my rendering of the open and inscribed book marked a first instance for me in going out on a limb and trying something new.  What was that?  Adding medieval style musical notes to help fill in space while also providing additional reference to the school's purpose.  

The school's arms were designed in 1963 by The Rev. Canon Edward N. West (1909-1990).

9.  College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham

Arms of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of
Our Lady of Walsingham.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

O England's Nazareth!  All the world shall come to Walsingham.  If one were to name their heraldic blog in dedication to Our Lady of Walsingham, then it behooves the owner to get cracking on an emblazonment of those arms.  The primary obstacle in my way of rendering the College of Guardians' design was the Holy House found in dexter canton.  

If the reader only knew how many hours I spent trying every shortcut I could think of to nail that holy place!  When I finally admitted that I will need to begin from scratch things began to fall in place.  The Guardians' arms were granted by the College of Arms in 1945 and the blazon simply reads, "Argent, on a cross Sable five lilies slipped and seeded proper, on a canton Azure a holy house Or."  So, the artist is completely at liberty to design precisely the Holy House at Walsingham.  

My version of the Holy House at Walsingham.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I tried to keep everything symmetrical, clear, and avoiding too much detail in the composition of the Holy House as seen above.  Is it perfect?  Eh, no but represents some growth in this new medium.

8.  Princeton University 

Arms of Princeton University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

When it comes to corporate heraldry, I'm reluctant to say whether or not a design is good or bad.  Why?  Because I know to those attached to the organization have a symbol they're proud of and represents them.  In the case of Princeton, however, I've never cared for the shield shape and rendering that dominates the university's symbolic representation.  Princeton officially adopted its coat of arms in 1896 and perhaps the shield's shape was meant to appear ancient and distinguished.  

Armorial flag of Princeton University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

This rendering made me fall in love in with Princeton's simplicity in its design of arms.  Remember, Princeton's arms were assumed in the great American tradition just as those earlier Ivy League institutions devised their own.  

I say use the standard heater shield shape and join me in my new love affair of these arms!

7.  Woodberry Forest School (WFS)

Seal and arms of Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of this Virginia preparatory school--much like Princeton--never wooed me in how the school presents them.  The eradicated pine trees were far too small in between a rather skinning chevron on the field.  Fill the field, I say. I was pleasantly surprised to see how lovely WFS's arms appear as an armorial flag.  I still would love to know who designed WFS' arms and any rationale too.  My theory is that the chevron comes from the Walker arms honoring the school's founder while the three eradicated fir or pine trees create a cant or heraldic pun on forest.

The challenge of creating a seal with the arms while working in the school's motto was quite fun.    

Armorial flag of Woodberry Forest School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

When I applied my methods to WFS' arms, I loved the simplicity and plausible meaning of the design, earning it a spot on the 2024 top 10 list.

6. Lenox School

Arms of Lenox School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Lenox School's arms were an early favorite of mine designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) in 1930.  Moreover, these arms brought me in contact with the school's active alumni association which still carries on Lenox's legacy in spite of the school's closure years ago.

The design is also a classic la Rose method of what I call an "Americanization" of arms from the old world, and in this design the arms of the Duke of Richmond and Lenox.  Given the volume of designs created by la Rose during his career, there's no wonder why he needed multiple methods of differencing his designs.  Click here to read more on Lenox's coat of arms.

5.  St Edward's Seminary  

Arms of St. Edward's Seminary.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

This Roman Catholic seminary in Washington State has long since closed its doors to priestly formation and barely one letter remains detailing la Rose's design for the school's coat of arms.  Preserving the design became an essential matter for me.  When I finished my first rendering I simply sat back and smiled--I dare felt as though I was the first person to ever see these arms in full color!  

I've since tinkered a bit and refined a few items as I've learned more about the design software; however, I still believe the arms have never seen color much less digitization.  A win for la Rose!

Click here to read more about St. Edward's Seminary arms.

4.  Undergraduate Residence Halls, The University of the South

Small selection of arms of various undergraduate residential halls at
the University of the South.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Around 2018, all the undergraduate residence halls at the University of the South located in Sewanee, Tennessee received their own armorial flags designed by Dr. J. Waring McCrady.  McCrady designed the arms for the university and its schools back in the early 1980s and these 19 designs are in some manner his magnum opus.

Well, I love a challenge.  McCrady's designs for the residence halls were purely done in flag form and I wanted to translate them into shields.  Moreover, no blazons could be found but save a layman's description of each in the University Archives.  From that sheet, I took up the challenge.

The arms of Dr. J. Waring McCrady of Sewanee, TN.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Above are a few of those designs that I really enjoyed putting together.  I found it particularly moving to render McCrady's arms as well, admiring the many contributions he has made both to the university and the field of heraldry.

3.  Hampden-Sydney College 

The arms of Hampden-Sydney College in various shield shapes.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of Hampden-Sydney College, devised in 1976 by the College of Arms in London, caught my eye as an applicant to the school.  Upon admission, I became smitten and caught the heraldry bug.  The College's arms started it all for me!  

The armorial flag of Hampden-Sydney College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Moreover, my first sketch for an armorial flag was for Hampden-Sydney in 2014, in pencil no less.  Then I could only dream of seeing a digital or even physical version of the flag.  I now have my flag flying from my front porch.  Being able to render both this past year was a real highlight for this proud alumnus.

Here's to "a glass of the finest."  Please click here to learn more about Hampden-Sydney College's arms.

2. The University of the South

The achievement of arms of the University of the South.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Again and again Sewanee's heraldry presented me with numerous challenges in rendering the various designs of the university.  Honestly, I put off working on this group until the very last to help keep my frustration at bay.  The Sewanee tressure and its many nuances took numerous tries, as I was being exacting in recreating it just as McCrady had done.  

The armorial flag of the University of the South.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I wanted to complete all of the university's assets that McCrady created--badge, crest, supporters, and so forth.  As I said I enjoy a challenge...My tressure breakthrough was an honest to goodness accident and led me to learn what a "clipping mask," is!  

To say I was over the moon once finished is an understatement.  Getting Sewanee's arms dialed in took a lot of time and patience.  

Please click here to learn more about Sewanee's heraldry.

1. The Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem 

Row 1 (L-R): Arms of the Order of St John and the US Priory.
Row 2 (L-R): Arms of the Priories of England and Canada.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

On 19 April this year I received the news of a lifetime when my name appeared in the London Gazette as newly appointed Member of the Order of St. John.  Truly, I was blown away and humbled by this high honor.  While I was naturally drawn to the chivalric and heraldic traditions of St. John, I also deeply appreciate the philanthropy and service we give freely in the order's name.

I wanted to render the arms of my priory here in the US using la Rose's style bald eagle in the blue roundel and see if I could make a contribution in this manner.  Well, it worked after numerous attempts.  And then as if to accept yet another challenge, I wanted to render all 11 priories and 5 commanderies of the Order across the globe.

And then I had an idea...

The arms of the Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John,
His Majesty King Charles III.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

A friend and colleague in the Order shared with me how the arms of the Sovereign appear for the Order of St. John, something I had never seen before.  Could I possibly recreate these arms?  I wanted to try!

L-R: Arms of the Sovereign Head and Grand Prior of the Order of St. John.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

And what a challenge it presented too.  Learning how to weave the Order of the Garter's beelt through the Order of St. John's eight-pointed cross was one challenge, and then trying to figure out how to create the sash and badge was another.  Above are the arms of His Majesty King Charles III as Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John as well as those of the Grand Prior, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester.

The badge of the Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Rendering the arms of the Order of St. John and those of the Sovereign Head and Grand Prior come in at number one for me as my favorite renderings of 2024.  

The armorial flag of the Order of St. John.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

In so many wonderful ways, these designs showcase my growth in learning digital heraldry and creative problem solving.  I've had a blast spending time will all the designs I've been fortunate to render and look forward to creating more in 2025.