The Episcopacy and Personal Heraldry

The impaled arms of Bishop Peter Mews of Winchester
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Following my recent article regarding the personal coats of arms for members of the clergy below the rank of bishop in the Episcopal Church and Church of England, I am presenting a few examples of personal and impaled arms of bishops.  Click here to read my previous post regarding personal arms for the clergy in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.  As the reader will see, I'm also playing around with various ribbons, legends, and mitre colors as I attempt to standardize diocesan arms.  Please bear with me! 

A few observations.  The arms I've rendered, interestingly enough, would be considered historical as these prelates have long since fulfilled their earthly ministry.  In my data of personal arms for bishops, I have but only one design for a present-day bishop in the Episcopal Church who bears these in addition to those of his see.  Perhaps the idea of having personal arms, much less displaying an impaled version, have become a relic of the past in the Episcopal Church.

Ensigning personal and/or impaled coats of arms of bishops with a mitre rather than a galero is an Anglican method used widely to this day.  While nothing prevents a bishop in the Episcopal Church from ensigning arms with the galero and pendant tassels, those arms would certainly stand out in a crowd of episcopal heraldry.

I liken this option to what can be seen in choir dress for bishops whose piety and theology is firmly rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition--while they might wear the rochet and chimere, a zuchetto finds its way into the ensemble.  In other words, without regulation for coat armor in the Episcopal Church, anything goes.  

The image above illustrates the impaled coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Peter Mews (1619-1706) as Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of the Order of the Garter.  The arms of the See of Winchester are located in dexter (viewer's left) and Mew's in sinister (viewer's right).  The arrangement of corporate arms on the left (dexter) with personal arms located to the right (sinister) is the template for impaling ecclesiastical arms.  Translation to another diocese, thus, would only cause the dexter impalement to change as the prelate's personal arms typically do not.     

The blazon for the personal arms of Bishop Mews: Or, three bars Gules on a chief Azure three crosses crosslet Argent.  There is a version where the crosses crosslet in chief are rendered as gold (Or).  

Impaled arms of Bishop Thomas John Claggett
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

The impaled coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Thomas John Claggett (1743-1816) as seen on a memorial plaque inside Canterbury Cathedral.  Bishop Claggett was the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and the first to be ordained bishop on US soil.   

Coat of arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The pheon from Claggett's coat of arms was incorporated into the design of new arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland in 1915.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1871-1941) created the arms and used the pheon to both reference and honor the see's first bishop.

Impaled arms of Bishop Arthur Cleveland Coxe
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Zieber (1984) shares an illustration of the impaled coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Arthur Cleveland Coxe (1818-1896), Bishop of Western New York and cites the blazon as, "Argent, a chevron Sable between three cock's heads erased proper" (p. 209).  The good bishop had canting arms, an abstract pun upon the surname and seen through the "cock's heads."

Historical coat of arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The historical arms of the Diocese of Western New York, as far as I know, are the only ecclesiastical arms to incorporate a rainbow in the design.  The arms of the see have since changed.  Zieber (1984) provides the blazon for the Diocese of Western New York as, "Sable, a rainbow proper between three crosses Argent" (p. 209).  

Personal arms of Bishop Charles Todd Quintard
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Charles Todd Quintard (1824-1898) found in Zieber (1984), but without the chief of the Order of St. John (p. 210).  I omitted the chief so as to match the other arms without extra fussiness.

Coat of arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Quintard was a medical doctor and Second Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee.  He is commemorated at my alma mater, The University of the South.

Personal arms of Bishop Edward Makin Cross
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Edward Makin Cross (1880-1965), Third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.  The arms are unusual but simple and clear at the same time.  It is interesting to see the pallium used as a charge, and my guess is that it was an attempt to show unification with the See of Canterbury.  I could be wrong.     

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Bishop Cross may have been a supporter for changing the arms of Spokane around 1928-29, which evolved into its present day design.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1871-1941) created both designs for Spokane.  Click here for more regarding the story of the arms of the Diocese of Spokane.

Personal arms of Bishop James Henry Darlington
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. James Henry Darlington (1856-1930), First Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Harrisburg, now Central Pennsylvania.  

Personal arms of Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire (1850-1932), Fifth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina (Zieber, 1984, 211).

Personal arms of Bishop Richard Grein
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal arms of the Rt. Rev. Richard F. Grein (1932-2024), Bishop of New York, were designed by the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE, D.D. (1931-2014) and granted by the College of Arms.  The maltese cross references the bishop's membership in Order of St. John.

Personal arms of Bishop William K. Crittenden
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal coat of arms of the Rt. Rev. William K. Crittenden (1908-2003), Fifth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie, were designed by the Very Rev. Frederic R. Murray (1910-1996) who served as Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral (Erie, PA) during Crittenden's episcopate. 

Coat of arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie/Northwestern Pennsylvania
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Diocese of Delaware (1911) credits the Rev. Henry Martyn Medary (1871-1962) as the designer of the arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie, later renamed in 1981 as the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania.  Medary also designed the arms for the Diocese of Delaware in 1911.

Works Cited

Diocese of Delaware (1911).  Journal of the 125th convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Delaware.  Mercantile Printing, 22.

Pryor, M. (2018 October 16).  Heraldry brings Sewanee a sense of “community” for residence halls. The Sewanee Purple, https://thesewaneepurple.org/2018/10/16/heraldry-brings-sewanee-a-sense-of-community-for-residence-halls/

Zieber, Eugene (1984).  Heraldry in America.  Crown Publishers.

Personal Arms of the Clergy: A Study

Impaled arms of the Rev. Canon Edward N. West with
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For the longest time, I've been delaying any sort of work requiring the impaling (or marshalling) of arms.  Why?  I've simply never been much of a fan.  The symmetry is ruined; charges get distorted in order to fit into smaller areas and the whole design just looks muddled in my mind.  Well, I'm beginning to evolve on this very subject after finishing a study on several, forcing my hand to practice and learn.

This post will focus on several impalements for clergy below the rank of bishop in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.  I have another article in the works concerning personal arms of bishops

Personal arms of the Rev. Canon Edward N. West
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Simply put, the practice of impaling arms for clergy is a way to illustrate both the cleric's rank and office.  Furthermore, the action of impaling two separate coats of arms shows a marriage of sorts--the cleric is "married" in a way to her or his cure.  

The galero, cords, and tassels (external ornaments) provide the viewer with the cleric's rank denoted by the color and number of tassels surrounding the escutcheon.  The office, more abstractly speaking, can be understood by the dexter (viewer's left) impalement of the arms themselves.  While the rank and office may change over time and reflected by different external ornaments, the personal arms in sinister (viewer's right) and the armiger's motto do not.    

Arms of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Take, for example, the arms of the Rev. Canon Edward Nason West, OBE, Th.D., Litt.D., Sub-Prelate St.J. (1909-1990) who served as Canon Sacrist, and had a stint as sub-dean, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.  As a canon, West was permitted to display three red tassels illustrating his rank.  Moreover, I believe Canon West held six doctoral degrees (earned and honorary), and is shown with red skein in the cords pendant from the galero.

For illustrative purposes only, purple cords reflecting
the rank of dean with red skein for the D.D. degree
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finally, impaling the canon's arms with those of the cathedral he serves identifies the office.  If West was the dean of the cathedral, his cords would be purple with red skein for the D.D. degree.

Impaled arms of the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE with St. Thomas Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The personal arms of the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE, D.D. (1931-2014) impaled with those of his parish, St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, showing the same arrangement of three red tassels for a canon, but on a black and white cord based on one artifact I found.  Andrew was an honorary canon and held an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree--the armiger decides whether or not to show the red skein for the D.D. which in the US is an honorary degree.

Personal arms of the Rev. Canon John G.B. Andrew, OBE
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Canon Andrew's personal arms showing his D.D.  Both Andrew's personal arms and those of St. Thomas Church were devised by the College of Arms (Andrew's was a grant of arms). 

Impaled arms of the Rev. Alfred Hope Patten with the College of Guardians
of the Holy House of Walsingham
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The impaled arms of the Rev. Alfred Hope Patten (1885-1958) are a bit unique.  Father Hope is commemorated as the restorer of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in England.  While he was a priest in the Church of England, Father Hope was also the administrator of the Shrine and preferred two tassels indicating the rank of a dean in the Roman Catholic tradition.  

Click here to learn more about the arms of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Impaling Father Hope's arms with those of the College of Guardians of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham shows his relationship as head--or dean--of the college.  Fitting and appropriate.  

Arms of the Rev. Alfred Hope Patten
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In fairness to Father Hope, the schedule and use of ecclesiastical hats for clergy was not codified by the College of Arms until 1976.  Click here to see those renderings from the College of Arms.

Impaled arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS with those of Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I had the honor of designing both the personal arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS, Rector of the Episcopal Parish of Alton, and his parish.  As a priest, one tassel is pendant from the galero along with a cord of black and white indicating a presbyter in the Episcopal Church.

Click here to learn more about the arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton.

Personal arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Father Garron's arms are blazoned:

Arms: Argent, on a fess Sable two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) Argent barbed Vert charged with a fleur-de-lis Azure debruised by a pile Azure thereon a dove descending Argent haloed Or;

Motto: Dum Spiro Spero, “while I breathe, I hope.”

To help clearly illustrate all these differences, I've created a schedule which is more appropriate for use in the Episcopal Church.

Illustration of rank most appropriate for use in the Episcopal Church
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I'm beginning to get the hang of all this marshalling business, practice certainly helps.  

New Arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton and its Rector

The newly adopted coat of arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

It is quite humbling when someone compliments your art work; even more so when it becomes the identity of an entire community.  I am thrilled to share the newly adopted coat of arms for the Episcopal Parish of Alton in Alton, IL.  The Rector is a dear friend and I wanted to help as he establishes his new ministry as Rector.  Somehow, I managed to convince him to adopt arms too.

Following the framework for corporate heraldry used by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), the design for these arms came readily to mind--my own mental "refrigerator test."  In other words, when I struggle to construct a coherent design, I know the time isn't right just yet.  On the other hand, there have been many instances when the design becomes immediately clear to me--those designs are the best.  The arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton came to mind rather quickly, a positive indication for a prospective coat of arms.

Infographic from the proposal
Click image to enlarge

In a nutshell, la Rose's goal in creating corporate arms was to layer as many references identifying the owner while keeping the design simple and clear.  One charge--or in "la-Rosian" style, charge-on-charge--could combine multiple references to the corporate body without fuss.  

Since the Episcopal Parish of Alton combines two historically independent parishes, St. Paul's and Trinity, I knew there was a solution honoring the heritage of both while creating something new in the process.

The blazon I landed on seemed clear and reasonable to me.  It combined references to the dedication of both parishes with the sword in pale for St. Paul and three paddle wheels for the Holy Trinity.  Moreover, the chevron makes a nice image of two separate sides coming together at one point, and I felt satisfied in honoring the two communities.  The paddle wheels and barry wavy lines on the chevron reference the parish's location along the Mississippi River and honors local history.  

The blazon for the arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton: Gules, a sword in pale Argent point to base hilt and pommel Or debruised by a chevron barry wavy Argent and Azure fimbriated Or with three paddle wheels of the field.

Applications for Identity 

Example of business card

Example of letterhead

I wanted to design a simple word mark incorporating the new arms to help reinforce its use within the daily life of the parish.  For example, the two images above show the coat of arms and word mark used to create official parish stationary, such as business cards and letterhead.  

Armorial flag, processional banner, and seal designed
for the Episcopal Parish of Alton
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Countless applications come to mind for the new arms:  coffee mugs, lapel pins, automobile stickers, tee shirts, and the list of merch goes on and on.  Because these files are rendered in vector, the sky is the limit for adding this new dignified decoration to almost anything.  

Cover page of the proposal
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I believe it is critically important that all members of the corporate body have the ability to inhabit their organization's coat of arms--be that on a Christmas ornament or cufflinks, owning a piece of the corporate brand only serves to strengthen and sustain it. 

This was a fun project for me and I'm delighted that the parish will use these designs in one way or another.  I am thankful that I can begin to share my work freely for good use.  My goal is to help smaller parishes either adopt new coats of arms to be used as branding, or help update current digital assets with vector files for use in social media, web design, and so on.  The rationale is that these faith communities would likely not spend money on this sort of project--I've found my niche for ministry and a special way I can serve.  

New Coat of Arms for the Rector

The personal coat of arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS impaled with his parish
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Not only was I able to have my first parish coat of arms adopted, I designed arms for the Rector too.  

Arms: Argent, on a fess Sable two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) Argent barbed Vert charged with a fleur-de-lis Azure debruised by a pile Azure thereon a dove descending Argent haloed Or;

Motto: Dum Spiro Spero, “While I breathe, I hope”

Design Rationale: The new armiger is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, and referenced through the clerical color of black for the fess. The fess is charged with two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) honoring the armiger’s ancestor, William Bradford (1590-1657), who emigrated from England and arrived at Plymouth Colony aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

The flowers are charged with a fleur-de-lis representing not only the City of St. Louis where his ministry began, but also his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Additionally, the fleur-de-lis is used as the crest in the armiger’s order, the Order of Christ the Savior.

The blue pile represents the limitless heavens above as the dove of peace descends offering grace, healing, and hope in the world today. The motto is attributed to King Charles the Martyr, representing another saintly model for the armiger.

Date: 10 January 2025

The cleric's arms are ensigned by a black galero, cords alternating white and black, and ending with one tassel to indicate his priestly office.  As a guideline, I followed the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1976 which authorized clergy in the Church of England to ensign their arms with ecclesiastical hats following a prescribed "annex schedule."  To read the Earl Marshal's Warrant of 1976 regarding the use of ecclesiastical hats, click this link to view the document on the College of Arms website.

To view illustrations by rank/office from the College of Arms, click this link for the College of Arms website.

Arms for an Episcopal Priest

The personal arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS impaled with the new arms of his parish
Both arms designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Recently, I had the privilege for the first time to design arms for an Episcopal priest.  Not only was I able to convince this cleric to assume personal arms, I was able to design arms for his parish church too.  The illustration above shows this new heraldic relationship by impaling the arms of the rector with those of his parish.  

I'm honored to share my design of a coat of arms recently assumed by the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS. 

Click here to learn more about the newly assumed arms of the Episcopal Parish of Alton.

The newly assumed arms of the Rev. Garron Daniels, OCS
Designed and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Arms: Argent, on a fess Sable two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) Argent barbed Vert charged with a fleur-de-lis Azure debruised by a pile Azure thereon a dove descending Argent haloed Or;

Motto: Dum Spiro Spero, Latin, “while I breathe, I hope.”

Design Rationale: The new armiger is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, and referenced through the clerical color of black for the fess. The fess is charged with two Mayflowers (epigaea repens) honoring the armiger’s ancestor, William Bradford (1590-1657), who emigrated from England and arrived at Plymouth Colony aboard the Mayflower in 1620. 

The Mayflowers are charged with a fleur-de-lis representing not only the City of St. Louis where his ministry began, but also his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Additionally, the fleur-de-lis is used as the crest in the armiger’s order, the Order of Christ the Savior (OCS).  The blue pile represents the limitless heavens above as the dove of peace descends offering grace, healing, and hope in the world today.

The motto is attributed to King Charles the Martyr, representing another saintly model for the armiger.  The external ornament of a black galero, black and white cords pendant with a single tassel follow the guidance set forth in the Earl Marshal’s Warrant of 1976 which codified the use of ecclesiastical hats in the arms of clergy in the Church of England.

Designer: Chad M. Krouse, EdD Richmond, Virginia

Date: 10 January 2025

Shakespeare's Arms

Arms of William Shakespeare.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I feel like its a rite of passage...a step forward that every aspiring heraldic artist must tackle...yes, the arms of the great poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616).  I will say, however, I actually enjoyed putting these arms together in vector format.  Who doesn't love good canting arms?  Which reminds me of a saying I recently heard, "heralds don't pun, they cant."  

Scott-Giles (1950) offers the following blazon for the armorial ensigns of William Shakespeare:

Arms:  Or, on a bend Sable a spear Or headed Argent 

Crest:  On a wreath Or and Sable, a falcon displayed Argent supporting a spear Or headed Argent

Motto:  Non Sanz Droict ("Not without right")

The crest of William Shakespeare.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The crest is simple, clean and straightforward.  I like it!  Moreover, I was thrilled to be able to have the falcon actually holding the spear.   

Arms of William Shakespeare.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I even added what's called "diapering" in the background to help provide better visualization of these arms.

From Scott-Giles (1950).

I enjoy Scott-Giles (1950) work on the heraldry of Shakespeare, definitely worth having a copy in your library.  

Works Cited

Scott-Giles, C.W. (1950).  Shakespeare's Heraldry.  AMS Press.

The Struggles of Personal Heraldry

Arms of private armigers designed by the author.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I've been asked before to design personal coats of arms--mostly from well-intentioned individuals struggling to come up with their own design.  I certainly relate to this design struggle, vividly recalling my own ordeal tearing through untold drafts with dissatisfaction.  One thing, however, changed for me when I decided to research how well designed arms were pieced together with intention and meaning.  When I kept stumbling on this rather odd name, Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), I decided this guy must know something about heraldic design and so it began.  Researching a designer's work unlocked everything for me, for I knew I did not want to simply throw a bunch of charges on a field and call it a day.  I wanted a design layered, abstractly true to my brand, and above all balanced and beautiful.

My journey into this newfound world of heraldry all of sudden became special and filled with purpose.  While it took time and many drafts to arrive on my chosen design, I was glad for both the journey and its intended destination.  Now ten years on since I finalized my arms, I'm still in love with them.  

For this reason I politely decline most requests to design personal arms.  In a word, these are personal.  Without really knowing a person, and I mean truly knowing them, I find it quite difficult to come up with ideas that resonate and reflect the would-be-armiger.  I do encourage them to take their own journey, take time, and ultimately to be patient.

That being said, the few designs I have completed have been for close friends--meaningful experiences for myself and the armiger.  Will I do more in the future, who knows?  My love of corporate heraldry readily holds my attention these days.  

Old Armiger, Fresh Arms II

New emblazonment of arms for a private armiger.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Final emblazonment for a private armiger.  While I originally designed these arms in September 2014, we were never able to get a digital emblazonment, something I regret now.  

Arms: Gules, on a pale Azure fimbriated Argent three escallops Argent enfiled with as many vidame coronets Or;

Crest: On a wreath of Argent and Gules, a lamb rampant gorged of a vidame's coronet Or holding in dexter arm a market stick proper erect with crook facing sinister and on sinister arm an eschuteon Argent thereupon a Chi Rho Gules;

Motto: "From Strength to Strength."

Old Arminger, Fresh Arms

New emblazonment of arms for a private arminger.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

On fire this weekend and managed to knock off another project that I've delayed for some time.  Arms were designed in October 2014 but never managed to get a digital emblazonment.  It's lovely to see these in full color now.

Arms: Per chevron Gules and barry wavy Argent and Azure, in chief a demi sun in splendor and in base an anchor all Or;

Crest: On a wreath of Argent and Gules, a Golden Retriever passant gorged of a collar Gules, in dexter paw a shotgun proper;

Motto: "Fire When Ready."

New Armiger

New personal coat of arms for a dear friend.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Now that Congress is over I have a little more time to pursue a few projects that I had shelved for some time.  One important project that I wanted to complete straightaway was to render digital emblazonments of arms for a close friend.  We jointly designed the arms back during the Summer '23 and it was time to get this off my list--and I'm thrilled that I can actually do this work digitally now too.

The blazon for these new arms:  

Arms: Sable, on a pile reversed argent a fir tree proper issuant from flames Gules in base, charged with a guitar pick Argent point to base with a chevron rendered as a carpenter’s square Gules.

Crest: On a torse Argent and Sable, a stag salient guardant proper incensed Gules, holding a six-string acoustic guitar proper.

Motto: Ich Geb Bestes, German for “I’ll try my best”

A quick bit about the design rationale.  The armiger was born and lives in Richmond, Virginia. The new armiger is both a musician and a carpenter. In the days following the Christmas holiday, the armiger likes to collect the dead or dying Christmas trees for a ceremonial burning party--actually a nice get together of friends to celebrate the end of the holiday season. The fir tree engulfed in flames makes this reference clear.

New crest.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Charging the tree with a guitar pick alludes to the armiger's passion for playing and writing music on the guitar. The addition of the chevron on the guitar pick, rendered as a carpenter's square, illustrates the armiger's profession.

Draft badge idea for the new arminger.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Personal banner of arms, private arminger.  Left the field on this pure black.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I seen examples of using a faded black whenever the field is Sable (black) to avoid an otherwise stark heaviness.  I tried this with the arms and then left the field on the flag pure black to show the difference.  I'm waiting to see which the new armiger prefers.  I love this simple design.

Vector Magic

Arms of the American Heraldry Society.
I'm obsessed with this shield shape now.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

All this practice in Adobe Illustrator is beginning to payoff...I recently got round to doing my own arms (about time, I think) and even created a lozenge shield for my daughter.  I have not yet begun to explore shading and highlighting in the software as I feel like I still have a ways to go getting the basics dialed in.  

The arms of Chad Krouse

I'm still in love with the design I created in 2014, and its hard to image that 10 years have flown by since those days of multiple drafts while sketching everything in colored pencil.  I would have NEVER conceived the possibility of one day creating novice renderings on a computer.  

Arms of the author's daughter.

Banner of arms of Chad Krouse

I even successfully tackled my first ribbon with text all in vector--that was a fun learning experience.   The possibilities, now, are endlessly exciting.