The Struggles of Personal Heraldry

Arms of private armingers 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-arminger.  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 arminger.  Will I do more in the future, who knows?  My love of corporate heraldry readily holds my attention these days.  

Old Arminger, Fresh Arms II

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

Final emblazonment for a private arminger.  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 Or and in base an anchor 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 Arminger

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 arminger was born and lives in Richmond, Virginia. The new arminger is both a musician and a carpenter. In the days following the Christmas holiday, the arminger 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 arminger'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 arminger'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 arminger prefers.  I love this simple design.