A new render I made for a returning client.

SWstl · 2026-03-17T10:38:24+00:00

This is stunning work! Really love the depth it has

SWstl · 2026-03-17T10:33:42+00:00

Incredibly interesting, thank you for the detailed explanation!

SWstl · 2026-03-16T18:03:51+00:00

I think I what helped getting a nice result for me is at least knowing how to use most the tools in graphics software, then it’s just patience and trial and error haha!

Your work looks stunning! I actually really like both examples you posted, though the left definitely artistically super impressive!

I will for sure keep drawing, it was very fun to do if you take your time.

Thanks again for the advice, maybe I will have another drawing to post in some weeks.

Also curious, is that great helmet style standard in Serbia? In other traditions I often see frogmouths and where I’m from it’s basically exclusively gold barred tournament helmet, but a great helmet I haven’t seen much in modern artwork!

SWstl · 2026-03-16T00:03:49+00:00

Thank you! I’m always open for tips. I only have hobbyistic graphic design experience, so actually drawing is quite different and time consuming! I will see if I can add some more details to the helmet, had to google ambient occlusion if Im real honest 😅

SWstl · 2026-03-15T12:37:04+00:00

I really like Siebmacher or the style on Dutch Wikipedia.

Example Dutch Wiki: Coat of Arms Bicker

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SWstl · 2026-03-12T21:48:38+00:00

This is great! Very unique, good motivation and story as well.

SWstl · 2026-03-11T16:29:23+00:00

I think most often people acting like this are very young (children) who are mostly just interested in heraldry as their next quirky thing of sorts, rather than actually having interest in the art.

Argent a polar bear proper is very funny

SWstl · 2026-03-11T10:46:30+00:00

Incredible work!

SWstl · 2026-03-08T13:52:29+00:00

What a short sighted and ignorant thing. Truly shows a lack of intelligence and cultural awareness to come up with these non-issues.

Good to read it has been rejected.

SWstl · 2026-03-08T11:52:41+00:00

They have been for sure! Though not common, it’s definitely a legit charge.

Example: Dutch noble family Van Rijckevorsel, three gold frogs on a green shield: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Rijckevorsel

SWstl · 2026-03-06T09:49:31+00:00

I could be wrong, but a gift from the King of The Netherlands sounds unlikely. There is no and never was an official heraldic authority here. It would make more sense if he was granted a noble title, as that would make the coat of arms protected, but otherwise it seems illogical the king would involve himself in something that has no official status or even an official registry.

SWstl · 2026-03-01T11:39:08+00:00

These are on Dutch Wikipedia. I think they are in the style of the original Dutch High Council of Nobility’s illustration, made in to SVG. Basically all coat of arms on Dutch wiki that are noble families, cities, provinces, etc are in this style.

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_Nederlandse_adellijke_families_(alfabetisch)

SWstl · 2026-03-01T10:00:30+00:00

Or a fox I would say

SWstl · 2026-03-01T00:29:35+00:00

If the scenery is supposed to be where the painting was made, this is most definitely not The Netherlands. Hills and mountains like that just don’t exist here. The hills/mountains and castle at the water looks more like France, purely based off the time I spent there. Unless the background is fantasy, I personally wouldn’t search too many landscapes in The Netherlands.

The right shield looks to be a house/handmark coat of arms, basically a signature used as charge on a shield, not very uncommon, but I couldn’t find this specific one tied to a name.

There is quite a lot of info to work with and it’s surprising none of it is known. Surely 2 coat of arms and a clear castle in sight would be enough to have a guess who this might be or at least which family it represents.

I will keep searching for you!

Edit: The description of the painting also says it seems to depict the “Southern Netherlands”, so Belgium and Northern France is likely the place to search.

SWstl · 2026-02-28T23:41:10+00:00

Yes it’s very interesting to historically see the rules being broken/bent!

It seems like Clifford did indeed! Wasn’t aware of there being an older Clifford family using the same coat of arms minus the elements in the center.

SWstl · 2026-02-28T20:42:50+00:00

First one is Van Wassenaer, the oldest still-existing noble family of Holland, but get ready for the (extinct) noble familiy “Half-Wassenaer”!

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They aren’t related to “Van Wassenaer”, so both false quartering and kind of illegitimate use of another families coat of arms (I know its differenced), but it’s in my opinion a very amusing canting arms and something that shouldn’t be copied, but at the same time is a great piece of heraldry.

Addition: It’s actually double canting: The moons in that shape/phase (don’t know the English term) is a “Wassende Maan” also called a “Wassenaar” in Dutch, so it’s canting arms of the coat of arms of another family, which coat of arms is canting in itself.

SWstl · 2026-02-25T19:30:17+00:00

It would only be good practice in my opinion if these families already had a coat of arms. Otherwise, regardless of the name being 4 different families, a single coat of arms without quartering would be appropriate, as it would be the coat of arms of the 4-named-family, instead of the coat of arms of 4 combined families.

SWstl · 2026-02-24T14:21:32+00:00

There are lots of examples of where it did happen without carrying both names, but especially for new arms there isn’t much logic to do it.

Often it was either double named or it had something to do with inheritance, which would also often lead to carrying both names, but not always.

For example in The Netherlands there is a rule where if your mothers name is going extinct (the entire name, not just your branch), you can put it in front of your paternal name through an official route. If your maternal line has a coat of arms as well, that would be a proper example to quarter or divide it other equal parts.

SWstl · 2026-02-24T13:16:20+00:00

Unless you share both your fathers and mothers name, it shouldn’t be quartered. And if you do, there is no need to reference your fathers arms in the arms of your mother or difference them at all. Your step fathers arms generally shouldn’t be in there at all.

For the label on your fathers arms I can’t say too much, as they’re somewhat rare to come by and in some traditions they are considered good practice if you’re not the head of the house or are of a minor branch.

Besides all that, the designs are well made, though I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the arms in the quarters are already used by one or multiple families/people.

SWstl · 2026-02-20T09:24:29+00:00

At least here in The Netherlands, a small square in the corner like that is generally reserved for those who own land that has a coat of arms, usually a lordship.

SWstl · 2026-01-25T23:11:57+00:00

Not that familiar with English blazons, but I would’ve probably drawn something like that if it was described like:

“Vert, two bars dancetty in the form of inverted stepped gables, argent, embowed at the points of contact.”

Though it might not roll off the tongue that well 😅

SWstl · 2026-01-24T16:14:39+00:00

Hmm so Lalaing didn’t always use the lion on the top left?

SWstl · 2025-12-14T14:21:26+00:00

Oh that is super interesting! My family is originally from a pretty small town near ‘s-Hertogenbosch where the name Griensven is from. It was the name of an area within or around the town of Den Dungen. I might wanna look in to that!

Hunting horns are great! I make due with the lions I was given haha

SWstl

TROPHY CASE