Chapter 2 | DRAPERY WITH A STORY

Exercise 1: Draw a cloth tied at the top left and right (above) or held by two hands (below). It seems as if the hands are trying to show us something on the cloth. Imagine something beautiful, a symbol, a flower, or anything else.

The Coat of Arms/Emblem/Heraldic Symbol of the Netherlands is somewhat similar to the previous canvas, but also has a canopy, like a tent cloth. The whole thing is called a baldachin: a covering of precious fabric, often as a tribute to something or someone, in this case the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Under the canvas are the lions of Orange, carrying the shield and the crown. The French motto “Je maintiendrai” in the blue ribbon means: “I will maintain/be faithful/protect the kingdom.”

Exercise 2: Copy the simplified canopy below (left). Think of a ‘royal’ symbol or figure for underneath the canopy. When choosing colors, create different shades to make the canopy appear more spacious (right).