Bran Mydwynter

Introduction

hlāford Bran Mydwynter is…

…a woad-covered Romano-British artist from a Welsh family, living in Londinium and trying to make sense of the shifting nature of his 1st century world.

…a ink-stained Migration Period scribe and illuminator, who travels as much as he can both for work and for inspiration.

…a grease-painted Welshman living in 1560s Britain who, much to his troupe's annoyance, frequently disappears from his acting gig to do science and solve crimes.

He is an art historian, a polymath, and an iconoclast.

He has a lot of clothes.

Most have holes in them.

Why Hlāford?

Before officially receiving arms, someone erroneously called him "Lord Bran". It sounded and felt so viscerally discordant that he immediately went looking for something better, and found "Hlāford" (pronounced HLAH-ford; the H is a puff of air before _lah_). It was perfect. Early period, Old English, with an implication of service that really resonated. He'd found his title.

For more, see mydwynterstudios.com.

Abbreviated Scadian History

His first event was the East Kingdom's Simple Faire in 1994. From then he attended as many events as possible for a teenager who had to score rides with friends, and he never met a feast he didn't help to produce. He sang, he fenced, he learned dead languages, he swam in the ocean wearing garb.

But little did he know that once he was allowed to attend Pennsic in 1998, his entire life would change.

While he could no longer attend most events once he graduated from college, Pennsic was an everyyear constant (until plague intervened). He moved to Atlantia. He sauntered vaguely downward to the Pennsic Bog. He became a core member of the Iron Age Celtic group Dalhaidia. He worked for merchants. He studied Insular art. He became a professional historical and folk musician. Onto Pennsic he also layered on Gulf Wars and Estrella War, whenever he could.

He was liminal to the Society, and that was enough.

In 2020, however, his life changed again. With the proliferation of the Online SCA and the resolution of some longstanding personal complications, he can now engage with the Society Proper in a way that was never possible before. Since Pennsic of 2019 he has picked up two local offices, an ongoing gig with the DEI, a scribal apprenticeship, and more friends than could be imagined for a period during which he didn't actually leave his house.

This is a truly new SCA world.

Particular Specialties, Foci, and Fixations

• woad
• spirals
• Insular art
• art history
• Old English poetry
• weaving narrowware
• leatherworking
• beading
• crows
• amber
• copper
• bronze

For details, see mydwynterstudios.com

Arms Blazoned

Per pale argent and sable, a tree blasted and eradicated and in chief two ravens respectant all counterchanged.
Bran Mydwynter: OP

Offices Held

• Chronicler, Barony of Hidden Mountain (January 2021–)
• Deputy MoAS, Canton of Tear Sea's Shore (March 2021–)

Awards Received

• Order of The Coral Branch (June 2021)
• Order of The Sable Mountain (July 2021)

Scrolls Created

• The Fountain (July, 2021)
• The Azure Cloud (July, 2021)
• The Order of the Pearl design (April, 2021)
• The Millrind (January, 2020)
• The Azure Mountain (November, 2012)
• The Fountain (Spring, 2013)

Classes available

"Scribe Like a Graphic Designer"
Modern graphic designers have various techniques to ensure their designs are clear, communicate what they intend, and serve their needed function. But few of these techniques are modern. Come along and learn a handful of basic design principles that period scribes also used, and let them guide you toward more beautiful and effective scrollwork.

"Beyond Kells"
There's so much more out there to explore. Range further into the world of Insular manuscripts, beyond the famous Book of Kells and Lindisfarne Gospels into a realm that's beautiful, approachable, and fun.

"The Art of Woad"
Painting bodies with woad is an art, and every artist has their own style. Over more than twenty years I've woaded countless Celts and courts, battles and bards. I've decorated both grand ceremonies and the glorious everyday. I definitely have a style; let me help you find yours.

Affiliations

• Dalhraidia
• Concusare
• Casa Bellini
• Cousin of the Shire of Roxbury Mill and the Barony of Highland Foorde
• Resides in the Canton of Tear Sea's Shore, in the Barony of Hidden Mountain

In Case of Awards

His preferred style is firmly early period (100 BCE-10 CE).
He is not courtly in the slightest, and will not swear fealty to people. Institutions yes, people no.
He is very uncomfortable with traditions derived from Christianity, such as vigils.
He generally doesn't love having his picture taken, unless explicitly asked.