Notes compiled by Del Newbigging

The instructions on this website are intended to assist medal makers in creating art medals. If you have any questions or do not understand something please email Del Newbigging for help.

WHAT IS A MEDAL?
I have five points that I like to follow when I am making a medal. They do not involve the composition, design, sculptural technique or the ephemeral aspects of a medal.

The five points that I use to describe a medal are:

1. Size
2. Double or Single Sided
3. Lettering
4. Relationship between obverse and reverse
5. Message

Size: A medal should fit comfortably in your hand. It should not be bigger than 6" in diameter. It should not be so heavy that it weighs your hand down. I prefer medals that are smaller than 6" in diameter.

Double or Single Sided: I prefer medals to be double sided. The exception is when you are making a medal and you want to save the reverse side for an engraved message such as the name of a new born child and the particulars of the birth. If you are having the medal engraved ask for a 'deep cut'. This will make the engraving easy to read. I get my medals engraved at Imperial Engravers, 80 Power Street, Toronto (416-368-7694)

Lettering: I like to have lettering on my medals. This is most likely the influence of my teacher, Dora de Pedery-Hunt. She is a master of lettering. However, if your medals are shown internationally, lettering in a particular language could be a drawback to those who do not speak the language.

Relationship between the Obverse and the Reverse of the Medal: I believe that both sides of the medal should relate to each other. They can be tied together literally by the sculpting, by the message or by the relationship of the images.

Message: I like my medals to have a message. Medals are a small art object but because they can be caressed in your hand they can be the source of intimate messages or they can shout your anger at the situations of the world.