Scrimdrawing: Introducing a New Word, one for the Dictionary, maybe?
- Amelia Marriette
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
How did this new word - scrimdrawing - come about?
A few days ago, I had a very exciting moment. Nearing the completion of the first draft of my new book, Inherited Images: A Daughter's Journey Through Art and War, I found something in the archive - a tiny pen-and-ink drawing which I discovered accidentally tucked away for safekeeping in the fold of the book cover of my father's unfinished memoir. It's always thrilling when working with archive materials to find something new that no one has seen since the creator, and even more so when that person is a relative. Moreover, what made it even more wonderful was that I found it on the day my father would have turned 101.
RAF Penhros - scrimdrawing
I will reveal the details of his small pen-and-ink scrimdrawing, a word I am coining to describe it, in my new book, Inherited Images, which I hope that will be picked up by a publisher and be fully illustrated, but I can reveal in my blog that it was completed at RAF Penrhos in 1945. The image shows the reverse of the sketch. It's about the size of two postage stamps, and it's a miracle that it survived!
My father was assigned to the Flying Control Office at RAF Penrhos. He made a watercolour on October 20th, 1945, which I also include in my book, and he described the Flying Office and the small airfield in his unpublished memoir, "a rather small wooden building situated by the airfield perimeter track with an excellent view of sea and coastline. One glimpse at the tiny overgrown airfield was sufficient to tell me that little flying was done on this unit. Furthermore, by reason of its diminutive proportions, it was obviously incapable of landing ‘heavy stuff'. Any aircraft larger than a single‑seater job would inevitably, on attempting to land, find itself in a watery grave in Cardigan Bay." (Incidents of My Life, Leonard Eason, circa 1945)
What is the definition of the new word scrimdrawing?
The definition is: scrimdrawing, an improvised artwork created by a soldier or airman from found materials, especially applicable when official documents are repurposed. The word scrimdrawing is inspired by the tradition of scrimshaw, a term associated almost exclusively with sailors.
What is scrimshaw? The Oxford English Dictionary defines it thus:
A general name (also scrimshaw work) for the handicrafts practised by sailors by way of pastime during long whaling and other voyages, and for the products of these, as small manufactured articles, carvings on bone, ivory, or shells, and the like. Also {sm}scrimshaw v., trans. to decorate or produce as scrimshaw work; absol. to employ oneself in scrimshaw work; {sm}scrimshander, -shandy = SCRIMSHAW n.; {sm}scrimshoner, one who practises scrimshaw work.
Why am I calling the Penrhos drawing a scrimdrawing?
My father's tiny pen-and-ink drawing was made on the reverse of an RAF Signals Memo Pad, so calling it a scrimdrawing is apt. If it had been in pencil, scrimsketch would have been a more apt term, but although the piece is very small, it's a complete and intentional work of art.
It would be great if scrimdrawing became a new art term because such sketches, which are by no means uncommon, were often made by bored soldiers or airmen who grabbed any scraps of paper near at hand to doodle on, sketch on, write on and more. Even if the official documents clearly stated, as is the case with my father's drawing, that this was not allowed!
Why scrimdrawing and not scrimart?
Scrimart would be a good all-encompassing term to adopt, but since it already appears in several unrelated contexts online, I think scrimdrawing works well because it can also be subdivided, and curators and the art world love subdivisions. For example: scrimsketch, scrimdoodle, scrimpoem, scrimletter, scrimnote, and so on.
Will scrimdrawing get into the dictionary? Maybe, one day!
Maybe scrimdrawing and its subdivisions will be mentioned in the dictionary one day – it only has to be in circulation for five to ten years, so please start using the word, and let me know.
Isn't there already a word or term for scrimdrawing?
In a way, there is, yes, the Imperial War Museum’s definition of the word Trench-art could cover my piece, but as the IWM states: ‘Trench art is a misleading term given today to a wide variety of decorative items, sometimes also functional, produced during or soon after the First World War (though the term is also applied to products of both earlier and more recent wars). They were made in all the countries engaged in combat. Ashtrays, matchbox holders, letter knives, model tanks and planes are typically found. Often they are re-purpose lead bullets, brass recovered from spent charge cases, and copper from shell driving bands, although carved wooden and bone pieces, and embroideries are also seen. However, few examples were fashioned literally in the trenches. Nor were all made by soldiers."
I agree, trench art is a misleading term, because as soon as one hears the word trench, one automatically thinks of the First World War. I don't think it's a suitable term to describe my father’s drawing, which was completed in 1945, and he was never in combat, although he was conscripted and, thank goodness, he never had to spend months in a trench.
Isn't it a bit cheeky to make up a new word?
Yes! It is a bit cheeky! But after all, Shakespeare, who has always had a great influence on me and my love of language, invented one in every ten of the words he used - an estimated 1,700 in fact. So, it's definitely allowed. Moreover, language is constantly evolving and needs to keep moving forward to remain relevant.
Please correct me if I am wrong – is the word scrimdrawing already out there?
I've searched everywhere for the term "scrimdrawing" used in this context, but I can't find any mention of it. If you are an art curator or a wordsmith, please let me know whether this word already exists. If somebody else has already coined it, I shall graciously lay down my claim and give credit where credit is due. If there is another technical term for this type of art that I didn't come across during my research, please let me know.
If you know people who work as archivists, curators, auctioneers, and so on, and you think they might be interested in this new word, please feel free to share this blog post.
More about Inherited Images: A Daughter's Journey Through Art and War, and what it will reveal.
Seventeen unpublished wartime diaries, one unfinished memoir, twenty-four wartime watercolours never been seen in public – and now one tiny pen and ink drawing from RAF Penrhos.
In Inherited Images, I place my father within the long arc of his artistic family, writing about his artist twin brother and his older brother, who was killed in action. I trace his journey from RAF training camps across Britain to Egypt, Algeria, Italy and finally to RAF Klagenfurt in Austria.
My father's previously unread and unseen diaries, an unfinished memoir that is self‑mocking and cast in the mould of Edwardian comic sentimentality, and his twenty-four Neo-Romantic wartime paintings form the heart of the narrative, with supporting detail provided by his identical twin brother’s unpublished autobiography. The book is about what we leave behind, what endures, and how creativity, objects, and shared memories carry families through turbulent times. Moreover, documents, artworks, and objects are a vital means of revealing the realities of our ancestors' lived experiences.
If you want to know more about how Inherited Images is progressing, there is a sign-up button at the top of the blog, or you can sign up on my homepage.
Thank you for reading my blog.
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