brainstorming for "wandering aengus" first initial #3 & #4

In all the brainstorms for this letter, two elements remain the same - the fish and the berry - the way they are pictured, however, changes. Here are brainstorms #1 & #2 from back in November for reference. Off the bat, it is clear that the following images were influenced by my positive experience with brainstorms #4 & #5 of withering boughs. The string wrapped around the theta (and thus effectively tying the theta and short carrier together) was brought over from the previous images, resulting in a pleasing effect. One element that I wish had been retained from brainstorm #2 was the use of a star for the theta. the star would bring the alchemical references back into the illumination and make the image more interesting without causing it to become overworked.

Brainstorm #3 is a bit same 'ole same 'ole and comes across rather uninspired as it really is just a new arrangement for the fish than in previous initials.

#4, however, has something going for it. The string carries on beyond the traditional confines of the letter (which is rather short in stature) and is rather pleasing a result. While I like the two fish, the idea of two fish has nothing to do with the poem and will therefore be nixed. Instead think of it as a study of the fish's position (sketching with pen does have it's downsides) as I was unable to erase the first fish.

The second image and the last images are skeches playing around with the way tha tthe string wraps around the theta and different fish styles.