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.

brainstorming #4 & #5 for "withering of the boughs" first initial

My papers and I braved the pizza parlor again yesterday for a little more planning. After the work that was done on Withering Boughs a weeks ago, it still seemed like something was missing. At that time, number of positive things were realized (the off center moon, the witches hat, the golden chain), but none of the end results were particularly satisfying. After much mulling over (and tasty alfredo sauce pizza with onions, bacon, and tomato) I realised that all the previous efforts needed simplifying. Overworked, behold thine poster child.

Below are two simplified efforts. The first is decent but is perhaps too simplified, and is far to stiff. The second, however, is likely quite close to what will become the final product.

brainstorming #3 for "withering of the boughs" first initial

Brainstorm #3 is rather imbalanced I think, however it has two features that I adore. I feel that the final initial will somehow be a happy medium between brainstorms 2 & 3.

Brainstorm #3's highlights are:
1) The "moon" is off center. This was a complete mistake but it give the initial a rather rakish air that I find quite attractive.
2) The golden chain wraps around the moon and then extends down the short carrier. This one element clearly binds the theta and the carrier together effectively and elegantly without overcrowding.
3) The leafy plant is off to the side of the carrier. It helps add balance without actually being a literal part of the initial itself.

The problem - the boughs! These seemed a great idea at the time but they are just .. well ... they are just there. There seems no rhyme or reason to their existence. The boughs would serve better as accent imagery throughout the text instead methinks. At this moment they make the initial look rather haphazard which is not a desirable effect.

brainstorming #2 for "withering of the boughs" first initial

Brainstorm #2 for Withering Boughs has a lot of good elements. It features a number of more abstract elements that are tied together in the poem, and is more free flowing due to lack of plotting out pre-drawing. In essence, the pencil went where it wanted to go without me telling it what to do. the chief issue that this initial has is that it suffers from being overworked.

The elements I like :
1) the moon in place of the "i" theta - it doesn't look so lonely this time and is more part of the image as opposed to existing as separate entity.
2) the witch's hat - this is more than cliche and most likely won't end up in the final initial, but I love the effect it has being draped over the top of the short carrier.
3) the chain wrapping around the letter
4) the leafy plant

brainstorming #1 for "withering of the boughs" first initial

This first brainstorm has two elements I like :
1) the moon in place of the "i" theta
2) the golden chain attached to the swan

I however feel that while the golden chain is a nice element, to attach it to the swan takes the poem far to literally. The image is stiff and far to static yet, that's why it is the first brainstorm and not the final.

brainstorming for "withering of the boughs"

I haven't gotten terribly far with Withering of the Boughs as of yet, but it looks like the poem holds a lot of promise. This afternoon over a cup of apple and spice tea I located what seemed to be the most obvious imagery and sketched a series of 3 first initials. None of the initials strike me as being "the one," but there are elements in the last two that I especially like. Those will be briefly broken down individually in the following posts. As you will note, there is a list underneath the poem called "actions." Withering Boughs seems to feature a series of phrases where one object is acting upon another. Clearly stated ones are listed in the hope that they will become the basis for a descent title page at least.