The aim today was to complete the double helix pattern framing the drummer, after I’d made a good start yesterday. It proved to be a bit more time consuming than I’d anticipated, as I’d had visions of flying through it ~ although whilst doing sketches last night I changed the pattern slightly.
Originally I’d planned to carve the supporting, horizontal lines too, which were just going to be lined out; when I sketched this idea it looked a bit odd, as though it was disjointed and unconnected from the drumming figure. It was like sticking a picture from medieval times into a modern scientific textbook. It worked better as a pattern symbolizing the double helix, rather than a direct reproduction of it ~ and without those horizontal bars it resembled some kind of Gothic ogival arch or window tracery, perfectly in keeping with the musician.
I finished off the trail with some more curls or spirals, mirroring the ones in the birds’ beaks.
A template ensured that the double helix was of uniform size:
Lastly the edges were tidied up with a large gouge.
Finished!!
Back on to the guitarist and elephant tree tomorrow.