I’d planned to give Bottom a left hand, on the right of the tree as you look at it; the idea was to have it pushing aside a few leaves, and I did a preparatory drawing at home the night before. Unfortunately when I got to the tree, the drawing just didn’t seem to translate to the actual piece ~ I had given him a bit of a shoulder and arm (which I’ll add to with some clothing), and I think that maybe subtly altered something which made the hand idea look wrong. Cue a period of indecision as I drew and redrew the hand again and again trying to make it work, but to no avail. I really felt Bottom needed something to show he was a human with an ass’s head, and so decided on a hand on the left of the tree almost caressing Titania’s head.
Bottom’s shoulder, and no hand.
Working on the hand.
The outline started on the leaf on the right.
Tomorrow I’ll finish this leaf and clothe Bottom, and carve some more leaves before tackling the dress of Titania.
I wanted some oak leaves in certain places, and there was a nice space above the hand and on the right of the head.