Hot to Draw a Celtic Spiral 1 - Double Spiral from Book of Kells (Yin Yang)

Jason Bellchamber demonstrates how to draw a Celtic double spiral from the Chi-Ro page of the book of Kells.
This pattern is asthetically the same as the Asian symbol 'Yin Yang' but not identical. Celtic sprial designs are likely an abstract representation of balance and predate 5th century knotwork patterns by a millenia. Originally the early metalsmiths and artisians would use spirals as zoomorphic (abstact human or animal forms) and plant motifs in a spiral form. In the Book of Kells MSS (late 8th Century) sprial desigs are found as either doubles and most commonly the triple.
At this point in Celtic art history, animals and human forms begin to look more realistic in design, but it still predates medieval styles by over a century.. This double spiral is elegant, in being 2 equal halves of a whole which suggests a symmetrical relationship.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Celtic
• Spirals
• Yin-Yang
• Compass
• Book
• of
• Kells
• Shadow-Light
• balance
• symmetry
• equal
• sun
• moon
• eternity
• Pict
• pictish
• design
• Drawing
• Painting
• Ireland
• Māori
• tattoo
• Yin And Yang

[cyberlightbeing]

Brilliant! thank you.