Paintball

[Darkapollo]

I like it!

[Silver]

Looks great man!

[Menace]

Thank you both.

[Spider!]

That looks like a nice fat swirl size you have! Nice depth consistency too.

I actually like a little wiggle in the pattern, but it's hard to sell it that way.

When the pattern has some variations in it, it really looks creepy in the moon light, like a snake. It's tough to duplicate though.

One thing I may try freehand is to start around a straight feedneck like that one and radiate out. That's a pattern that would be very intensive for a jig or a machine, but not so bad by hand.

[Menace]

The man himself!

Thank you, good sir! And your eye is keen indeed. Excellent observations on form and detail!

Yes, I used a bit twice your regular diameter, and as you can imagine, that introduces significant difficulties and calls for unusual measures. We can chat on the 'dull and boring' stuff via PM if you like.

But I agree. Jigged work is spectacular when done right (and we both know that yours is), and has that 'machine-made' look to it (though rest assured your work is warm and quick, and utterly devoid of the sterility of computerized jeweling).

Paying customers want perfection, naturally, and it takes time to develop a palate for subtlety and nuance, and to appreciate the organic quality of freehand. And as you say, the variations are precisely what are most disturbing to the eye, and what give that extra 'living' quality to the work.

Basically it's the formal beauty of Plato on the one hand and the earthy beauty of Aristotle on the other.

Or perhaps Apollo and Dionysus.

Thanks again, good sir. Your appreciation means a great deal.