I have no idea where this is going..... but let's get things started!

Well, I want to say, first, that the knotwork you applied here is really cool. It isn't what I envision, but that doesn't diminish its individual cool factor. It's really pretty spiffy.

One thing that I very much have in mind is the idea of a central knot on the piece which then flows outwards in both directions, but draws the eye to the middle. Aside from that, the bottom should have a portion of the knotwork that acts as the base of the entire accessory. Recall how I described the Inferno Amulet's runes as making a T shape? I sort of plan for that to be the case here too, except upside down. Essentially with the two bars on the bottom following the bottom edge of the stone. I'll see if I can't fish up some references for you to inspire or just work from.

The stone itself I haven't worked out exactly, but I do have in mind a general form, which unfortunately doesn't match the egg shape you're using here. I imagine it as something a lot more flat, almost saucer shaped.* Whether it is a cut gem or a raw chunk of stone, I haven't really decided on, so I'd kind of like your opinion on that.

*flat on one side, slightly domed on the other.

I did really want to do some back and forth before we produced any art though, which is why I sent you the message the other day, because there are more than a few parts of this that *I* don't even have gelled yet and I feel bad if we don't at least start on the same page on the other details.

Well I kinda had this ready before i read your post.... I'm not online much these days- sucks.

Ok well let's go from here.
Give me a minute to process that.

Basically i just wanted to kick around some knot ideas.

Ugh... I know what you mean.... even though I can hop on a lot, I haven't felt of very contributory around here lately.

The knot ideas I'll definitely go and try to find some good solid references for, since I have something of a clearer picture for those than I did with the runes.
I do want to reiterate that the knots on this one are pretty kickass, just not right for things.

Predit: Actually THIS is the kind of shape that has been subliminally floating around in my head this entire time. I still like the idea of developing a central knot in what is more or less the center of the gem, but this does a good job of showcasing some idea of where all of that was coming from.

ok, yeah i was hoping i was doing something keltic- I wanted to reach out to the old country!

But mostly i just thought about the fact that it was metal? Silver?

Did I mention this is making my brain hurt?

Yeah, silver metal. (okay c'mon, you knew I was going to be at least a little trolly about that.)

Here's the shapes i'm pondering....

I notice that i missed a weave on the top(center) left? Or not i think.

Yo.... peep the dalinian cliffs that came to the party!

My opinion doesn't enter into this, but I just want to say that bottom central knot design is awesome. Not to say that it's the only one that's good, but I like it a lot!

Yeah, the bottom central one is closest to everything that I'd like to see going on with the metalwork. I actually don't want any sharp edges on it.

Though it's still a bit less adorned than I'd prefer. Towards the middle of the straight portion, see if you couldn't work in a circular pattern similar to this that sort of stands at the center of the gem. The straight portion feels like it could stand to be a little longer, in general.

Anyways, still, the bottom center one is really close.

I need to upload to the wiki because it's from a cell phone? How should I do that? Or, what's your email Barinellos?

I'll throw you a PM with my email.

Sorry it took me a while to get around to getting this up for you LM.

Anyways, to give you the review:
First off, I think the coils/knots are just about perfect. The only critique I have on that is that I feel like the bottom curved coils aren't broad enough. Part of that goes, too, with how the thing is structured over all.

In my head, I'm seeing the metal work actually being what holds the gem, front and back and the bottom coil should actually wrap around UNDER the gem and continue up the other side. That hammock description you gave. Aside from that, I was sort of expecting the top coil itself to be what affixed to the chain. Basically, a big part of this rendition is the fact that you actually put a backing on the gem, which just doesn't match our plan.

The effects on everything are top notch, though it'll be interesting to see this in color since the gem is going to look, essentially, like a huge raw sapphire. (If you still think it should be raw rather than cut). I find the gem cut you chose to be kind of interesting too, since it appears to be a combination cut, taking elements out of a few cuts.

Anyways, I hope those notes manage to give you a good clear picture to work from, because it's already looking really close.

PREDIT: It... looks like the file size is too big to attach it as it is, and it's a little late for me to get out the image programs to resize it.
Well, I'm sure you'll have a chance to post it at some point if you want. The feedback was the important bit.

ok here's what i had to go along with your critique. I am looking forward to the revision!

For the record, I still think that looks good as an objective piece.
I mean, let it never be said that you aren't great at what you do.

Oops!

hehe but seriously You and Keeper are critical allies here for art tech, and Everyone's stories and characters are fantastic, and just what i've been missing in my journey.

I feel now that it would be fun to depict that fish-like creature Ruwin' concieved(in agony).

I could never enjoy studying this much if it wasn't for The M:EM and its Members! Onward!

Cheers

The Winter's Heart

Artifact- Amulet

(What is the casting cost for this and what are its effects Barinellos?)

Good to see this in larger resolution.
I am curious, did you change anything else between this version and the one you posted?

well , let me see if i can remember, lol....

A little more deepening on a few key areas of the gem, tried to tone down the glare on the whiter bits, some focal blurring and focal darkening(conveniently, photoscape's brushes are circular), its been cropped up and sharpened, and of course the resizing bit.

I think that's all.

I do have the 2.9 MB version on file...

Ah... The medium is colored pencil and ink on paper, which was then punched up in photoscape. Sadly i only have one prismacolor- Luckily it's black!

-Which is a large part of how much the deepening tool was used.

The crome isn't anywhere close to the first draft, but i think it holds more continuity overall and did its job as a study.

I'd say it could use a pinch of punching up on the bottom, particularly the Prismatic Shadow.

Honestly, even though it's better to see it larger, but I think most of the photoscaping ended up taking away from the visuals rather than adding to them.
It caused some color distortion, and darkening it actually weakened the overall impact of the piece. A big part of that is that you took away a lot of the contrast present in the background, which actually served to give the piece a better unity.

Well **** i thought it was better so i lost the original copy! haha well at least its in the intro'talk-shop thread, but too bad i will need to take a new photo of the original for the vault.

Where do you wanna go from here?