On Ken's behalf, thank you. The subject of tastefulness has come up with regard to gold inlays. Something that Ken and I agreed to from the very start was that more is not necessarily better and that harmony, elegance, proportion and the like in the composition is the key. I believe that Ken reflected the aesthetic that I tried to convey via words and artwork that I provided and interpreted these through his mastery of his craft and his artful eye.
This engraved scene is almost fractal...when you look closer you find a whole other level of detail and when you look even closer, well...there's yet another level of detail to marvel at.
I could not be happier with the engraving nor with the experience which I view as having the salient characteristics of learning, expressing, and relationships. This process; the friendships made, the exchange of information and point of view, the honor of tradition expressed through a modern eye and craft, the shared delight in rendering art on a shotgun, is as substantive to me as the finished product which I think is pure excellence.
Can anybody find the black turtle in the scene?
I know that the pheasant/dog scene will be the equal to the water fowl as we both share the view that this level of work has to be executed throughout for balance and harmony.
By the by, we also spent time with Mr. Boone Berlin doing the final fitting of the pattern stock from which we will duplicate into the Cecil Fredi blank I obtained. Mr. Berlin is, I have found, a young man of superb character and his dedication to detail and quality makes him a finely suitable guild partner for Ken.
I'm glad that some found pleasure in this display of Ken's profound talent.
Mark....when you want another SX-1, let me know..I have connections :-) LOL. You and your family are in my thoughts.
Stephen
Last edited by Baron23; 02/17/08 04:25 PM.
