Hi I've been trying to finish an image a friend requested for their website. It has to fit a specific narrow inverted triangle area and incorporate several dolphins in a stylized ballet-like arrangement. I want to try incorporating a sea shell (like the Shell Oil Clamshell logo) to see how it works. I thought I had one already, but I don't find it in either props or figures. Anyone know where I can find such a thing? Thanks!

Oh this is beautiful...Sharen

Geralday recently made some shells, I am pretty sure there was a Shell-shell too :o) http://fast3d.co.uk

You did an amazing job! Kimberly

Ernyoka1 - I did find a shell on GeralDay's site, thank you. Sharen and Kimberly, I'm so pleased by your comments! I like the way the balance worked out on this. I'm thinking of tooling the design onto leather for a bodice stomacher (it's what I do for a living), though I may convert the dolphins into simple zoomorphic knotworks to see how that works first. Thanks again!

Oh yes, sorry I never complimented your work :o} I really love the way you've made the upper 3 dolphins curve like the triskele (if that's what it's called) symbol in the middle. Actually speaking of that symbol I think it should rather be grey of some sort, the black looks a bit pasted on consiedering the other "dusty" colours :o)

Really impressive and nice balanced work : cool image !

This is a very delicate and beautiful piece. I love it... If this were a poster, I'd buy it, and I usually don't buy things that do not contain wolves :)

that is a very interesting and well made design. I'd say leave the bottom shell alone, and try the shell-shell on the top two. The placement of the dolphins tail at the opening of the shell gives a pleasing notion that they all came from inside it somehow ..like genies :)

Lovely image, I love how you did the texture. (: genny

This is really nice, I love dolphins and this is just great.

I'd use these nautilus-type shells rather than the clam or scallop... the turning motion flows better with the turning of the dolphins. Reverse the one on the upper right, so that they all turn the same way. Mentally I want to twist the triskelion in the middle to better fit within the white space around it (and keep the image from being too static), but it would perhaps be better to elongate or nudge the tails a bit. Have you tried using the greyed-russet in the shells as the color for the background design? And then a tiny bit more saturated for the triselion? The dolphins have almost that shade in them too... so that ought to bind it nicely. It is a very dynamic and lovely assemblage... your friend should be pleased. :) Carolly

I was responding to a thread this evening, and I realized I'd never finished this thread off by posting a pic of the tooled pieces i did from this design, so in the interests of completion . . .  ;-]

Cheers
Jerry
leather-guy

Been a while . . .

That's beautiful!