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Flycatcher
08-27-02, 11:15 AM
OK, this one looks like it really is farewell to 1.23B so just before I go off to download the upgrade...

Just an experimental doodle. A semi-abstract representation of a pile of quarried limestone rock containing crystals of Blue John, a mineral found very locally in caves in Derbyshire, England. This may not be entirely accurate as it is stretching my memory back almost 50 years! The crystals are generally a darker, inky blue, but this did not suit my compositional intentions and anyway paler morphs do frequently occur, including some with a violet shade as depicted here. Mostly turned locally into small trinkets for the tourist trade, or sold uncut as geological specimens.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1030472133iph.jpg

All ZBrush and all one tool - a sphere grossly deformed using one of PinheadPaul's alpha height-field maps, then with the poly-count lowered to give some crystalline edges in the more heavily distorted regions. This was then textured using Texture Master and repeated in various sizes and orientations on the canvas.

Stonecutter
08-27-02, 12:06 PM
Not bad, Flycatcher...
As a graduate Gemologist, we refer to this as a variety of Fluorite, and I have some in my studio...In Victorian times, they made even large vases out of it... ;) I think this is a very good representation...

:tu: :tu: :tu: :cool: :tu: :tu: :tu:

dangerdave
08-27-02, 12:09 PM
This kinda looks like amethyst we have in Ontario (Canada).

Wonder if they are 'related' if there is such a thing for minerals.

Stonecutter
08-27-02, 01:12 PM
No DD, two different minerals...

Amethyst -> Quartz
Blue John -> Fluorite
:)

DeeVee
08-27-02, 02:06 PM
FC, my man you did a very good job with this image . I like it a lot. After your email, it appears as if you intend to do the painting of gemstones instead of working with them :D That is the safe way :tu: If you continue to do images like this one, you would qualify :D :D
:tu: :tu: :tu:
DeeVee,
Joe.

Flycatcher
08-27-02, 03:23 PM
Glad you liked it, guys - it just kind of evolved from a little experiment, the modelling equivalent of Paul Klee's "just taking a line for a walk" remark, I guess.

SC - Thanks for reminding me it is a form of fluorite. I wanted to include it in my post, but somehow got calcite in my brain and couldn't dislodge it. (Sounds a painful condition!) :)

Joe - Didn't give that aspect a thought until you mentioned it, but glad it helps me qualify. :D