Hi Scott,

Well, I run the risk of coming across as an ass, but somthing just does not strike me as right with the pattern. I assume you like it, and from what everyone else says they like it, so maybe I'm just drunk again.

I looked at your picture earlier this morning, and just thought Hmm, 'I would not do that for my inlay' but I could not figure out why I did not care for it. I've had it on the back of my mind for a few hours.

From what I remember from looking at your site, or a post from a few months ago, the inlay is based on the style of tree in some form of oriental art. (I may be a victim of a bad memory here). I like the motif. however looking at the actual design on the kayak, that is not what it obviously looks like. As the one poster joked 'what did you drop on it'. It kinda looks like the cracks in the ashphalt right next to it, or perhaps a lightning strike.

I assume you will go ahead with the pattern, and that in the end, you will love it. Once completed, you should be pretty good with the inlay (if you are not already), so here is what I suggest...

From the oriental art I've seen, there is often a hill, or rock in the back ground along with a pagoda(sp?) or house. I suggest you should try and add something like that to help put the tree/vine in context. Likely difficult, but possibly worth the extra effort, given the pretty amazing work and thought put in so far.

Well, I hope the above comment does not come across wrong, I've never attempted anyting like that. I'm not trying to cut down the work you've done, which is very impressive, just providing a suggestion, which I think will make it better.

Have a good day.

Myrl