Indeed it is a work of art, and beautifully attentive to detail!
I have never played with a steel flat pick, although I have played pedal steel, what's it like playing with a steel pick, and is this masterpiece strictly for show? Might it wear off your lovely art work if you started into using it?
I hope the owner of this pick doesnt actually play w it. the sides are inlayed in gold too and im not sure they would hold up to well.... but the guy is punk rock sooooooo.....
If the punk rocker owner really just, must, use that great pick once in a while, a wipe of superglue will add a hard, transparent layer of protection that would keep your splendid work intact?
That's pretty righteous. Is that for a member of NOFX?! I used to listen to them!
As far as the figure, working from an image where there's a dramatic light source can help with modeling the form. One thing that I have my students do is draw like crazy and do studies from Durer and Goltzius. Here's link to a high res portrait by Durer. http://srufaculty.sru.edu/david.dailey/engraver/FrederickSaxonyDurer.gif
Lots of great hatching to study in the image, but I'm not sure this would fall in the "bulino" category. I suppose it depends on what look you want. Thanks for posting that...looks like a good future project idea for my class next semester.