Kathy McClurg;102815 wrote:
I rather like the last two. Alphyns are relatively rare. I like the larger dovetails if you go with the chief option. I may have "lost the bubble" a little re: the symbology… are you content with the Alphyn as opposed to a lion given your nickname?
This one is singing sweetly to me. I’ll give it some time though.
The primary charge is a Gamelyon (forked tongue and dragon-like wings, as apposed to eagle’s wings). It took some time to ‘build it’. 
You’ve got the hang of "less is more." Remembering that shield shape is irrelevant to the design, I recommend you take your favorite, place them on equal shields - print a the same size and fridge test away!
Ditto Kathy. The refrigerator test works best if the different versions are artistically equivalent - i.e. equally good, bad or indifferent artistically - so the playing field is level on that score. Any artistic differences, even different shield shapes - are a distraction from the relative merits of the designs themselves.
Think of it as a comparison of floor plans, without the fancy paint, wallpaper and other fru-fru. Top-notch heraldic artwork and different historic or modern styles should come later, after you’ve digested the basic design options and settled on the final-final design. At that point, several different renditions of the final design by different artists can be great fun; see our Members Roll for examples.
Briefly, don’t let one particularly attractive artistic rendition seduce you too soon in the process - remember you’re looking for Ms. Right, not just Ms. Right-Now!
These designs are currently being tested. My wife really likes #1, and says that she sees me in it, especially with the sapinage. I just adjusted #1’s wing position since it was a bit cramped and must say that so far, it is my favorite also.
1http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/ab13a83b-60f6-4ecf-9529-be4b453c09c1_zps9d63d2b6.png 2.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/227de1f1-c2e7-4f43-aad7-070362dd13e3_zpsc8c8f1b9.png 3.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/4d6be2b2-49c8-49b9-9ee9-0ef1fe62f484_zpsf9d2c174.png 4.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/d1be5741-7750-4796-92bc-a6b96d657da2_zps75684fe0.png
Notes:
1. The Gamelyon is rampant but is holding the sword with both paws. I’m not sure if this is up to artistic license. If it is best, regular ‘rampant’ with both arms visible will replace the current charge.
2. The five stars represent my wife (the large star in the center) and our family groups ... parents and siblings.
Thoughts are welcome.
NLP337;102820 wrote:
Personally, I still like this version the most, even over your latest versions. But of course it isn’t my thoughts that count.
NLP337;102874 wrote:
These designs are currently being tested. My wife really likes #1, and says that she sees me in it, especially with the sapinage. I just adjusted #1’s wing position since it was a bit cramped and must say that so far, it is my favorite also.
1http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/ab13a83b-60f6-4ecf-9529-be4b453c09c1_zps9d63d2b6.png 2.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/227de1f1-c2e7-4f43-aad7-070362dd13e3_zpsc8c8f1b9.png 3.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/4d6be2b2-49c8-49b9-9ee9-0ef1fe62f484_zpsf9d2c174.png 4.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/d1be5741-7750-4796-92bc-a6b96d657da2_zps75684fe0.png
Notes:
1. The Gamelyon is rampant but is holding the sword with both paws. I’m not sure if this is up to artistic license. If it is best, regular ‘rampant’ with both arms visible will replace the current charge.
2. The five stars represent my wife (the large star in the center) and our family groups ... parents and siblings.
Thoughts are welcome.
Numbers 1-3 seem just a bit cramped to me. #4 is nice, though the etoiles still feel a bit cramped. I’m more a fan of using a single metal so the silver gamelyon with the gold etoiles is throwing me off a bit.
In keeping with the latest set of charges, I wonder, since the etoiles are representing your wife and family, what you would think of using a demi-gamelyon holding a sword as your crest and arranging the etoiles alone on the field in the shape of a cross or saltire.
I did something similar with my grandfather’s arms with his children being represented on the shield and he and my grandmother being represented in the crest.
Ditto Arriano, on both points - and especially his second point. Unless y’all really don’t like the sword raised, perhaps you could add a 5th shield, essentially #4 but with the beastie and arch of stars as in Arriano’s above, for the fridge test. (As much as I like the raised sword, it would be too crowded under the chief in #1 or #3 - might work under the arched chief in #2 if you wanted to give it a try.)
Either way - with or without a fifth or sixth shield - give the test ample time before deciding. Remember that the heart of the test is subconscious - one design, or key parts of one or more of them, will hopefully imprint on your shared subconscious.
If not, back to the drawing board…which I think is unlikely, given that both you and your wife are already involved in the design process.
Let the testing begin!
Oops - Matthew posted while I was typing. Interesting suggestion, if it appeals to you. As to the chiefs in your first three options, the fridge test should sort out whether or not your subconscious agrees or disagrees. As to the stars in chief of your fourth, and my suggestd fifth, I dont see it as too crowded, but again its up to you and your subconsciouses.
I think the sword is going to look cramped under the chief unless you alter the angle or how it’s held.
Angle: Make it closer to horizontal, as if the beast is striking with it, as in the arms of Finland:
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/misc/fi).gif
How it’s held: Have him holding it vertically with both hands, down in front of the body rather than raised up.
It can/should also be a bit smaller.
Michael F. McCartney;102879 wrote:
Oops - Matthew posted while I was typing. Interesting suggestion, if it appeals to you.
I figure a picture is worth a thousand words…
Okay. Here’s the next iteration:
1.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/df8790c7-8245-45ae-9739-87f3b3ff9419_zps160f3661.png 2.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/244006bd-15f7-4fd5-b14e-19f40df7ad73_zpse613ef64.png 3.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/6e14116c-1513-462c-9968-417095636158_zps7df75927.png
The rock the beastie is standing on, and the center-most ‘sun’ (those are smaller versions of ‘suns in their splendor’ ... that is what the clipart image is) represent a possible canting of my arms ... my last name is Peterson: Peter means rock or stone + the large sun = Son of Peter ... Peterson. Kind of weak, I know, but it might provide an opportunity to talk to others about heraldry in the future. The Eagle pommel is also a possible talking point. At least two old CoA’s for English and Swedish Petersons use one or more Eagles as their main charge. So, I’m using the pommel to pay respects to that symbol.
- So, my wife says that #3 is more ‘me’ than the others. It’s a bit busy and a bit cluttered, but that is part of who I am. LOL
Anyway ...
Here are possible crests. I’m having some difficulty with the sword. Any suggestions? Should I just use ‘proper’ in the blazon? It disappears on the Crest because everything is argent.
This antique, 5 points, crown represents the five suns (each point) as well as my interest in historic forms of government (monarchy in particular), group dynamics and history (the Two Kings of Sparta and her oligarchy for example).
2.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/063daaa6-a907-499c-a5a2-d3607a11c694_zps91073160.png I like this option as well.
(please excuse the shaky editing.) 
Thoughts?
I recommend you finish the shield before you step to the crest. I’m not fond of the argent/Purple chief designs.. I do not think the rock adds anything to the previous designs..
I like numbers one and four on the Vert with Or chief designs.. Joe/s suggestion re: sword is all good, too..
Suggest you finish shield before starting crest.
I like 1 and 4 in the Vert with Or chief designs.. don’t like the argent/purple chief choices much.
1.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/456d9231-09d7-48ea-9e4a-67a8f3d0f332_zps4c3caab5.png 2.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/5adb6b96-3df6-42f8-ba78-996f86982a3d_zpsa691bab2.png 3.http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f173/clayprince337/4b533ad8-a1fc-4515-b85b-620fca6482d6_zps806be183.png
Of your last three, FWIW I like #3. Actually #2 is nicest but the arc of stars/suns adds a distinctive note that makes it less likely to be confused with any other more or less similar arms. #1 is of course least likely to be confused with any other arms but is considerably busier.
Of your two proposed crests, the one without the coronet is preferable ontwo levels. First, while this particular type of coronet isn’t one of the nobiliary coronets that we generally consider inappropriate for use in the US, use of any type of coronet in a new design is frowned on as suggestive of some sort of special status. Second, the crown visually interferes with the view of the crest itself. (Also, the coronet doesn’t really express your intended "five" since there are really eight points, even though only five show from the side. Remember that while the shield is truly a 2-dimensional object, even in e.g. a carved sculpture, crests are really supposed to be 3-dimensional objects even when depicted in a 2-D drawing)
But as always it’s what you & yours choose.
The eagle’s head pommel on the sword is an interesting artistic touch, but not visually noticeable in small scale (e.g. on a signet rinG) or at a distance. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include it in artwork big enough for it to show, only that the arms would be essentially the same depicted with or without.
Michael F. McCartney;102886 wrote:
Of your last three, FWIW I like #3. Actually #2 is nicest but the arc of stars/suns adds a distinctive note that makes it less likely to be confused with any other more or less similar arms. #1 is of course least likely to be confused with any other arms but is considerably busier.
Of your two proposed crests, the one without the coronet is preferable ontwo levels. First, while this particular type of coronet isn’t one of the nobiliary coronets that we generally consider inappropriate for use in the US, use of any type of coronet in a new design is frowned on as suggestive of some sort of special status. Second, the crown visually interferes with the view of the crest itself. (Also, the coronet doesn’t really express your intended "five" since there are really eight points, even though only five show from the side. Remember that while the shield is truly a 2-dimensional object, even in e.g. a carved sculpture, crests are really supposed to be 3-dimensional objects even when depicted in a 2-D drawing)
But as always it’s what you & yours choose.
The eagle’s head pommel on the sword is an interesting artistic touch, but not visually noticeable in small scale (e.g. on a signet rinG) or at a distance. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include it in artwork big enough for it to show, only that the arms would be essentially the same depicted with or without.
Mike, that is where I’m stuck ... #1 is my wife’s favorite ... #2 would be the best, as less is more ... #3 is, as you’ve put it, more ‘distinctive’.
I hear you on the eagle pommel, and would be fine with just a regular pommel. It is definitely one of those fine details that will be lost as the size of the arms shrink.
Thanks for clarification on the coronet. I was wondering about the 5 points (it is described as a 5 point antique coronet). I figured the clip art just showed all five up front, while a 3D rendering would swing them into their proper places. When it’s time to really look at crests, I’ll keep your points in mind.
