You said Kristine likes parrots. Well ... here's some pics I found with Google.

http://www.google.com/search?q=parrots&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=5k_2TuLIF4bz0gGQiPnwDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CDYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=760

18 pages worth.

Nice find Uvah acording to your post i made another concept took a picture as reference and repainted it completely - its not final yet quality is not high is not high so i will need bk to repaint the bird as he has a better wacom than i have just got the bamboo thing.
If there is someone that says that using the picture of a parrot as reference isnt ok or allowed i will take the picture down again of course.
If anybody can find info about who did the real reference photo of it i would be very thankfull since my search was not a success.
http://wallpapers.free-review.net/23_~_Backgrounds_Windows_7_-_African_parrot.htm source - keep in mind that the picture below is completely repainted.
:Picture removed

 Wow  That's seroiusly beautiful.         And I just want to add this thread gives me that Christmas feeling. 

Merry Christmas everyone.

And especially those not feeling well.

That (when rotated 90° Clockwise) reminds me of the MS wall in the "Lugares Coloridos" themepack... Maybe MS would let use use it as a one time thing for this young lady... maybe. Not hopeful, but... it is Xmas. Who knows?

Whoever did the original photo probably sold the rights to MS... only MS could tell you, Rolo. But it is a great design. The alternative is to create a vector brush and use a 'pop through' technique to color and create the image you want. Then, if there are significant shape and color differences, you could claim it as original.

Hehe thanks so much Doc i will contact MS then since i want to make sure more than sure if its ok... nothing new to me already did so with Lian-Li aswell and got permission to create whatever i like with their logo included as long as it is without charge. Will give it a try with MS aswell.
How did you find out its an MS picture i tried tineye without any results.

DocEye beats Tineye this time:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/brazil-theme

ahh very cool indeed ! well off we go -Dear MS...
edit: email has been send press both thumbs for me

Good 'eye' Doc.

You guys are so awesome! I love the way you all pitch in to make someone happy, it's lovely to see!

Thanks to all of you for all the comments i dont have to much time to reply currently, but i try to read whenever i find the time.
Rolo?
When did you make that ? over night ? I like the 2nd picture, clearly it will be hard to get any permission from MS but i press you both thumbs since it looks great already.
But i had another idea that´ll cheer you up - i dont know if it will work out but i wanted to make a visit to the Bird Zoo located near Frankfurt with Kristine i got a new camera.If im lucky i get an equal shot of a parrot.Greetings to Caroline and Milli and a Merry Xmas Wincustomize

jupp made it overnight- the idea with the zoo is great- sended you the PSD already i want you to add some detail to the main Bird cant do it with the bamboo pad..
You will have to shut the upper layer and remove the kontur of the bird to get the best quality maybe you have another trick in your sleeve to make the edges a little smoother without loosing the pixels. I will make a clay of it at work if i dont get a permission...while iam able to make the clay im unsure if my boss will give me the time to color it so if im done with the model your work will be to color it- Shared work is always great or i give you another visit during next week and ( borrow me that Wacom ) up to you ( truely im thinkking you should give it to me as christmas present bc its only gathering dust over at yours lol )
PS : Thanks i will pass it on...or you can i will give you a call later cya

If any DX stuff, or Docks, etc. are needed, I'm available.

We could make it a suite. Just sayin'.

would a suite require mycolors ?
Concept so far : picture removed

Not necessarily Roloccolor

Filename - BR-olwp1.jpg
ImageDescription - Arara Vermelha em vo no Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil (Red Macaw in flight at Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil)
Artist - Pete Oxford
Copyright - Pete Oxford/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
ExifOffset - 2318
Looks like he photographs for National Geographies/ might try there for permission!

thanks Frankief do you have a link ? already wrote MS but i will try him also

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pete-Oxford-Photography/153811571298899

http://www.peteoxford.com/

    

PETE OXFORD PHOTOGRAPHY

e-mail: [email protected]

Good luck. Hope you can get it Roloccolor. Be nice to get this going.

Thanks...=) i wrote both MS and Pete Ox.
even though I may must give up the project i felt like continuing
Next are windowframes and then buttons buttons buttons
( Picture removed )

i removed the screenshots to avoid any trouble thats until i get a green light i think thats best...currently working on the mesh i was talking about earlier...

Buddy the link and the password for the server leads me to a file that is over 1 gigabyte in size- also it has no extension are you sure you gave me access to the right file ?
I dont want to get into any trouble with the company of yours...please make sure it is the right file or just give me a call your cellphone seems to be off.

I've got some ideas along this line. Doing a little behind the scenes planning.

Morning yes the file is that big i made the model with a little to much polys but it should be easier to paint this way...btw wish you all a happy new year

nice post bk334572

why not encourage her to download the logonstudio program?....

I have just uploaded a logon of one of my rainbow lorikeet pics that I fiddled around with ages ago for an arty farty look...    link...

naturally.... it's gone into moderation again....        if someone wants to give it a nudge.....  

the wall can be downloaded from the preview pic.... it's 1920x1200.... perhaps if you could find out the monitor res she uses....

when I find the original, I'll upload that too, just thought I'd put the arty farty one up for fun first......

these guys live on my windowsill......friendly li'l dudes....