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I don't think so!
Take a look at Leonardo Frigo's work.
Ready to give your Violin, Viola or Cello a Tattoo?
- Emily
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Do you mean you think he should do it, or that he shouldnt? I am absolutely blown away, with that work, after music and architecture, art is my greatest passion, I think that his idea of the story, as well as the art itself is stunning. I wonder if he sells them as works of art or as instruments, in any case thanks for posting this. If you come across any good documentaries on violin making let me know, I have exhausted the you tube ones.
Cant beat a sunny day
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@stringy - Sorry for the confusion.
No, I don't think it's "gilding the lily" (or frivolous, or excessive).
I might object to completely covering a violin with design if it were covering some spectacular figured wood, though...
What makes this so wonderful is Leonardo is a violinist, not just any artist using the violin as a canvas. Also, think it's great he had to develop his own ink for this and I can relate to what problems he faced, since I had a similar challenge in my own artwork - making durable, transparent paint for cold glass application.
I don't know if Leonardo Frigo still works out of London - be nice to see some of his work up close and maybe hear him play one of his instruments!
- Emily
btw, for violin making, Jon Mangum has some great "How to Build a Fiddle" videos - GregW posted one in my "Exquisitely Patterned Wood for Bowed Instruments" thread.
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@stringy if you can stand audio only this interview with luthier Gregg Alf out of Italy may interest you. This is the 2nd of a two part interview. the links may want you to install a player so this is a link to webpage
https://rosinthebow.podbean.com/
of where I got links. you can play them from that. the individual links open a player app if installed..
https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-.....mab-d5ad23
another with luthier Hans Johannsson from Iceland
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Rosemaling design originated in Norway. Fine line sometimes, between Art and Folk art decoration. Pure decoration is not considered art, but I'd be quite happy with a fiddle like this. Check out rosemalingrenaissance.com
On a different note, here's a link to a design actually burned into the wood (Pyrography), instead of painted/inked!
https://fineartamerica.com/fea.....ian.html
Violin by Domenico Galli, 1687 - besides the beautiful carving and inlay, I have no clue if the body designs are painted/inked or burned.
- Emily
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Thanks for the links Greg, not had a chance to try them out yet though, but I intend giving them a listen.
Emily both those fiddles are beautiful, I have seen the burnt ones before, not that particular one but examples. The first one is stunning, Personally I think decoration is art, it depends on your view point, look at Art Deco for instance, or a building with beautiful plaster work. In a lot of stately homes and country houses, as well as Windsor castle in England, around the doorways there is beautiful carved wood work, designs of leaves and flowers, nature in general, these were done by a famous wood carver called grinlin gibbons, don’t know if I spelled that right, anyway they are decoration but are also considered art. It’s in the eye of the beholder, as they say👀 thanks for posting these they are quite amazing, I have sent the video to a friend of mine who is a luthier but he hasn’t got back to me yet with his thoughts, (he tends to only read emails now and again)🤓
Cant beat a sunny day
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@stringy -
I appreciate all craftsmen at their best and all artists should 1st be good craftsmen.
Grinling Gibbons (what a marvelous name!) - he sculpted in a much more realistic, natural way than other carvers of his time!
What I always loved about the Holidays is many fabulous architectural marvels will host special events/tours - all decorated to the hilt! Any time I've traveled, here in the U.S., I always made sure see/learn about the historical buildings/manors of the area. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Art Deco period, also.
Here's 2 interesting violins, but I don't know who did them, if it's painted or burned. I also want to give a warning - there are several easy, cheap ways to transfer photos and copies of designs onto wood, just be wary of what you might think is uniquely done by hand...
All that said, have a go at it yourself!
https://www.wikihow.com/Transf.....nto-Wood
- Emily
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funny you should mention having a go, after you posted the images. I thought I would get a cheap violin, maybe thirty dollars US , and then strip back to bare wood, and paint on with acrylic a celtic knotwork design, then re varnish. I have done this before on a bodhran I once owned, didnt varnish it, but did eventually stand on it by accident😁 six months work down the pan.
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Was just browsing at the Fiddlershop & noticed this violin for sale!
It's only got 4 strings (lol) and maybe the decoration on the back is a tad bit much for some people, but if I was playing at Renaissance Festivals - I'd be rushing to try this Fiddle out!
Fiddlershop Decorative Sample Violin (No. 169)
...come to think of it - this would match some things in my house (you'd be surprised what hangs on my walls)!
- Emily
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It has your name written all over it Emily. 😜
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Scary, but true!
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I'm still finding more amazing bowed string instruments!
Like this is carving!
A Viola da Gamba!
Only ONE string - 3D printed erhu/cello?
Lira da Braccio!
And, how about this for Hanukkah?
- Emily
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I'd love to add a howling wolf inlay in mother of pearl or abalone to my current violin. It'd fit perfectly right at the base of the fingerboard.
For my taste some inlays or artwork would be fine, but putting too much on the instrument quickly becomes gaudy and distracting.
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I'd think the pointy Hanukkah one would hurt!
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Kevin Lee, is a bit eccentric but is a talented Luther.
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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@Mark -
SUPER FIND!
I have watched other Kevin Lee videos on playing the violin, but did NOT know he also made them!
Thank you!
I had thought about wood-burning & coloring, but if going that far over the top - a touch of inlay/marquetry worked in, would be the icing on the cake.
Really liked the peg carving details on the 'Tangled' version & added detail in the scroll, chinrest & tailpiece, also. But, since we're talking 'gilding the lily', I'd have to carve the scroll into a figurehead or animal.
The process is fun to watch.
Pirography can be extremely effective tool for creating Art, all by itself!
Necessity for varnish and Pirography respiratory safety touched on here.
https://www.violinschool.com/k.....olin-fire/
- Emily
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Those pierced scrolls are fantastic looking.
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This Viola de Gamba was made by Jim Wimmer, but the beautiful Marquetry on the fingerboard and tail piece was created by veneer artist, Paul Schürch. He used Tagua nut (aka. Palm Ivory) and Gabon Ebony.
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