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Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"
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Author:  clavin [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Otherwise titled "Mr. bass has a bad day"

This would have been relatively impossible to do without the black pearl grav-lam - used for the longest upper feathers. Chuck Erickson was made so inlay could advance in the world!

This is for the Chesapeake Bay project, there are still three more left...
A small killifish and a friend hide in the grass as the action is about to ensue.


As always thanks for your constant support and friendships.
This will most likely be going to Miami, so you may be able to see it in person.
The luthier likes to drill out the tuners himself since the waverly tuners are pressure mounted.
Sorry the photos stink. I need better lighting. The pieces of the talons are actually all turned "on" for the front talon, and all "off" for the rear talon. In reality it seems like two separate sets of talon.
Thanks!!
Craig Lavin
http://www.handcraftinlay.com

Image

Image

Image

Image

Author:  Guest [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Craig, very nice. I like how you give the piece a sense of motion with the osprey swooping in for the kill.

How large does Gravlam come if I may ask? Is it a standard size or varies as to whether it is white, gold or in this instance black mop?

Author:  Anthony Z [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Don't know what happened there (the above post was mine).

Author:  clavin [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Thanks Anthony. On grav-lam..

I think it depends on what shell they have available, but it can be gotten in brown lip, black, gold and white at around a good 3" or more. Awabi shell and a few others too I believe. It has to be inlaid flush though and not on a radius. There is only .02 of solid shell on top, then you hit abalam. The only safe place for it is a headstock or other flat area, unless it's a really small piece. but then one would use regular pearl for that right?

I am glad you saw the movement in this. That's the idea. I wasn't sure if the parts entering the scene were enough, and honestly if you look at a real osprey diving the wings are really far swept back, but I made the wing in this perspective to make it seem more artistic, and full. If this was done off of a real photo you would only see the head and talons.

More soon. Hows that little girl doing??
[:Y:] [clap]

Craig

Author:  peterm [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow7-eyes eek eek

you gotta be kidding me!!!! Thats one of the most amazing inlays I have ever seen....

[clap] [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:]

Author:  clavin [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Thanks Peter

I have to tell you the guitar in your avatar qualifies as most amazing top I have ever seen.
Wow

wow7-eyes wow7-eyes
bliss

It makes me want to own it...

Craig

Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Makes me wonder what goes on in the bass's little tiny mind as he is hoisted out of his fluid environment and into the air. It's gotta be similar to an alien abduction.

Craig, you sure do some gorgeous work!

Dennis

Author:  peterm [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thanks Peter

clavin wrote:
I have to tell you the guitar in your avatar qualifies as most amazing top I have ever seen.
Wow

wow7-eyes wow7-eyes
bliss

It makes me want to own it...

Craig


...it would look better with that inlay on it! [:Y:]

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Holy cow, Craig...you never cease to amaze!
Very creative my friend.

Steve

Author:  clavin [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:02 am ]
Post subject:  Thanks Dennis, Steve.

I appreciate the thoughts!!

There's another one of these CBF themes almost done- a heron blacked out in a red and yellow sunset with cat tails and such all down the neck, at the bottom is another heron.
It should be done soon then I'll post pics.
Being full time I can really crank out some of these things!
I have a newfoundland dog headstock coming up, a vine and dragonfly thing of sorts, Tabatha's (the red head mermaid) blond twin sister Samantha, a Christian themed truss cover, but very detailed, a special seahorse...
All sorts of stuff upcoming.

How fun can it really get?? bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss :mrgreen:

Craig

Author:  DannyV [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Excellent Craig, Your inlays are always a joy to look at and I'll look forward to seeing the upcoming inlays you've described. All very cool! Please post some photos of this one finished.

Cheers
Danny

Author:  Peter Pii [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Very Nicely Done Craig!!!
It doesn't get any better than that! [:Y:]
Peter

Author:  SniderMike [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Craig, great job. That is amazing and beautiful. Prost.

Author:  Anthony Z [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Craig, it would be really cool if you could show us the original photo you worked from side by side with the inlay. I am liking this piece more and more each time I see it.

Author:  brady.jackson [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

I second that, I would like to see what you worked from. Do you mock it up full size, with printouts, or in a graphics program? I've been using Illustrator for mockups, I still haven't quite gotten the hang of it.

Also, how is your client planning on protecting the shell when he drills the tuner holes? Seems risky on that beautiful wing!

Author:  clavin [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  The original photos I used as references.

Hi Guys.
I went to the gardens to photograph raptors to get images of the wings and feather patterns.
here are a few of some personal photos.

Image

Image

If you want to see more I can upload some more.

The scene itself was inspired by traveling to the Chesapeake Bay, sitting on a kayak and watching two bald eagles fishing. The bald eagle has been inlayed to death, so the osprey (being Florida as well) was a good alternative. All of these six inlays were inspired by the Bay and the time spent up there on the water and at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation building.
A lot of time was spent drawing the wing, changing the angle, going back again. seeing what didn't look right, etc.. At one point I tried to use a picture of a statue of an osprey at the CBF building but it didn't work out. This one just took hours to mock up.
There was no model for this full scene. I have some ID books and stuff that were used for the fishes.
This is one of those scenes where unless you see the entire thing in front of you you don't get the full effect of what's going on.

Craig

Author:  Don Williams [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Wow!

Author:  LanceK [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Craig, that is just flat out amazing!
Excellent work ! [:Y:]

Author:  Hesh [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

WOW is right - beautiful Craig!!! [:Y:] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Author:  clavin [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Thanks everyone!

You are all coming to Miami so we can all meet right??
[:Y:]

Then we can all get lunch!!
pizza

Then we all run around and look at everyones guitars!
bliss bliss bliss
wow7-eyes

Then after that for three days, idunno

These new emoticons are really cool..

CL

Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Saw this yesterday and got interrupted before I could reply Sooooooooooooooo Coooooooooool [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Stripped bass by the way right? looks like a whaleye down at the bottom

Author:  clavin [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  The fish

Hi Michael.
The bass are striped. The little guys are killifish. The local name is mummichog, and if you imagine a two foot bird and a one to one and a half foot bass or less that would make this guy relatively 4-5 inches, which is large but not unheard of for these guys.
Walleye are big, longer "trout-ish" looking things. All brown and spotty. These guys (killifish) are used for bait a lot up north when fishing for flounder and other bottom fishes. In this scene it actually gets to stay alive..
:ugeek:
More stripers are coming up in two inlays, by the way. You'll all see the Maryland tie in then, plus some. The theme is hopefully really cool, but top secret until it's finshed... wow7-eyes :o


Craig

Author:  WaddyThomson [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Now we have "Stealth" inlay. Do you work for the "Govment". :D wow7-eyes

What I see looks really great.. Can't wait to see the whole tie-in.

Author:  John Kinnaird [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Speaking of inlay-osprey inlay "The Fisherman"

Great work Craig. Very Grit like to use the fingerboard and the headstock as a window on a part of the wider world beyond.
I have some pics from Tony you would be interested in.

John

Author:  clavin [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:  POST THEM JOHN!!!!!!!

bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss

Were all waiting! pizza

CL [clap]

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