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Just wanted to get this up guys.. more info soon! It's on a violin for NAMM- there is a lot more inlay coming later..

Craig L
clavin38988.3372337963

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Very beautiful Craig! And i just love dolphins! WOW!

Looks like another beauty Craig.

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1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

I like it!

Paul

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Paul Bordeaux
http://www.bordeauxinlay.com

This is just part of a NAMM piece for John Jordan Electric violins.
You have seen the dove, etc.. that I did for them as well. This is also getting a full on water and dolphin and planets, stars and delphinus themed fingerboard with delphinus out of diamonds, relating the to myth of how delphinus (the constellation) formed.
It's common and striped dolphins instead of the ever-so-popular bottlenose. I just got fed up seeing nothing but bottlenose dolphins in art in general! There are over 25 dolphin species, many are way more colorful then bottlenose :o).
This is actually the least of the inlay going on this thing, but I feel like I haven't posted much lately..
I have been doing mostly standard inlay/uninteresting work.
Thanks for looking!
Craig L. clavin38988.402974537

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Wow, Love it Craig!I agree with you about too many bottlenose dolphins. I like the spotted dolphins too.I think they are called spinners.I think those would look cool done by you. Super work as always!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Thanks Dave- Just a little marine bio since that's my thing
Spotted and Bottlenose dolphins are closely related. Thay are the same genus I believe, and sometimes interbreed to form hybrids. Baby spotted look almost identical to adult bottlenose.

Spinners are different, have much longer rostrums.
They don't mix with the others that much.

Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

I like the use of pearl in this design. It makes it look like you are looking through water at the dolphins. Was that affect on "porpoise" After reading the series by Judy Threet in Guitarmaker, I'm much more aware of the materials used in inlay and how they add/subtract from the overall design.

Craig,
I believe you have captured the true freestyle of the Dolphins thru your inlay.
They are free in nature and in shell replication.
How beautiful they are.

Congratulations!!

walter

Yes it was, specifically on the larger guy at the bottom, but, with black pearl there is often times a thinner layer at the surface of black, then it turns to whitish gray. It really varies in thickness so you have to make sure the pattern you want is inset flush with the surface. This one was glued up back to front flush, then inset flush as well.
Gold pearl looks either cloudy or sun-ish more than water-like most times to me, so I chose clean relatively pattern-free pieces for those body areas.
I also had to use a piece of gold pearl grave-lam for the big one, because I don't think gold pearl is available over 3" anymore, if it ever was. That one is about that long. Grav-lam has to be inlaid flush or you'll go through the surface. It's only .2 thick in real solid shell.
As far as realism goes under a finish this will liven up- also notice with the full image dolphin that there is a really fine stream of silver dust coming out of his blow hole giving the effect he just surfaced and went under again.

There is alot going on in this piece that the photo doesn't capture. Especially the flash, or the black pearl changing color depth in some of the stripes from front white to rear green black. In the guy passing though the front (the back of the body and tail)is actually 7 seperate pieces of mostly frontal, rear facing, and greenish pieces of black pearl- mimicking the different shades a common dolphin has along the sides. The thin black border lines are there to make a slight contrast between pieces and color shades

Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Craig, that is very cool! And on a violin no less...just amazing! I can't wait to see the Delphinus inlay.   

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Mr. Lavin! Beautiful as always!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Beautiful as always. Is that a trailing stream of bubbles coming out of the lower dolphin? If so, that's very impressive.

"As far as realism goes under a finish this will liven up- also notice with the full image dolphin that there is a really fine stream of silver dust coming out of his blow hole giving the effect he just surfaced and went under again. "

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www.handcraftinlay.com

WOW! I love the colors!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Beautiful design, Craig. Really nice work, indeed.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Beautiful, Craig.

Say this thought crosses my mind: how much of the different materials do you have on hand at a given time? I'm sure you inlay guys must comb through lots of pieces looking for just the right one. I'm impressed with the realism you are able to accomplish.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Hi Steve.
I try to keep about a pound of everything on hand at all times. It gets expensive though.
I have a lot of really nice, and some over-thick abalam I don't really use and would like to trade for real shell blanks if anyone is interested. These are full sheets of Paua, red heart, etc..
PM me.

Anyone?

Craig L. clavin38988.6127083333

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!
Cannot wait to see the rest.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Another fine example from one of my favorite inlay artists! Thank you for another shot of inspiration Craig!