I couldn’t rightfully miss the opportunity to enter this months show featuring musical instruments, as music has influenced me my entire life. My mother is a classically trained Cellist, and my father is a classically trained Violinist. In addition to being a fine musician, he is also a master craftsman, and I have been lucky enough to watch him craft many brand new, hand-made violins in our home. Each violin is unique, and in this painting I tried to capture the final moment of ‘birth’ for this Stradivari. The proud papa on the right beams with pride, while the violin in flesh-like tones gives the feeling of being a part of it’s maker. With the tenderness of a father showing off his infant child, this composition was carefully constructed to give the feeling of life in the instrument.