Thanks Lynn and Stanka.

I do try hard and I do enjoy it.

Nip from a gadfly

... or grain of sand required by the oyster.

Stepping out of the compositional focus for just a moment --- from the care and feeding that I've seen violinists (makers and players) provide for their instruments, it strikes me as unlikely that one would be placed directly onto a hard (shown by reflected light) surface -- as opposed to, say, onto a thick runner, padded board or polishing cloth, or set into its padded case.

I don't know why that grabs my attention and I intend to bring it up in my next therapy session. It may have something to do with the fact that I once laid my guitar down on the couch, turned around, "forgot" (Jose Cuervo, you are no friend of mine) and indelicately sat on the guitar. Fortunately I also do guitar repair. I also own my grandfather's violin, and though it's been played more often at barn dances than concertos, I don't believe I'd set it down like this on a table top.

But then, as Dennis Miller says, I could be wrong.

Funny you should mention that. My photo shoot with Trisha was delayed by a couple of weeks because the violin was broke! Trisha's brother, who also plays the violin, while having the instrument out on loan committed the foul deed.

My understanding of these matters comes from a bit of a distance. My instrument gets tossed into my front pocket with loose change and breath mints (can't remember seeing the harmonica played at the symphony).

I figure anybody that would loan their violin to their brother wouldn't mind setting it down on my fancy eatin table.

If Jose does seal up one of the reeds in one of those pocket instruments, Mike, what do you recommend? More Jose? Or fewer nachos whilst performing?

Talk about the blues . . .

With the demise of the blue agave, and my low tolerance for dehydration ... I'll have another half order of nachos please.

I'd like to thank everyone for the help and ask just one more question ... how do you get all that hair into one small bun?

A second chance with Trisha
 

I was able to get Trisha back this morning and try and resolve a few items regarding one of our compositions.

Specifically, I wanted to remove the chair arms so that the scroll of the violin would read seperately without interference. I tried to twist her hips slightly so they wouldn't be so straight on. I wanted to get more information from her eyes in profile, as well as getting a good three quarter look. And, get some good detail of her hands.

These next few photos try and get these things done.

Same composition with a three quarter view. I would like to have had some reflected light into the shadow side but ...

Left hand detail ...

Right hand detail ...