Friday, October 10, 2008

Strings, and Strange Oliphant Brother Hobbies



I just finished this painting this week, I'm so glad it went with the Illustration Friday theme since I haven't had time lately to do anything for it.
It's a painting of my violin made by my dad.

Violin making is his hobby. Our garage is full of so full of wood working saws, and tools that as far as I can remember we've never parked a car in it once. It's fun to go out and see him working away at violins and other projects. Every year he donates a violin to the Utah state folk and blue grass festival as the first prize in the fiddling contest. His brother, my uncle Ben donates a handmade bow for the second prize. He has a bow making hobby.

My Dad's other brothers have some other uh...different hobbies too, but I think besides telling you that they have included such things as emus, harmonicas, and many, many boats, I'll jut let you wonder about them.

19 comments:

Connie said...

Fabulous painting; I love the heavy, very visible brush strokes. Fascinating family!

Kris-Tea said...

Beautiful painting! :)

Manelle said...

Thanks you guys! I really enjoy painting with thick messy paint and thick brush strokes.

Jedediah said...

Very cool. Nice 'story' too. My Dad and brothers are gifted with making things from wood as well. I never really caught on. But every once and a while I'll see a shop here in town where furniture is made by hand and wish that I'd taken more time to learn the trade.

eyecontact said...

The brush strokes are so free and beautiful. Nice work!

Amy Bleasby said...

Lovely painting! and your family sounds like a great bunch :)

Manelle said...

Thanks all. My family is great fun. Never a dull moment. Like most families I imagine.

Katie said...

Wow, really wonderful illustration. Love your style.

Vicki Smith said...

Very nice painting!

JRJ said...

Great textural painting! Love it!

Manelle said...

Thanks katie, vicki and jrj!

Roberta said...

This is lovely Manelle, and a very interesting story about your dad and family.
I'm originally from Utah and my dad and brother are named Ben!

Chad Grohman said...

Beautiful. Really well done.

cata said...

Absolutely beautiful painting!
What a wonderful hobby your father have.
I remember the Cremona's artist making violins on the 700th century.
Bellissimo,
Cata

Fernanda said...

Hi, I`m Fernanda, from Brazil.
I love to see your paintings on "O Amigo - A Liahona". You`re very talented.
Congrats.

Shawna said...

Mmmmm! Look at that thick, yummy paint! Love it!

johanna said...

wow you have a lot of lovely illustrations here!

Alina Chau said...

beautiful!! we pick the same theme :)

Jeni said...

Manelle,
It's been a while since I've been to your blog,.. I hope you post again soon! Seeing what you have been working on is like bumping into you-- only I'm in MI now hundreds of mile away- :-(