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Encore! Old Pianos with a New Song

Giving new purpose to old pianos

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Quartet I (3)

mixed media art canvas piano strings

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Encore: Old Pianos with a New Song

Encore: Old Pianos with a New Song

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Over the years I've had quite a few musicians ask me to make art that honors their favored instrument, so the Instrument Series was born. Each one comes on a 16x20 gallery wrapped canvas with a similar background in acrylic paint. Painted piano action pieces represent the music emanating from the instrument while the instrument itself, as well as the player, are shaped from piano strings. Sometimes I include the very ends of the strings, where they once were attached to the piano. For instance, in this painting, the hands are represented by the looped ends of the strings. You will also notice that some strings are thicker than others. The flute is made with the bottom most string on the piano. It is so thick that I had to cut it on my table saw. This particular string is unique because it is not copper. From what I've been able to learn, all manufacturers in the United States use copper to make their strings. That tells me the set this string came from originated in some other country. It's the only set of it's kind that I've come across in 13 years.

Keyed Up is one of my favorite pieces. Not only is it beautiful, but it's also practical. Nineteen sequential keys from an upright piano are glued together and equipped with 6 cup hooks hooks across the bottom and two sawtooth hangers on the back, spaced at 6 inches. On the back, you may also read the story behind my art. Two round felts from inside the piano serve as "bumpers" to protect your wall and hold the Keyed Up parallel.

Solfege Star, 12x12 inch, mixed media on canvas. Only the jacks from the 1866 Steinway upright are suitable to make a star formation, and it truly is stunning! The corners are embellished with piano hammers, and a border of flanges tires it all together. The neutral background lookt great in any setting.

Monster Mash, 14x11 inches, mixed media on stretched canvas, acrylic paint and piano action pieces. One night while cleaning yet another set of action pieces, I joked to my daughter that they looked like zombies. She agreed, and before long the Idea became a finished work.

Come see us today at Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts. We're at a brand new location---the Gulf Breeze Community Center. It's a beautiful day for shopping, so come check out the 100+ vendors out here.

Ukrainian Sunflower (Fleur Symphonie, Op. 1, No. 4). This 14x14 mixed media painting is part of my floral series; but more than that, it is special because I created it to remind us to pray for that war-torn land.

Moon River, 16x20 mixed media on stretched canvas. The sailboats are jacks, small action pieces from the piano, with sheet music sails. The moon is a large outer felt from a piano hammer. Painted in acrylic and sealed with UV protectant varnish. The blues in the water and sky speak of soothing tranquility. I can't look at it without hearing Frank Sinatra singing about "my Huckleberry friend."

My newest Christmas ornaments

Part 2 in the guest room makeover is the TV tray nightstand that Matthew left behind. I painted it black, then decoupaged music-themed fabric to a portion of the top after painting a keyboard on the remaining part. A thin ribbon of red separates the two treatments. All is sealed with layers of Mod Podge. I found this beautiful little planter in the clearance section at Walmart and thought it would be perfect for the space. I especially live how it's shaped like a metronome.

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