photo's of the fabrication of the body of the Viola de Arame

bending the sides and glueing the back.

Woods: Acacia.

Viola de Arame

I am now working on a viola de arame,a small guitar like instrument from the Azores regions of Portugal.

photos: view of the sound board (European Spruce,inlayed w/Rose wood and mohogany) and a view of the X (scalopped) back brace.

here is a detail photo of the rosette and the fretboard inlay ( mother of pearl) of my new Melochord

some inlays and sound hole rosette details of the new melochord

This is the finished "Melochord",it took me awhile...but I'm really happy about the look and the sound..when I am playing it, it transport me to the land of dreams...hope you enjoy the photo.

My latest painting "between two worlds"and a sculpture "brain an beauty"

Between 2 worlds

My representation of life and death...not in a negative way but rather in a real meaning of life as everything has a beginning and a end..

Sculpture (wood)

Not much to say here...I called it "brain and beauty"

Here are some photo's of my new "MELOCHORD" in process. I have been working on it for the last month...and its slowly getting there. It will have many new features: Rosewood body and sides, Canadian sprues sound bord (like sitka european sitka), a re enforced Mohogany neck , a dark Rosewood fret board with mother of pearl hand cutted inlays and a Maple hand crafted rosette. The instrument will also have a acoustic pick up and will have 6 stings that will be tuned in Daddee (not to be comfused with DADY!!! ah ah)... I install a X brace on the sound board for stiffness....I can wait to finish this dulcimer-like instrument!!! I will post a new photo when I will be done...this month!!!