Clavin

Thanks as always guys. I'll try to post a bit more if and when I can, there is another big marine life project (even though I do more styles than that) finishing up soon, we'll see if that can be posted. It will make this one seem smallish.. Thanks again for looking! Craig L www.handcraftinlay.com

Hi guys, I now it's been a long time since posting, it's just been really busy down here! Tons of new inlays have been done, but the most important one recently has been my Martin showpiece one off. I have not been able to up date my site as well for over a year, so that is in the works. Hope everyone is doing great, saw Drak came back to say high, and guess I was inspired .. Maybe I can get some more images up soon, Thanks so much, P.S.- Hey Brian- the site is still looking great! Thanks for looking! Craig Lavin www.handcraftinlay.com http:// http:// http:// http:// It was for the recent 2009 NAMM show, and it's already sold.

Good to hear that Chris. It does get easier. Craig

Way to go Chris. Your very first try at it and already your ready to seemingly give it up. You had the graver for less than 24 hours right? You know how you get better? KEEP DOING IT. Recon isn't that bad either. It's just a feel issue. You don't have any feel for it yet at all. You just started. Start out doing small lines, then work up to curves. Curves take a while. Months- not days. But you'll never get better if you don't keep at it. Looking for an alternative right now is extremely premature. Sorry to sound frustrated, but I see a lot of young talent rush through ideas and give up because it didn't happen yesterday. Chris keep doing it. It does get easier. Craig L.

Your not using the graver properly. Grit engraves recon constantly. Almost all of his pieces have some engraved recon stone. If your graving too lightly it will slip out on you. If you have full control of the graver and start light then go deeper it will work better. One thing about engraving I noticed is that everyone has a way of showing you how to do it properly, and none ofthe ways worked for me. I read books, watches videos, none helped that much. Just keep practicing, don't do what you think is best via others- do what is comfortable, and succesful for you. Craig L

This is the main reason against inlaying anything dark into anything so light. Wood dust will always fill the grain of aother wood, and Maple is pretty hard as well. Inlaying into a lesser wood would be worse. If your going for black in maple I would suggest not using ebony but maybe recon stone, plastics, or some other material that won't darken it. I stay away from it completely. That said, I am not the end all be all of techniques, so maybe someone has found a good way to do this. I would either avoid it, or go with something else black. Not ebony. I have not posted in a while because I have been so busy with smaller comissions. I have something soon maybe worth doing. Good luck. Craig L.

Cliff nailed it... It's really a victorian era thing. Most instruments and expensive objects were decorated with floral motifs, be it inlay, paint, etc.. Sadly it's all most people expect to see on a guitar. C.Lavin

Thanks guys. Cliff I agree about the face fading into the background, it blends even more when there is finish over it. That indian rosewood darkens out a LOT. I thought about the idea of edging it with a thin line of silver, but then again it looks more ominouse fading in and out. It really adds depth. It's a toss up! I never repeat pieces, so I normally spend more time geting them right the first time. I did this one basically in a day and a half for a friend, so it was a little more rushed. Thanks Guitarchump, I like Larry's alot. It's very cool, of course he has a whole lot going on with the rest of that banjo as well. Mine is just more life-like. I did reference his a bit for determing light/dark areas. His is two tone, mine is three. More inlay soon- back to my fishes and such... Thanks! Craig L www.handcraftinlay.com

Very nice clean work! Keep it up! Craig L

Thanks Ryan. I did Sitting Bear recently. It's another indian cheif in my style, so it seems similar I guess. Larry Robinson also did an ilay based most liklely on the same image as I did (he did it many years ago) also on a banjo headstock and it is in his book The Art of Inlay. We used the same photo but they are very different looking inlays. I definitly didn't "copy" his. His face is all in copper and silver. Craig L.

This is on a banjo! That means it's SMALL.. about 1.5 wide, 3" tall. materials are legal pre ban ivory, ebony, black pearl, and white river pearl for the feather. Thanks as always for looking! Craig Lavin www.handcraftinlay.com

Sure, I scratch a lot while I draw... I do a lot of both things. I am not a great "free drawing" artist, so I use a lot of photography and related type images as models. There are many pattern books out there that are copywrite free that many people use, but I seldom use them anymore as they are not to my style most times. I also have a lot of marine life photographers that let me use their photos, as well as my own to model off of. I do trace a little, especially when it comes to human face details, and human body parts where the shape is so critical, but I try to use real people and photography as a reference and "free draw" the most of it. Of course then everything has to be modified, sometimes a lot, for inlay- piecing, etc... so everything looks a bit different in the end from the literal photographic begining when I start with models. Generally details have to be either grouped or eliminated entirely to make it look correct as an inlay. As for ideas- I am a marine biologist and general science and nature lover at heart, but I really am starting to enjoy inlay for the challenge of just making things look as real as possible. I would have never thought I would do human faces, but to many peope they think they are some of my best works, much to my surprise. That and of course client recommended comissions. Craig L.

Chris your definitly an inspiration Thanks Cliff. With inlay the colors either make it or break it. I went out and ordered a few different corians for this one. Craig L.

Hey your following me! That's cool. I posted this on another site that Chris visits as well as I. Chris you'll come over to the shop one day. Just give me until mid summer to get caught up O.K? By the way my next fretboard is also featuring a panda. Craig L.

Hi Guys. I just finished this one up for a freind. I don't do repeats, but this one is more life like than the last one I did a few months back with regards to the colors, and is a different pose . There are about 13 different materials in this ranging from corians to recon stones, to ivory - both real and synthetic, to woods. Thanks for looking as always! Craig Lavin

Nice job Chris- they get easier until you get good at it, then they get hard again! I don't know why.. Good luck with your frogs! Craig Lavin From across the interenet live!

Hi Cliff. Bluespresence is an internet name for a gentlemen that used to frequent here a lot. He passed away relatively recently and the forum decided to build and dedicate a bass in his honor. They are looking for an inlayer to do the inlays specifically for the bass. I personally never knew him, but it's a just cause. C.Lavin www.handcraftinlay.com Oh- You know what assuming does .... I agree though, it's an awesome name for a blues group.

Cliff, I know you said it very well already, but it didn't seem to be taking effect.. That happens here a lot! Craig Same page agreed ....

Or just do this.. Throw that stuff in your parts bin for now, buy some real quality higher grade inlay materials, at least abalam, or real pearl that is .05 or so, the thicker the better. And start out doing things right. You'll never have a real use for that thin stuff unless you use it as overlay. It's not designed for inlay. The oriental stuff they call inlay is actually more like overlay. It's floated in an epoxy route, and shaped by exacto knife cutting. It's a slightly different art. Yes it gives the effect of being inlay, but it's lower quality, faster, and not what you want on a guitar fingerboard. Craig Lavin www.handcraftinlay.com

Maiden- My inlays are totally by hand. CSuttle is CNC. I am sure he costs way less than I do and can get it done faster.. Go with him. I still have not ever had one commission come from this board and I am absolutely fine with that. I'm not worried about making money from this. I do it to push my personal artistic limits. I started out here just to help how many years ago... 2 or 3 or so? That's still fun. I drew one up last night I hope to have done soon. Thanks.. Craig L.

Thanks Cliff, but it's Ebony. I tried the recon onyx and found it too brittle for my likes. The ebony works easier, gives the same color, and edges up nicer without any of the pains of recon stone. On fretboards it also blends better given it's the same material. Fading into the black looks more real, less reflective. Thanks again. I enjoy seeing your work! Craig Lavin

This one took about 25-30 hours or so. More inlays soon guys. Thanks! Craig Lavin handcraftinaly.com

Depends on when you went last. There might be a few things, I only post the complex or really unique stuff anymore. This isn't on it yet. It will be. Glad to see a lot of users are still around. I nkow this place had it's share of misunderstandings, but in the end it's really just a place to hangout and learn. It's all good. I have been browsing and even posting info as always, I just haven't had images of anything major until now. Craig

Hi DV.. Your a mod now? Cool. I know I haven't posted any images in a while. I have been busy with a lot of inlay, but mostly smaller things, knobs, logos, etc. This is the first one worthy of oohs and ahhs in a bit. Have no fear, there's much more coming up. You'll have to wait and see though.. no previews Thanks for your support! Craig L.

How big is it?