“Absolute: Pitch” pictures a white orchid blossom among red-tipped whiplash lines  and a vertically hung 5-lined golden score. The piano lid also hangs vertically on the wall, lending an obvious musical theme to the content.

This piano top was a rare find and exceptional acquisition via my good friend/fellow artist, Walter Herrmann. Naturally, when a baby grand piano top becomes part of one’s material list, there’s a bit of reverence and responsibility one feels for such a prized commodity. A year has passed since I’ve reclaimed this top and dozens of ideas have been patiently weighed out before I finally settled on one.

Marred and scratched, the surface was in clear need of resurrection. Last winter, among 4 degree weather and propane forced air heaters, I laid out this piece for a good pampering. An entire evening was spent sanding out the scratches and cracked finished.

There it sat, propped up against the wall in my studio for a year. Clean, smooth, and willing. It waited for the moment when I could paint something of this scale. But don’t think I let the project sit idly. The music stand from the same piano was reclaimed and used to make a wall-shelf.

You should check out Walter’s work. Really.