Painted Violin by Marnie Johnson
"Originally, when I was asked to paint the violin for Music From Angel Fire, I thought I would paint the hips of a woman because the violin resembles the shape of a woman. I also thought I would include a shell, because the top of the violin is similar to the shape of shells, which then made me think of Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." But that painting is used so often and I always loved William Bouguerreau's (1825-1905) "Birth of Venus." So I decided to borrow a few of those images and and incorporate them into the violin. On the front, there are two angels with bows and arrows, using the clouds as stepping stones and cherubs riding a dolphin. On the back, Venus stands on a shell, alone in the ocean with the waters ebbing in the distance with a few waves curling in the foreground. The clouds cover the entire sky, receding into the horizon, then accumulating directly above her in the dramatic way New Mexico clouds sometimes do. I finished it by painting the sides of the violin bright gold and wrapped pink and blue ribbons around it all. I have never copied another artist's work before but I have always admired Bouguerreau's use of the human figure and the way he created worlds of fantasy. I also thought I might learn something. Besides, the violin was meant to be a fun and playful piece."