The Fiddler is another combination of inspiration, that of the folksy sounds of bluegrass music and the male nude. Bluegrass is never static but flows like a river through the green hills of its birthplace bringing with it the heart and soul of Kentucky. In The Fiddler I chose to depict the fiddle not just because of its particular sound but also because the warm wood tones, soft curves and tautly drawn strings, are all reminiscent of the male form. In this painting the fiddle and the fiddler are instruments to be tuned to pitch then grasped, stroked, played until music is coaxed forth, one for the ear, the other for all the senses…sight, sound, touch, taste; lively, soulful tunes to be savored by mind and body.