On a recent web surfing trip I came across the fantastic carvings by an artist named Bob Ironside. Instead of working with just any old bits of wood, Bob carves guitar bodies. After seeing the photo’s of his work, I decided to find out just what makes this fine artist tick. So here in his own words, Bob talks about his passion for his art, guitars and music.
Well, nothing much to tell I'm afraid. I'll be 45 on September 24th 2006. I come from Toronto Ontario originally. I’m one of five children. My brother is Michael Ironside the actor. My father was the Patriarch whom we all try very hard to honour. My mother passed away when I was
11. I was raised on Gershwin, Beatles, Little Willy John and everything from Brass Bands to Delta Blues and Celtic music... really anything and everything that moved us, we listened to in our house. I've played guitar almost all my life and along the way a few other instruments.
About halfway through my life in my 20's I decided to get into carving in earnest as I'd seen others do it and to satisfy my need for what I wanted to see carved, I decided to do that myself. I first carved a couple of guitar bodies for a friend back in 1990 or so. One was a cherrywood Demon headed number with an open mouth that sent the tongue up to become the horn of the guitar and the headstock a grasping hand with long talons. For eyes, it had the volume and control pot behind the bridge. A white pickup in the mouth. Looked fantastic actually. The other was the Garden of
About halfway through my life in my 20's I decided to get into carving in earnest as I'd seen others do it and to satisfy my need for what I wanted to see carved, I decided to do that myself. I first carved a couple of guitar bodies for a friend back in 1990 or so. One was a cherrywood Demon headed number with an open mouth that sent the tongue up to become the horn of the guitar and the headstock a grasping hand with long talons. For eyes, it had the volume and control pot behind the bridge. A white pickup in the mouth. Looked fantastic actually. The other was the Garden of
Eden on a Telecaster shaped body. Those two guitars are lost by the fellow I left them with. They may turn up some day or they may have been burned by some psycho looking for firewood. I have NO idea.
I've gradually become more and more disabled by pain and a
I've gradually become more and more disabled by pain and a
variety of cumulative illnesses and have thus, come back to carving guitars. This merges my two great loves aside from my wife and 4 children. That is Music and my adoration and devotion to guitars.
So, since November of 2005, I've carved a number of guitars for friends and clients. I'm now busy as I can handle carving for clients and pretty happy. I can carve and if need be, lay down and then get up and carve in the middle of the night. This regime you can't do
So, since November of 2005, I've carved a number of guitars for friends and clients. I'm now busy as I can handle carving for clients and pretty happy. I can carve and if need be, lay down and then get up and carve in the middle of the night. This regime you can't do
working for somebody else. It allows me to be disabled and yet productive. I am here really to service the instrument that is, as I say, the great passion in my life. It's given me so much, I'm now giving back to it.
Carver Bob Ironside.
Carver Bob Ironside.
Since this article first appeared Bob has been busy working on new carvings. He has recently produced a Rockabilly inspired carving (see photo on the left). To see more of his latest work - check out his website via the banner below.
