r/Viola • u/FrostDragonDesigns • 7h ago
Help Request Seeking Feedback on Viola Artwork
Hello musicians of Reddit!
Short version: Is there anything about this design that screams 'This artist doesn't know anything about viola'?
Long version: I am hoping to get some feedback on an illustration I am working on that features a viola. I am not particularly musical and do not play any instruments, so getting feedback from persons such as yourself is very valuable to me.
I am an artist/designer. I primarily create art that is used to create hard enamel pins. I am working on a series that I am playfully calling A Symphony of Cats. The intention is to create a pin design for every instrument in a traditional orchestra.
The pin itself will only be 1.5 inches tall, so I am limited in the level of detail that I can include, having said that I do always strive for meaningful accuracy.
Thank you for your time!
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u/jediinthestreets25 6h ago
This is so cute and I love it! But if you still want any feedback: 1. It’s missing f holes and 2. The outline of the upper bout cuts through the fingerboard.
Those 2 things are what would make me think the artist didn’t use a reference or know much about the instrument. We’ve all seen so much bad stringed instrument art! So it’s refreshing to see something like this. You’ve done really wonderful work!
PS- reminds me of my sweet cat that passed a few months ago. He was a big black cat named Berlioz
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u/DressEnvironmental61 6h ago
I think it's wonderful as is. If I had to nitpick, it looks like the left arm is supporting the viola's weight. Usually the player holds the instrument weight entirely with their neck pushing the viola against the shoulder. So that left arm would be more angular and hanging down rather than curving directly under the instrument. Google a picture of Jascha Heifetz and that will show it more clearly. But as I said, it's a stylized cat playing the viola and it's rad.
Edit: This is a viola subreddit and I don't want to get banned. Google a picture of William Primrose instead
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u/pinkgirl1200 6h ago
I think it looks good! The only thing I would change is the top of the instrument. You have the scroll but it's missing the peg box and tuning pegs.
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u/WampaCat 7h ago
I love it! The only tiny thing I’d maybe change is to have the face turned slightly more forward instead of looking down the length of the instrument. But that is very nitpicky, if I saw this somewhere as is I’d still buy it
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u/CortezEspartaco2 6h ago
No issues. The thing that would normally be wrong are bow hold, fingering, wrists etc. which is solved by not having defined fingers! The head position makes enough sense. You wouldn't play continuously looking at your instrument but it's certainly normal to look in that direction sometimes, if that makes sense. So it doesn't throw me off at all.
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u/clecko 6h ago
As someone who draws for a living and plays some viola, my thought at first glance was “wow, this actually looks correct!” Of course there are going to be simplifications, as is required by the style of the drawing, but I think you did a great job! My only suggestion, which was already mentioned, would be to remove the gold line crossing the fingerboard at the top of the upper bout.
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u/Typical_Cucumber_714 7h ago
Looks like bad AI slop.
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u/FrostDragonDesigns 7h ago
I can assure you that it is not. I have a YouTube channel where you can literally watch me drawing many other designs with commentary by me.
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u/kongtomorrow 6h ago
yes approximately zero cats know how to play viola.
Anyway, if it isn't artistic license: you have a gold line that doesn't make sense, going through the fingerboard. The line is tracing the wooden outline of the viola, but the black opaque fingerboard would cover that.