Jean D. Devaud

For the last two years, I have concentrated on scenes of musical instruments and performers. I am not a musician myself, so my work tends to reflect the intrinsically unique forms of the instruments and poses of the performers as they express their music.

It was a short leap from painting violinists to painting a violin for The Fox Valley Philharmonic. I have long been impressed by music notation, those little dots and squiggles that convey so much from the composer to the performer. I have chosen to envelop my violin with turning, twisting, flying music staffs. The instrument becomes like the sheet of music it must make audible. Are those notes from the past, fragments of songs still swirling inside this fragile wooden body? Are they surprised to find themselves part of the violin? Instrument and score become one.

Jean Devaud may be reached by calling 630/279-4896