Rob Ingram

Art!  Art!  Art!  Art is so inspiring and motivational! 

Our artist today is Rob Ingram from Duenweg, Missouri. 

Rob has worked for the last fifteen years as a machinist at The Webb Corporation in Webb City, Missouri.  He also is an artist! 
Rob does beautiful work with his scroll saw and he also makes one, two and three stringed instruments made out of some unusual things.  We are going to talk about both forms of his art.

Rob began working with the scroll saw in 1996 when his wife, Melinda, wanted to start painting wood crafts.  She bought him a saw for Christmas their first Christmas together after they were married.  And it grew from there!  He began building his instruments in 2012.  He discovered the world of homemade instruments while looking around on YouTube.

He does all of his work at home. 
He created a 12’x14’ workshop in the corner of his garage and named it “The Sawdust Shop”.  He has since spent many creative hours “making sawdust” and many great pieces and instruments. 
I do have to say … I bought my husband one of his instruments two years ago.  It is amazing.

One of the things that I like to know is what kind of music do you listen to while you are letting all of you creativity loose.  Rob has a diverse taste in music and listens to all kinds of music while he’s piddling in the shop.  This includes Gospel, Old Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Folk music and Good Ol’ Classic Rock!!!

While he uses many types of wood with the scroll saw art he mainly uses ¼” birch plywood for his creations.  The necks of his stringed instruments are usually made with Poplar, Oak, Maple and Pine.  His favorite wood to work with for his instruments is Poplar because it is a sturdy hardwood and easy to work with.  

I had previously mentioned that his instruments are made out of some unusual things.  He makes one, two and three string cigar box guitars!  But that isn’t all … he also makes them out of aluminum drink cans … cookie and candy tins … and license plates!  Yes!  With his cigar box instruments, he says that unlike a lot of homemade instrument builders, he likes to use the pressed paper cigar boxes because they have a softer sound when the instrument is played acoustically.

Rob says that scroll sawing is his “great escape” from every day stuff.  He has sawed for several hours straight and completely lost track of time.  His friends play golf, hunt, fish, watch sports or whatever … he scroll saws!  

Building instruments is a passion for him because there are no rules on how or what to build them out of.  You never really know what each one will sound like until you string it up and play it.  He loves the sound of a fretless slide cigar box or license plate guitar.  He also loves playing and building the canjos.  He says that his instruments are all about fun!  Folks seem to find them interesting and are usually surprised by the sound they make.  He says there is nothing like building an instrument out of things musical instruments are not supposed to be made of!  Then stringing it up and making music with it!

Rob says, “I grew up in a small town in Southwest Missouri.  My family and I still live in the house I grew up in.  I spent a lot of time with my Grandparents and loved hearing the old stories of how they used to do things.  Hard working people who believed if you want something you have to work for it.  That’s where I come from.  I’ve been called a Redneck, a Hillbilly and other names pertaining to down home strong beliefs in God, Country and Work … I take each one as a compliment.”

His mother is an artist who draws, paints and makes jewelry. She was always very supportive and helpful with his interest in art. His father was a welder and a carpenter.  He learned a lot about tools and building things by watching and helping him.  His wife is a painter of primitive woodcrafts and has also painted ceramics, made dolls and made baskets.

He says he has worked hard to learn to use the scroll saw but it never really felt like work.  He says that he still learns something with every project that he does.  

With the instruments there are no rules.  You try this and see how it sounds.  Something that looks nice and is in good shape may sound “awful” while an old pressed paper box that’s all beat up and needs repaired may sound awesome.  You never know until it’s done and that is part of the fun.

The best advice he’s ever been given?  Well, he says it’s not exactly advice but the greatest thing he’s ever been told was by a friend who passed away not long ago … “The world is a better place because of what you do.”

His favorite scroll saw piece he has done is a picture of roots musician Justin Johnson.  He drew the pattern off of a picture that Justin sent him, cut it out and gave it to him personally at a Cigar Box Festival in Kansas City, MO.

His favorite instrument he’s made is the very first 3 string slide cigar box guitar that he ever built.  To him it has the best sound and he strives for that sound in each new one that he builds.

Anyone can contact Rob on Facebook at “Rob’s Hillbilly Guitars” and on “The Sawdust Shop”.

If you are ever in Joplin, Missouri his homemade instruments are on display and for sale at JUGZ Liquor and Microbrew at 1605 East 20^th St.

Thank you Rob for the interview and for sharing your talents with us!

Thanks so much to all of you for stopping by the blog!

Until next time …

Let’s get creative!

Ava Potterfield