The Story of the Art Guitars
As we look back at the history of Emerald Guitars, one of the biggest themes throughout our 10,000 guitars in 25 years has been the combination of Art and the Guitar. This has taken the form of both sculpted instruments such as the Ultra guitar, Bahamut and Draco but also by using a guitar as a 3D canvas.
We have been fortunate to work with a number of remarkable artists over the years who have helped us to create a range of beautiful pieces of functional art.
Oliver Jeffers
![Stars and stripes guitar - Oliver Jeffers](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/91010035.jpg)
![Circus Guitar - Oliver Jeffers](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CircusGuitar.webp)
Back in 2003 we were going to display at our first NAMM show in the US and took the opportunity to collaborate with a fantastic Belfast based artist, Oliver Jeffers. With the idea of having him paint eye-catching designs onto our guitars for display. We approached Oliver and asked him to let his inspiration guide him as to what he would add to the guitars. With no more input than that, Oliver delivered two remarkable painted guitars to us; one with the first ever Emerald guitars ‘Stars and Stripes’ design and the other, the ‘Circus’ Guitar, featuring a circus tent scene encompassing the whole guitar.
Emmett Shinners
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_4352-768x1024.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_4349-768x1024.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_2004-683x1024.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_2003-683x1024.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_2001.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1999.jpg)
When Emmett Shinners came to work for Emerald, it was clear from the start that he was a talented artist and it wasn’t long before we decided to collaborate on a series of Art guitars which came to be known as the ‘Welcome to my head’ guitars. These intriguing pieces were each one of a kind and featured a series of hand-drawn doodles that reflected not only whatever came to Emmett at the time but were also inspired by life around the Emerald factory at the time.
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_0434.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_0433.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_0150-683x1024.jpg)
![Welcome to my head Guitar](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_0099.jpg)
Emmett also produced a wonderful painted map of the world on one of our guitars which has since gone on to travel the world aboard a sailboat.
Phil Aitkenson
![Alistair Hay & Phil Aitkinson](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/alistair-and-phil_300ppi.jpg)
One of our most successful long standing relationships with any artists is that which we have with the wonderful Phil Aitkinson. We first reached out to Phil to help in creating a special guitar for country singer Robert Mizzell. Robert is originally from the USA but has made his home in Ireland and the idea was to reflect his American background with an aged American flag represented on his guitar. This project kick-started a recurring series of flag-guitars painted by Phil which have celebrated not only more American flags but also Irish flags. This has even led to the hands of unity guitar featuring the two flags joined in unity together to celebrate the special connection between the USA and the effect that Ireland and its people have had on the US over the years.
![Alistair Hay & Robert Mizzell](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robet-mizzell_3-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
BOOK
With so many special projects over the years to celebrate, we were lucky enough to have them collected and featured into one book by Author Staci Blevins. ‘Building Stories One Guitar at a Time’ tells the story of Emerald guitars from the first guitars through all of the amazing custom projects and wonderful artistic creations in one book.
![Building Stories One Guitar At A Time – The Story of Emerald Guitars](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Book-oneGuitarAtATime-1024x855.webp)
Crystal Ouwehand
![Tibetan 9 String Guitar - Crystal Ouwehand](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_43-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
Alistair had originally met artist Crystal Ouwehand whilst she was traveling through Donegal in 1993 with a friend. Alistair had brought her and her friend to stay with his mother and in recognition of the kind hospitality shown, Crystal painted them a beautiful picture of a galloping horse. After many years Alistair got in touch with Crystal who at that point was running an art school in tibet.
![9 string x20 tibet 66 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_66-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 64 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_64-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 60 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_60-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 55 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_55-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 52 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_52-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 51 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_51-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 48 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_48-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 43 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_43-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
Many years passed by when Alistair was given a commission to create a nine-string guitar with buddhist themed artwork. Crystal was the perfect person to deliver this so Alistair traveled to tibet to have her complete the artwork on the finished guitar.
![9 string x20 tibet 85 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_85-as-smart-object-1-705x1024.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 38 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_38-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 23 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_23-as-smart-object-1-644x1024.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 21 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_21-as-smart-object-1-683x1024.jpg)
![9 string x20 tibet 19 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-string-x20-tibet_19-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
The resulting experience was a great adventure as Alistair and Alan from Emerald spent the time helping work on building a sewage project for the village whilst Crystal finished painting the guitar.
It has been a privilege to work with so many amazing artists over the years on these projects for our customers as we look back at the history of Emerald guitars now while we celebrate the milestone of our 10,000th instrument. We look forward to the future also and all of the wonderful projects and commissions that we have yet to create.
![chimaera 6n6 clouds cs 4179 mg 5301 as smart object 1 copy](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/chimaera-6n6-clouds-cs-4179_mg_5301-as-smart-object-1-copy-779x1024.jpg)
![chimaera 6n6 clouds cs 4179 mg 5302 as smart object 1 copy](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/chimaera-6n6-clouds-cs-4179_mg_5302-as-smart-object-1-copy-790x1024.jpg)
![chimaera trinity triple neck cs 15 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/chimaera-trinity-triple-neck-cs-_15-1.jpg)
![d85 6527 edit](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/d85_6527-edit.jpg)
![d85 6651](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/d85_6651.jpg)
![d85 8151 edit](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/d85_8151-edit-683x1024.jpg)
![d85 8165 edit](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/d85_8165-edit.jpg)
![synergy x20 12 rosie phil a cs 26 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/synergy-x20-12-rosie-phil-a-cs-_26-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![x20 tibetian cs 4792 20 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/x20-tibetian-cs-4792_20-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![x20 tibetian cs 4792 30 as smart object 1](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/x20-tibetian-cs-4792_30-as-smart-object-1.jpg)
![x20 fan lotr anth cs 4636 7 1 copy](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/x20-fan-lotr-anth-cs-4636_7-1-copy-683x1024.jpg)
![x20 multi](https://emeraldguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/x20-multi-683x1024.jpg)
Thanks to all of those who have participated in the colorful past, present and future of Emerald.