Design First

• The artist traces or draws the design on paper and cuts it out. He uses a spot of super-glue or epoxy to attach the design to the mother of pearl blank then cuts out the mother of pearl shape with cutting tools such as a stiff scribe or Dremel moto-tool.
  
  

Transfer the Design to the Guitar

• The pearl is actually mother of pearl, an iridescent coating on the inside of some mollusks. Mother of pearl gets its beauty because of its ability to scatter and refract light in a display called "luster". The artist spot-glues the mother of pearl to the wood where it will be inlaid and outlines the design in the wood with a stiff scribe tool. He sets the mother of pearl to one side.
  
  

Make an Accurate Setting for the Mother of Pearl

• The artist removes wood from inside the design. He always works from the edge toward the center of the design. He knows that if he goes outside the design the work will be ruined.
  
  

Place the Mother of Pearl into the Guitar

• The artist carefully fits the mother of pearl design into the cavity to test the work. When it fits perfectly, he glues the mother of pearl into the cavity with epoxy cement. He can fix any gaps with grain filler or glue-soaked sawdust. He sands it smooth and may apply one or more finish coats.