Marquetry Tips and Links
ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY
5" x 7"
made of Tasmanian Veneers
$150.00
Marquetry isn't restricted to just wood veneer. You can inlay any material, like thin brass or copper, shell, stone, bone, or wire. Safety warning: sawing some shell and bone requires you wear a dust mask.
Veneer handling tip:
Warped veneers can be easily flattened. Spay lightly with water. Wait for the veneer to become thoroughly damp and pliable. You may have to spray several times. Trying to flatten the veneer before it is moist through will crack it. Protect the surface from moisture beneath where the veneer will be placed for re-drying. Place a couple of layers of unprinted paper towel between each layer of veneer. On the top of the stack place plastic or something else to protect whatever you will be used for weight. I use a piece of scrap particle board beneath and on top of the veneer stack. I then add heavy books one at a time. If you hear cracking veneer, you didn't moisten the veneer enough. Replace the damp paper towel with dry ones every day until they stop absorbing moisture. I keep those paper towels, dry them out and reuse them over and over. Keep the flattened veneers under some weight so they won't warp again.
What not to do!
A lot of art teachers will tell you not to be shackled by rules. But if you follow a few basic concepts, your pictures will be more pleasing.
This is an example of a marquetry gone wrong.
Design problems: Our eyes follow the "movement" in a picture. In this example, the hiker appears to be "walking off the picture." The tree is dead centre in the composition, this is distracting and cuts the picture in half, visually. The values (the lights and darks) are all wrong. Look at a real landscape, things farther away are lighter in colour and appear to "lay back" in a picture. In this picture we don't get any sense of three dimensional space - the feeling that the background is "behind" the foreground. Finish was applied in a diagonal from the lower left up to the upper right corner. This is to demonstrate how much some veneers change value (lightness and darkness) and how little others change when finish is applied. If you want the background to be light in value, and stay that way after you apply the finish, test the veneers you plan to use before cutting them into a landscape.
Canadian, and International Marquetry Links
Artists in Canada Great site to find out about Canadian artists
Cristina Alvarez Magliano Incredible artist, so original and creative
www.saw-online.com An international not for profit group for anyone interested in working with or the art created with a scrollsaw. Membership is open to everyone. Check out my April 2009 'ezine' article on marquetry.
Women in Woodworking Magazine - name speaks for itself.
Paul R. Dean Canadian artist and talented webmaster
Roarockit Vacuum Press System Manufacturer of the great vacuum press shown on the "Bonus Chapter"
Canadian Marquetry Society Great source for info and some "home video" instructional dvds on club projects
American Marquetry Society Large group of helpful, talented marquetry people
www.woundedwarriors.ca This artist supports the rehabilitation of wounded Canadian soldiers. Please visit the site to see how you can help.
Lee Valley Tools An awesome store - period!
Lacy West Supplies West Coast supplier - has jeweller's blades for fretsaws
http://oakwoodveneers.com Oakwood Veneer is a wood veneer supplier, specializing in exotic, burl, and domestic veneers. Oakwood has 10 mil paperbacked, 22 mil Bubble-Free Veneer, pressure-sensitive adhesive, phenolic back, and wood-on-wood backers, as well as over 250 species in stock daily
Sauers & Company Processed Veneers Manufacturers of my Hiker and Chickadee Kits
Gene Zanni Check this guy out
A & M Wood Specialty Great Canadian supplier - excellent service
Nagam Sales Inc., St. Laurent, QC(no website) Fast, friendly service - good selection of veneers in stock including several colours of dyed veneers from France. info@nagamsales.com 1-888-886-2426
Exotic Woods Inc Veneers and more
B & B Bare Woods More and more veneers
Certainly Wood Veneers, oh yeah
Rockler Big, huge store
Victoria Australia Marquetry Society Check out what's going on "down under"
Redbridge Marquetry Society UK Great site with tons of information
Rivergum Timbers of Australia A great marquetry veneer pack with over a dozen identified local species