Fine Woodworking contributor Craig Thibodeau is on the roster of artists at a new site dedicated to the craft of inlay and marquetry.
Creative inlay is one of those arts that just scares the heck out of a lot of craftsmen – and women. Marquetry and inlay are by their very nature, incredibly intricate arts, and while many of us may never try our hand at the boulle marquetry, or break out a razor-sharp scalpel in the workshop, you can’t help but appreciate the work involved in these types of projects.
SIMPLE INLAY TIPS & TRICKS
Furniture maker Craig Thibodeau takes a cue from the music world with his simple method for inlaying mother of pearl.
Arthur Kim Dodge’s new website on Inlay Arts certainly goes a long way when it comes to appreciation of the craft. The new site offers a blog on all-things-inlay, and a gallery featuring respected artisans including Fine Woodworking contributor Craig Thibodeau. For those lucky enough to be included in the roster, Dodge provides a shop in which they can hawk their wares, and links where interested parties can request a quote.
If you’re looking for a bit of woodworking inspiration, be sure to drop by and have a look. Personally, I enjoyed Dodge’s post on The Prince of Wales’ recent visit to the ARYMA Marquetry Studio. Apparently, Prince Charles actually got his fingers dirty, helping to assemble a bit of marquetry that will later reside at his Birkhall estate. Who knew the royals were actually willing to play with glue!
Comments
I would like it if there were some books or video,s to help those of us who have never tried doing any marquery work.I am not even sure where to begin.
Hi Ed, I much appreciate your mentioning the Inlay-Arts.com/blog in this post - You made my day! Marquetry is sometimes called "the art of kings", so its fun that many members of the British Royal family are remarkably candid about their appreciation for marquetry, which is considered one of the highest expressions of the furniture arts.
To "1stwoodstone_man" - Craig Thibodeau and I will mention a few learning resources in our next post. Also check this comment thread in a couple of days and I'll list some publications, media resources and excellent marquetry instructors. - AKD
1stwoodstone_man: That's a fantastic point. Thanks for bringing it up. Kim: No problem - I've been getting more and more interested in the craft since I began constructing humidors. The creative possibilities are endless when it comes to inlay and I would love to see Inlay Arts present some approachable methods that some folks might try out!
Best,
Ed
1stwoodstone_man, I missed your question about where to learn marquetry earlier but here's an answer.
Paul Schurch has two videos and a couple books to go with the videos that show how to do everything from bookmatching and radial matching to marquetry. http://www.schurchwoodwork.com. He also has classes in a number of places around the country and I highly recommend him as a teacher if you really want to learn marquetry. A one week class with him can put you way ahead of the curve.
Silas Kopf has a new book on marquetry with many great images and some short how-to sections in the back of the book. This is another great resource and showcases Silas' style of marquetry. He also has a how-to video available that is quite good. http://www.silaskopf.com
The marquetry books by Pierre Ramond are probably the best overall resource for learning about marquetry. They showcase historical methods, tools and materials along with lots of images of highly complex marquetry. They are not inexpensive books but they are the foundation for lots of learning. There are 4 books and they're available from the Getty Museum and other places. Start off with just the first individual book titled 'Marquetry' and wait to buy the three book set in case you decide marquetry isn't for you. http://www.getty.edu/museum/
Hope that helps,
Craig
Hi, I was away on a road trip last week. I visited with Paul Schurch at his studio in Santa Barbara. He'd just returned from the San Diego Woodworking Show where he gave a talk and enjoyed being with friends Craig Thibodeau and Patrick Edwards (founding teacher at the "American School of French Marquetry").
As I mentioned in my previous comment, there are so many resources for learning Marquetry and Inlay Arts, it hard to know where to start.
How convenient that Craig Thibodeau started it off at the top with his comment about Silas Kopf and Pierre Ramond earlier in this thread. Craig Thibodeau's doing some great introductory videos with Fine Woodworking editor Asa Christiana and blog posts with web producer Ed Pirnik (listed on Inlay-Arts.com post at http://bit.ly/on3WHl).
Next, Paul Schurch is flying out to the "Marc Adams School of Woodworking" to teach some classes there (check out his site at http://www.schurchwoodwork.com for his teaching schedule and DVD series). Also at Marc Adams are other great Marquetry teachers, such as: Silas Kopf; Marc Adams and Scott Cook. Later, Paul Schurch will be joining William Ng and Matthew Werner to teach more classes at "William Ng Woodworks".
This is just a little taste of what's out there. Respond to this comment and I'll add a bunch more. Welcome to the 21st century Renaissance of the Marquetry and Inlay Arts. - AKD
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