MAQ_H26 Basic Marquetry with Jeff Grossman
Turn Wood Into Art — No Experience Necessary
Imagine running your hand over a finished panel and seeing a landscape, a portrait, or a bold design emerge entirely from the natural grain and color of wood veneer. That’s marquetry — and it’s far more achievable than you think.
Marquetry is the art and craft of creating pictures and decorative designs by the skillful use of the grain, figure, and color of thin wood veneers. Once you learn the basic techniques, you’ll start seeing the entire woodworking world as your canvas.
In this two-day Basic Marquetry class, you’ll learn to create marquetry artwork on an ordinary panel using both the “Packet Method” with a scroll saw, and the “Window Method” with a scalpel.
We will first learn the basic techniques of laying out and accurately cutting a simple picture using contrasting veneers. For your second picture, we will add some complexity to your new marquetry skills by using sand shading to add depth and dimension to the finished picture. You’ll also learn how to mount your marquetry picture on a useful box.
You’re gonna love it!
In this class, you will learn:
- Basics of marquetry
- Principles of marquetry design
- How to select veneers
- How to apply designs to veneer
- How to cut with a scroll saw, including: basic saw safety, blade selection, blade installation, and cutting techniques (packet method)
- How to cut with a knife using the Window method
- How to create depth and shadows with sand shading
- How to assemble, and glue marquetry pieces
- How to prepare marquetry for finishing
- How to inlay marquetry into solid wood
Prerequisite: None. Open to all skill levels.
Tools required: Most of the necessary materials, including panels and veneers, will be supplied by the school. However, there are a few easy-to-find tools that you will need to bring and should own in order to do marquetry:
- 1 self-healing cutting mat, 12″ x 18″
- 1 Elmer’s foam board, 20″ x 30″
- 1 scalpel
- 3 scalpel blades
Please read and understand our Refund and Cancellation policies. By making
payment you acknowledge that you have read and understood these policies.
Please note: If you are paying by cash or check, your registration is not complete until
payment is received.
Safety
Eye, hearing and dust protection are required in the machine room or when operating
machines in the bench room.
Long sleeves and loose-fitting clothing are not allowed around the power equipment.
Long hair must be pulled back and secured.
For your saftey: Shoes with open toes or open heels are not allowed. Sandals and Crocs are not allowed.
Public health policy: Masks are optional, however, if you are exhibiting symptoms of
any contagious illness or if you have had a positive test for any contagious illness within
the past 5 days, please notify the school and do not attend class.
Thank you for your understanding.
Meet your Instructor
Jeff Grossman
Marquetry Instructor, and Owner, Artistic Wood and Marquetry
Former electrical engineer, Jeff was taught marquetry by renowned and
master marquetarian; Paul Schurch in 2012. In 2015, Jeff was awarded
“Best In Show” at the San Diego, Design In Wood exhibition for
Marquetry Furniture, besting Paul Schurch. Since then, Jeff has won
multiple awards for marquetry furniture and marquetry art pieces, with art
pieces seen in Fine Woodworking magazine, Woodworker West
magazine, Woodworking Network online magazine, and Veneer Tech’s
Craftsman Challenge. Commission woodworking is welcome.
Jeff is a member of the American Marquetry Society, the British
Marquetry Society, and the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association.
visit www.ArtisticWoodAndMarquetry.com.