For my first attempt at doing a marquetry portrait, I figured it might as well be mine! That way nobody but me could be offended at how it turned out. Only five veneers used: maple, birch, cherry, walnut set into mahogany field. Cut using my chevalet, and I must say I continue to be amazed at the precision this tool allows. At this point it is a just taped together from the front with marquetry tape, This picture is taken from the back so is reversed.
Here are all the leftover pieces you get when using the Boulle method.
This is the original picture I worked from. That is my mini schnauzer puppy Cosmo shortly after bringing him home almost 9 months ago. Wow how time flies.
The pattern was created by cutting out my head and neck from the photo using Gimp (an free version of Photoshop), then simplifying the image and converting it to a vector line drawing using Agglolab Photo Vector software (also free). There is quite a bit of a learning curve in using these programs, but for someone like me who can’t draw a straight line without a ruler this software is a definite enabler.
For a first attempt it turned out ok, but obviously a lot of room for improvement. My kids think I am totally weird, but don’t all artists do a self portrait at some point?
Anyway thanks for looking and hope you enjoy. All feedback is welcome.
-- You either think you can, or think you can't. Either way you are right. Henry Ford
7 comments so far
shipwright
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3372 posts in 964 days
#1 posted 622 days ago
That’s absolutely fantastic Mat.
Well done.
I’ve got the self portrait (for the same reason) on the list as well but I got all caught up on a box this summer.
You’ve done just a great job here and while I know exactly how you feel about the chevalet, I also know that it takes an artist to create art with or without one.
Can’t wait to see what comes down the pipe next.
-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/
Don "Dances with Wood" Butler
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896 posts in 1561 days
#2 posted 622 days ago
Excellent work!
I had a look at Agglolab Photo Vector, and what I found was only free for a 10 day trial. Buying it is definitely not free.
I’m sure interested in raster to vector conversion.
Gimp, by the way, is a powerful utility that IS free and quite powerful. But, it won’t do raster to vector conversion.
Thanks for showing us your impressive self portrait.
ddwwb
-- The best things in life aren't THINGS.
RussInMichigan
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377 posts in 947 days
#3 posted 622 days ago
This is wonderful. Like shipwright I’m looking forward to seeing what you’re inspired to do next.
sandhill
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1978 posts in 2090 days
#4 posted 621 days ago
Very well carried out Mattew, Whats your next project? Cant wait to see it.
Bertha
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13111 posts in 859 days
#5 posted 621 days ago
That’s friggin’ you, no doubt about it! Awesome job.
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
HalDougherty
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1820 posts in 1403 days
#6 posted 621 days ago
Could you use the ‘magic wand tool’ to select areas with the same lighting, clone them and paste each selection into a different layer that could be used to make your patterns to cut the small wood pieces that make up your artwork?
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
stefang
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9438 posts in 1500 days
#7 posted 107 days ago
Amazing likeness! Well done.
-- Mike, American in Norway
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