I just completed Stage 1: Boulle at American School of French Marquetry with Shipwright (Paul) in San Diego where we studied under the undisputed authority in this field Patrick Edwards. Patrick and his staff did a wonderful job of hosting us, and we learned a tremendous amount about what we were doing right, and mostly about what we were doing wrong.
Given that we already had experience working with the Chevalet, we thought that it would be possible to skip ahead to some of the more difficult projects, but Patrick has a very specific set of exercises planned in the curriculum which emphasize the method and which the exercises do a great job of demonstrating. There were certainly lots of opportunity for us to learn!
For anyone interested, we took a short video of me using one of the Chevalet’s in the class.
I can’t emphasize how much I took away from the class, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in elevating their skill and understanding of this art to a whole new level.
-- You either think you can, or think you can't. Either way you are right. Henry Ford
5 comments so far
shipwright
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3479 posts in 994 days
#1 posted 484 days ago
What Mat said.
This was a great learning experience and a very sobering look at how little we really know about marquetry…....... but in a good way. I know I will be going back for the next stage as the more you learn, the more you want to learn.
Patrick and his business partner Patrice Lejeune are truly masters of marquetry and we felt very privileged to have the opportunity to meet them and to learn from them. I find it a great testament to their character and love of the art that they take time to share their knowledge with grasshoppers like us.
-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/
sandhill
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1989 posts in 2120 days
#2 posted 484 days ago
Sounds like a great experience, wish I could have taken it as well but my interests have drifted over to; First building a new shop and second building Sam Maloof inspired rocking chairs. Maybe after that I will get the bug again, Thanks for the update.
BigTiny
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1652 posts in 1085 days
#3 posted 483 days ago
Hi Matthew and Paul
Ride that donkey, boys! Ride him hard! (marqueteer’s grin)
Paul
-- The nicer the nice, the higher the price!
RBWoodworker
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402 posts in 1548 days
#4 posted 380 days ago
I have checked out Patricks class..being only 40 miles away from San Diego..it very clise to me..i will definetely be saving up to go..thanks for sharing Mat..
-- Randall Child http://www.racfurniture.com/
stefang
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9725 posts in 1531 days
#5 posted 138 days ago
A great opportunity to learn from a true master.
-- Mike, American in Norway
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