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Greetings!Welcome to my monthly newsletter. I am just back from a week of  back-country camping in Yosemite National Park and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Time in nature always inspires me, and I am ready for some new and challenging work. This month I have put up two new Process Demos on my website, one for the new door panels called Sunflowers & Sisters; and one about the technique I use to create shadows in my marquetry. Follow the links in the articles below. As always, I welcome your feedback. Enjoy! |
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Gallery M
A Showcase of Fine Woodworking
 I've been showing my work at Gallery M since 1997, soon after the gallery opened. Owner Andreas Strieve, and floor manager Matt Stark, have an amazing breadth of experience with fine handcrafted furniture.
WOOD Magazine visited Gallery M: "They believe deeply in what they are doing. You can sense their enthusiasm and pride."
The article pointed out that Gallery M is "an important part of a small network of galleries around the country that represent woodworkers everywhere to the general public. There is a tremendous amount of top-quality woodworking being done these days, and most of it doesn't get the exposure it deserves. Thanks guys, for what you so lovingly do."
I couldn't have said it better. So when you get a chance, visit Gallery M in Half Moon Bay, and see for yourself.
Gallery M
328 Main Street, Suite 102 Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
tel: 650-726-7167 www.gallerym.net
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Sunflowers & Sisters
New Work
 My client challenged me to do something more lively and ornate than my usual work, which tends towards the subtle and understated. After several tries I came up with this sunflower design, which had the desired effect. The butterflies are California Sisters, which I commonly see on local hikes.
The panels were mounted in door frames in an existing cabinet. Clicking on the image will take you to a few photos showing some steps in the process of creating the panels.
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Shading
Creating the Illusion of a Third Dimension
People viewing my marquetry work for the first time may think that the images are painted onto the wood. In fact, all of the imagery is created by inlaying pieces of wood, and only naturally occurring wood colors are used. I employ only one techinque to modify the appearance of the inlaid wood pieces, and I find that technique extraordinarily useful in creating the illusion of a third dimension. The technique is shading.
I use hot sand to shade. The inlay piece is scorched by dipping it in hot sand before it is glued into place. A pair of forceps makes it easier to hold the piece while I dip it into the sand pot. I carefully manipulate the piece in the sand to control what parts are scorched and how deeply. Clicking on the image below will take you to more images of the shading technique.
 Every wood species responds differently to shading. Some scorch easily and evenly, making it easy to create shadows and depth. Some dense woods scorch only on the surface, and the shadow is mostly removed during sanding. Some oily woods come out of the pot sticky and covered in sand. Others release an incense-like aroma when scorched, tempting me to leave them in the sand pot for too long (my favorite is the orange-hued yew, useful for monarch butterfly wings and orange koi spots).
I envy painters who can make smooth blended transitions from one color to another. Inlaid wood can only be done in blocks of color. Shading is one technique that allows me to create gradation, and hence the illusion of depth.
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Best Wishes,
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