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.
-- Aim high. Ride easy. Trust God. Neale Donald Walsch
6 comments so far
shipwright
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#1 posted 02-20-2012 10:13 PM
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 ..............the early bird may get the worm but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese! http://thecanadianschooloffrenchmarquetry.com/
sandhill
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#2 posted 02-21-2012 12:11 AM
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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#3 posted 02-21-2012 06:21 AM
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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#4 posted 06-03-2012 02:39 PM
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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#5 posted 01-31-2013 07:24 PM
A great opportunity to learn from a true master.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway.
Don2Laughs
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#6 posted 05-24-2014 05:55 AM
Thanks, Mike, for sharing…great build! I live just a few blocks from Patrick’s school and have been wanting to take a class or two….just too many things in the way…..projects on the bench…family plans…..I guess it’s a matter of just biting the bullet and jumping in.
-- Don in Mountain City. Texas
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