AMS Member Profile
I
was taking Industrial Arts education at Oregon State University in 1961 when I
first learned about marquetry and made my first picture.
After
graduating I entered the US Air Force and spent 20 years, mostly in personnel
and administrative positions, finally retiring as a Major.
"Leaning Snag" |
I
had been making a few pictures and decided to see if I could make some supplemental
income by selling them. I sold my first picture within a week after placing it
at a local gallery and I've been at it ever since.
Early
on I did quite a few Craft Shows but now I just sell through galleries and do
commissions whenever they arrive.
I've
never progressed to making a living at marquetry. I think the fact that I do a
lot of volunteer work influences that and having a retirement income makes it
possible.
I
enjoy entering competitive shows and have been fortunate enough to receive an
award now
and then.
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"Flowers in the Round"
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For
example I got 1st place in the Embellished Woodturnings category, at the
California State Fair in 2004.
Woodturning
is another of my "weaknesses" and I'm involved with a local woodturning
group.
Our marquetry shows in the AMS is geared more toward educating the public, and ourselves,
about marquetry rather than being competitive like the British marquetry show.
However, should
any of our members want to enter their marquetry in competitive shows, there are
plenty of opportunities available.
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"Yosemite In Fall"
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For
example, The Del Mar Fair Woodworking show accepts national and international
entries and they have
a reputation as one of the best competitive woodworking shows going at this time.
They also have a marquetry/veneer category.
I am currently the AMS Membership Officer but as a
past editor for the newsletter I want to emphasize the importance of exchanging
information about marquetry because marquetry is done in many ways and within
each particular method there are a multitude of possible variations. I wish more
people would share their approach. The fun comes from finding out how someone
else does something and suddenly saying, “I can do that!”
