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Artist Profiles
February 2012
February 2012
December 2011
December 2011
August 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
~ by Judy Brayden
December 2010
October 2010
July 2010
~ by Rebecca Hazell
September 2009
~ by Bernice Ramsdin-Firth
August 2009
~ by Gloria Lorenzen
July 2009
~ by Liz M. Forbes
June 2009
~ by Karen Allen
May 2009
~ by Bruce Whittington
April 2009
~ by Kate Sutherland
March 2009
~ by Tom Masters
February 2009
~ by Gloria Lorenzen
December 2008
~ by Roxanne Strasbourg
November 2008
~ by Rebecca Hazell
October 2008
~ by Kate Sutherland
September 2008
~ by Sylvia Holt
August 2008
~ by Gloria Lorenzen
July 2008
~ by Liz M. Forbes
June 2008
~ by Gloria Lorenzen
May 2008
~ by Bruce Whittington
April 2008
~ by Rebecca Hazell
March 2008
~ by Tom Masters
February 2008
~ by Ron Greenaway
January 2008
~ by Liz Forbes
December 2007
~ by Elizabeth Symon
November 2007
~ by Longevity John Falkner
October 2007
~ by Yvette Stack
September 2007
~ by Kate Sutherland
June 2007
~ by Bruce Whittington
May 2007
~ by Lesley Hammocks
April 2007
~ by Tom Masters
March 2007
~ by Theo Gustafson
February 2007
~ by Bernice Ramsdin-Firth
December 2006
~ by Theo Gustafson
November 2006
~ by Dorothy Jeanne Engst
October 2006
~ by Bev Mountain
September 2006
~ by Liz M. Forbes
August 2006
~ by Lesley Hammocks
July 2006
~ by Dorothy Jeanne Engst
June 2006
~ by Lesley Hammocks
May 2006
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Elaine Paull
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Marquetry is a centuries-old artistic technique using thin wood veneers - plain, exotic, and in some cases stained veneers - to create a design which can be incorporated into furniture or framed wall art. Once the veneered design is completed it is mounted onto a backing (substrate) for mounting.
I began marquetry using nothing more than a pencil thin Exacto knife to make my pictures. Later, to save the stress on my fingers, I rigged up an old electric Singer sewing machine with a scroll saw blade. With this, I produced my first commissioned marquetry picture of Arabian horses.
Wanting to produce in volume for craft fairs and retail stores, I went through two Dremel scroll saws before being able to afford the industrial Exaclibur scroll saw that I use today. However, I no longer sell my work through craft fairs or retail outlets. I work on commission only.
My love of marquetry started thirty years ago, while browsing through the Christmas Chaos Craft sale in Duncan. It was there that I came across Herbert Lapins who was working on a piece of marquetry. It grabbed my interest completely. I could think of nothing else other than taking part in his marquetry courses. After years of searching for the perfect way to express myself artistically, I knew even before I began Herbert's classes, that marquetry was the art form I would do for the rest of my life.
Herbert Lapin, who became my mentor and friend, was born in Latvia. He was taught the art of marquetry by Latvian masters. I am so thankful he came to the Cowichan Valley to live his remaining years. He spent the last five years of his life teaching me everything I know about marquetry. The day he died, he was working on a picture of St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church on Tzouhalem Road. I later completed the picture in memory of him. He had always wanted to donate a picture to the community centre, so now it hangs near the elevator doors to the Cowichan Theatre Gallery.
Six years ago, I developed a keen desire to delve into the art of Intarsia. This art form uses solid stock wood instead of veneers. I prefer cedar. Once the design is cut, each individual piece is shaped, sanded (sometimes carved) and painted. Some of the individual pieces are elevated to create a three dimensional look. Intarsia is intricate work and demands great patience! In fact, one art piece can take many months to complete.
I love the complexities of both art forms, using the variety of natural veneer shades to 'colour' my marquetry arts pieces, or adding the brilliance of paint to achieve realism in Intarsia. However with Intarsia, I always leave some part of the wood in the natural state - sky, water, certain backgrounds - if nothing more than to remind myself not to get too carried away.
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