My project for course: Modern Marquetry: Decorating with Wood

I am more interested in making pictures that abstract design, and with my liking for Botanical Drawing I wanted to make something that combined both. It was very interesting to try to put the design into the confines of the format of the frame, and I spent quite a lot of time sketching out ideas to fit. Inspirations came from the Australian flora and Landscape, and also Japanese Prints. I made a number of test pieces using ideas that I'd used in quilting too!

The Flannel Flower Frame. I was a bit disappointed by how this turned out. For one thing, I made a mess of the mirror, but mostly the veneers I chose didn't work well. But I did learn a lot. I didn't have a piece of veneer big enough to do the whole background. But I did have several smaller pieces that I used to make a "mirror image" on the sides and base of the frame. That worked, though I need to be better at cutting out!

I went back to my sketchbook and did a tumbling Blocks design, so that I could use it to try different combinations of woods. I particularly like the dark, almost black Ipe (though it is very hard!), the figure in the Silky Oak (mid tone in the top left - this is very brittle!) and the grain in the American Oak. I also did a Compass Rose design using the red of Sydney Blue Gum for the background. This was really useful exercise for me, to try different combinations before I take on a frame again!

All these pieces were finished by sanding to 1500 grit and then using Organoil to finish, rather than varnish. They were sanded wet to get a glossy finish. Each piece is 10cm x 10cm

Back to the sketch book for a few more designs. I will use one or both of these to make another frame, to be posted later.

Another test piece for the Bulrushes frame this time. I used Jarrah for the sun, and ipe for the ducks -probably made it too hard to cut the small shapes. but I like how the grain of the oak represents the clouds in the sky.