April 2007 Meeting Report
(Minutes by Jamie, photos by Dave F.)
1. Club Business - not published on web for privacy reasons - all members are sent a full copy of the meeting minutes by email.
2. President's Challenge - No challenge this month. We held a door prize draw instead. Dick O., our newest member, won a Sawdust Shop gift certificate!
3. Critiquing Pictures - Jim S. gave an enlightening talk on things to consider when giving critiques. He also handed out a copy of his article, "Striving for Excellence." Dave P., Jim, and Dave F were gracious enough to let us practice our critiquing skills on some of their pictures.
4. Show and Tell
Dave F. brought in a hand-cut picture he made to show off marquetry at the Sawdust Shop's recent open day. It was based on a pattern he made during one of Dave P's classes about a year ago. A photograph of this picture is shown in section 3 above. Dave F. also showed us a table saw jig he created for cutting perfect mitered corners.
Jim explains what it takes to make a picture an EXCELLENT picture!
One of Dave P's pictures for critique practice on the left, Jim's on the right.
Dave P's other critique practice picture. This is the second picture that Dave ever did - over 30 years ago and thousands of other pictures since!
Dave F's show and tell picture that he offered up for critique practice.
Rob brought in a PVC pipe that was wrapped with veneer and a marquetry design. He also shared a prototype for a maze design that will be incorporated into a desktop.
Dave P. showed us a completed marquetry picture of a pair of deer. He also brought in a book, "Veneer Species Guide" that has pictures of different veneers and has a handy index of veneers by color.
Rob's marquetry covered PVC pipe and ready-to-wrap flat panel (for a hot tub project he is working on).
Rob explaining a finer point about his beautiful angled inlay.
Some examples of Rob's angled inlay technique - it's difficult to see in the photograph, but the grain and the figure in the inlaid wood are perpendicular to each other, so the grain forms chevrons going one way, while the figure forms chevrons going the opposite direction!
Dave P. shows us his latest picture....
....a beautiful pair of silouetted deer.
Dave P. shows us his veneer guide.
A closer look at the front of the book.
5. Demonstration - Dave P. showed us how to fine-tune a pattern and then we practiced creating our own pattern from a photograph.
a) To Create a Good Picture:
- Simplify
- Focal Point
- Balance
- Path for the Eye to Follow
b) Simplify:
- Reduce to Basics
- Add just enough back in to make a good picture
c) Focal Point:
- Picture needs to have 1 main focal point (can also have secondary points)
- Focal points can be created with size, shape, color, contrast, or a man-made object
d) Rule of Thirds or Golden Mean:
- Don't put the focal point in the middle, but at an intersection of thirds
- Balance the rest of the picture-think in odd numbers
e) Path for Eye to Follow-use meandering shapes.
f) Don't let the Eye Escape:
- Don't let a road intersect the corner of a picture
- Have trees lean in toward the picture rather than out
g) Test of a Good Picture-the viewer takes a while to view the picture and they like it.
h) Art books are a good reference.
Jim S. showed us his Golden Gate Bridge with the fine lines cut in by knife. The picture had some squareness issues that Jim was contemplating how to fix.
6. Dues and Membership
Dues for our Nor Cal Group are $5 per year; National (AMS) dues are $20 per year with a $5 one time initiation fee. 2007 dues can be paid at the next meeting or send $5.00 to Jim Sweet, PO Box 3502, Saratoga, 95070.
7. Meetings
We meet on the 4th Saturday of January followed by the 3rd Tuesday night for February and March. This rotating schedule continues throughout the year. Meetings are regularly held at The Sawdust Shop in Sunnyvale unless otherwise announced. The meeting dates for the remainder of 2007 are:
- Tuesday May 15
- Tuesday June 19
- Saturday July 28
- Tuesday August 21
- Tuesday September 18
- Saturday October 27
- Tuesday November 20
- Tuesday December 4 (Christmas Party)
8. Guests
Guests are welcome at our meetings. If you want to get involved, drop by The Sawdust Store and ask Craig Colvin for the Marquetry Package: this has a pattern for a marquetry picture; plans for the angled cutting table and for the bird's mouth flat table. Craig can advise you on tools and supplies and he sells veneers. You can join our Club and pay dues at the next meeting.
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