This intensive four-day training course offers an immersion into the heart of wood embroidery, structured in three fundamental stages combining technical knowledge and practical application. Under the guidance of its inventor, Jean-Brieuc Chevalier, participants will learn the founding principles of rare techniques, developed and passed on in a workshop of excellence.

At the end of the course, trainees will be able to:

• Prepare a wooden base
• Implement the associated techniques (veneer, marquetry, gluing, finishing)
• Design an embroidery pattern and generate a drilling file using AutoCAD, with a view to possible subcontracting
• Identify and select beads and materials suitable for wood embroidery
• Create wood embroidery with precision (knots, stitches, regularity)
• Finalize an embroidered piece by gluing and finishing

This training course offers total immersion in wood embroidery, conceived as a dialogue between material, design, and gesture. It is aimed at those who wish to acquire precise, demanding skills and apply them in a contemporary context.

The workshop begins with a presentation of Jean-Brieuc Chevalier's work, his career, and his collaborations. During the session organized in Venice, two major pieces structure this introduction: the Mille-Fleurs screen, winner of the Prix Talent d'Exception pour l'Intelligence de la Main (Bettencourt Schueller Foundation), and a piece of furniture created for the artist Joseph Arzoumanov, presented at the opening of the Dries Van Noten Foundation. Both pieces were created by the instructor.

Participants then explored the fundamentals of wood: choosing species, material constraints, veneering, and the principles of marquetry. The work continued with gluing techniques, surface preparation, and finishing. Here, drawing plays a central role. From designing the pattern to preparing the drilling, participants are introduced to AutoCAD in order to develop a precise embroidery design and produce a file that can be used by a subcontractor.

As always, this training course focuses on practical skills. Specific supplies are presented, essential knots and stitches are taught, and then embroidery is carried out on wood using pre-drilled supports.

The patterns are based on iconic projects (Mille-Fleurs, Orient Express, collaborations with Léa Zeroil), while allowing each participant freedom of interpretation in the choice of colors and combinations of beads and wood. Several supports allow for progress adapted to the pace of each participant.

Schedule

Day 1

Discovery and immersion

Morning

• Visit to the Homo Faber exhibition, where the Mille-Fleurs screen is on display
• Presentation of the trainer's professional background, inspirations, and artistic approach
• Time for discussion with participants

Afternoon

• Visit to the Dries Van Noten Foundation to see a second exceptional embroidered project, offering a different approach to embroidery in contemporary design

Day 2

Design and preparation

Morning

• Brief presentation of wood embroidery projects
• Theoretical class on wood: species, technologies, constraints Introduction to marquetry
• Presentation of AutoCAD through concrete examples

Afternoon

• Designing embroidery patterns on a computer
• Choosing or creating a personal design
• Formatting the drilling file
  Goal for the day: leave with a finalized design ready for embroidery

Day 3

Embroidery on wood

Morning

• Start embroidering on pre-drilled supports
• Choosing the design
• Learning the basic techniques and first knots

Afternoon

• Continue embroidery work with personalized guidance

Day 4

Finishing touches

Morning

• Continue embroidery according to individual progress

Afternoon

• Finalization of pieces
• Review of the training
• Tidying up the workshop

• Classroom, multipurpose room, workshops with professional equipment
• Materials provided
• Individual and collaborative work
• Workshop work
• Active participation and experimentation by participants are encouraged

• Collective and personalized monitoring of work, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Group feedback
• Attendance sheet for each half-day
• Certificate of completion issued by Campus MaNa