Wood marquetry with a cutter is a precise, accessible, and surprisingly creative technique that allows you to learn the art of wood composition without the need for heavy or complex tools. It is suitable for both curious beginners and experienced craftspeople looking to explore a more intuitive method, suited to contemporary marquetry practices.

During this training, participants will discover the basics of this meticulous technique: choosing veneers, understanding wood grain, preparing tools, and mastering the technique. Using a simple cutter, they will learn to delicately cut out patterns, adjust them precisely, and then compose an abstract or graphic image according to their own tastes.

At the end of the training, the trainee will be able to:

• Identify the three methods for obtaining wood veneers
• Recognize the different veneer cutting techniques
• Identify the most common wood species
• Create wood marquetry with a cutter, from composition to finishing
• Inlay metal into marquetry

Beyond the technical aspects, the training offers a true artistic exploration: working with the natural color of wood species, playing with contrasts, textures, grain, and knots in the wood, creating visual rhythms, and even incorporating other materials such as metal to enrich the composition.

This course emphasizes freedom of movement, experimentation, and an open eye. Through demonstrations, sketching sessions, personalized advice, and a small-scale final project, each participant will develop their own approach to marquetry, combining artisanal precision and artistic expression.

Schedule

Day 1

Morning

• Round-table presentation
• Theory of marquetry (history, industry, cutting methods)

Afternoon

• Presentation of Marie Dubois's approach
• Presentation of the cutter cutting method
• Getting to know the method

Day 2

Morning

• Beginning of the marquetry composition

Afternoon

• Continuation of the composition

Day 3

Morning

• Continuation of the composition
• Collage

Afternoon

• Visit to the Guggenheim Museum

Day 4

Morning

• Begin finishing the composition

Afternoon

• Cutting the pieces to be inlaid
• Inlay

Day 5

Morning

• Finishing

Afternoon

• Finishing the composition
• Discussion and discussion about the workshop
• Cleaning up the studio

BONUS

An evening at the biennale Arte 2026 at the end of day 4 and proposal to create a joint work during the workshop time which could remain permanently.

Marie Dubois

Marie Dubois discovered marquetry in 2013, while studying at the École Boulle in Paris, as part of her cabinetmaking training. She quickly recognized this discipline as much more than a decorative skill: it was a true visual language, capable of expressing emotions, capturing light, and exploring materials.

Her wood marquetry practice is distinguished by a profoundly contemporary approach. Far from classical or figurative codes, she infuses this ancestral technique with an aesthetic inspired by abstraction, minimalism, and the textured work specific to contemporary art. She works with the grain, knots, and natural nuances of the wood, as well as with the light it captures and reflects. She sometimes combines other materials such as brass or copper, adding a tactile and contrasting dimension to her works.

Her artistic universe explores the subtle dialogues between colors, geometric or organic shapes, and living materials. Each piece thus becomes a sensitive composition, constructed from carefully selected wood species arranged in a quest for balance and rhythm.
Straddling the worlds of art and interior design, her approach offers unique or limited-edition pieces, designed as both visual works and decorative elements. She champions a joyful, intuitive, and colorful marquetry style, where free movement and instinct guide creation rather than fixed drawing.

Through this sensitive and innovative approach, she contributes to evolving the image of marquetry, taking it beyond its traditional framework to reveal its full expressive and contemporary richness.

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

• Collective and personalized monitoring of work, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Collective feedback
• Half-day attendance sheet
• Certification of completion issued by Campus MaNa