Intarsia Wood Art-Inspiration From Scraps of Wood

Intarsia is thought to have originated in Italy as early as the 13th century, or perhaps was brought back by travelers and explorers from the Islamic world. Being labor intensive, most early examples of Intarsia were found in churches and the homes of the wealthy elite of the time.

Eventually Intarsia became a lost wood art due to it's difficulty but with the advent of modern tools and the availability of free patterns it has seen a resurgence in popularity. Attractive Intarsia patterns can be created with little more than a pattern, a scrollsaw, a sander and a few scraps of various types of wood.

The wooden pieces of an Intarsia pattern can vary from 1/4 inch to as much as 2 inches thick. Thinner pieces are used to create attractive overlays for furniture, picture frames and wall hangings. Pieces that are meant to stand alone are often made from 3/4 inch material with a thin 1/4 inch plywood backing.

Intarsia is assembled by cutting and shaping individual pieces of wood and then assembling them like a jig-saw puzzle. Each piece is chosen for it's color and grain pattern with particular attention to how it complements the other pieces in the pattern. Relief and a three dimensional effect are achieved by careful sanding and the use of spacers behind the pieces to raise some pieces higher than others.

Novices as well as veteran wood workers can enjoy Intarsia wood art. The patterns can be as simple as 10 pieces or as complex as you dare. Some more complex and beautiful subjects include 200 or more pieces, carefully sanded and fitted to form the final product.

Artistic types can create a pattern of their own and transfer it to the wood or if you like you can find patterns, some free, in books and on the Internet. Popular patterns include deer patterns, teddy bears, birds, flowers and even whales!

Intarsia wood art is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Some enjoy it so much they have made a business from it, traveling to craft shows and markets to display their wares.

A practical, easy-to-use, interactive manual is available for instant download in the popular pdf format. Whether you're an experienced woodworker who needs help with the finer points - or you're just starting out with the fascinating art of intarsia and don't know one end of a scroll saw from the other - this book will prove invaluable. Easily readable and printable with the popular AdobeReader software, it includes information on suppliers, plans, tools, and wood choices. Written by three prominent Intarsia crafstmen it contains over 100 pages with full color illustrations and many free plans.

What's included:

* Vital health & safety information - so you stay safe and enjoy your hobby.

* Expert advice on how to choose the right tools - and where to get them.

* How to select and store your wood - and even alternative sources so you can make big savings.

* Not just one but both popular methods of making intarsia.

* Where to go to save 15% on plans.

Since it's presented as a PDF document, you can print individual pages as many times as needed to take out to the shop without fear of damaging a valuable book. Plans can be printed and shared with your friends!

To learn more about this wonderful resource, Click Here for More Information.