David J. Marks Woodworking School

David J. Marks Woodworking School Our school offers both hands on group classes in woodworking and woodturning, as well as private classes.

Visit the Classes Section of my website www.djmarks.com to view my list of hands on group classes for 2019: http://djmarks.com/classes/2019-classes-hands-on-group-classes/ GROUP CLASSES: Each class will have 3 - 10 students and will be held in David's Workshop/Studio in Santa Rosa, California. PRIVATE CLASSES: David offers private classes which provide one-on-one instruction. The advantage of the

private class is that it is completely tailored to suit your individual skill level, interests, and needs. In addition, there is more flexibility in scheduling dates for one-on-one class sessions which can range from one day to five days. You can pick any subject or subjects to focus on, such as bandsawn veneers, bentwood lamination, wood turning, dovetails, double-bevel marquetry, sharpening hand tools, wood carving, gold leafing, patinas on metal, working with the vacuum press, working with commercial veneers, fixing mistakes, design elements, etc. The class takes place in David’s workshop/studio in which he taped the television show "Woodworks"

Visit the Classes Section of our website www.djmarks.com to see the current classes listed for 2011.

My Advanced Marquetry class was challenging on many levels. Mother of Pearl and Abalone shells are composed of calcium c...
06/03/2025

My Advanced Marquetry class was challenging on many levels. Mother of Pearl and Abalone shells are composed of calcium carbonate which can be cut with jeweler's blades as well as 2/0 wood blades but it cuts much slower than wood. All in all the students said that they learned a lot and really enjoyed the class. Some got close to completion while others decided to make test samples and take notes so that they could work on their projects at home. It takes a lot of practice to get used to working with shells as well as soft metals. It's like the old saying "how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice".

“Zeus” will be on display this weekend at the “Two Rock School of Woodworking” for my students to examine close-up. Sinc...
05/29/2025

“Zeus” will be on display this weekend at the “Two Rock School of Woodworking” for my students to examine close-up. Since this is my advanced Marquetry class, I will be teaching my students my methods for double bevel cutting Abalone shells and Mother of Pearl shells as well as soft metals and Tagua and Betel nuts.
Reconstituted Stone is another great material for color and fine details. I used some turquoise with black webbing around the mouth of Zeus.
I can’t wait to see what my students create!
More photos will be posted over the weekend.

I just finished making this display board for my advanced Marquetry class which begins this Friday at the Two Rock Schoo...
05/29/2025

I just finished making this display board for my advanced Marquetry class which begins this Friday at the Two Rock School in Petaluma.
I’m a visual learner and I think a lot of students are similar.
This board has about 20 samples on it as well as explanations of what’s going on in each sample .
Each piece is attached with Velcro so the student can take it off and bring it to their bench and use that as a sample to see how it might work in their design.
I also included a gauge for checking the thickness of the soft metals we will be working with. For example , we will be working with soft copper that is 1/32”of an inch thick and that would be the equivalent of 22 gauge metal.

The patient survived surgery, now on to finessing the details.
05/17/2025

The patient survived surgery, now on to finessing the details.

The moment of truth…. I’m cutting my Scarlet Ibis into my background veneer of Ebony.He is standing on a branch made of ...
05/17/2025

The moment of truth…. I’m cutting my Scarlet Ibis into my background veneer of Ebony.
He is standing on a branch made of Ziricote.

This is what I was referring to when I said that it wasn’t easy.The eyes are the window to the soul and if you don’t get...
05/17/2025

This is what I was referring to when I said that it wasn’t easy.
The eyes are the window to the soul and if you don’t get it right then it’s time to start over again (just the eyes).
I managed to cut a piece of Mother of Pearl that was 1/16” of an inch long and inlaid it into the Ebony eye.
I will be demonstrating this technique in my advanced Marquetry class coming up at the end of May happening at the Two Rock School of Woodworking.
If you are interested in learning more please contact them. My class is sold out but they are taking names from people who would like to have another class scheduled.
Cheers

Pernambuco Octagon canister/box featuring a Curly Koa lid with hand chased African Blackwood threads. Five inches tall w...
05/02/2025

Pernambuco Octagon canister/box featuring a Curly Koa lid with hand chased African Blackwood threads. Five inches tall with a 3 3/8”x 3 3/8” base. I have been “aging” this one like a fine Wine until it has oxidized to its natural rich reddish burnt orange color.
Interior measures 3 1/2” deep x 2 1/4” diameter.

I’m not gonna lie to you. It wasn’t easy.
05/02/2025

I’m not gonna lie to you. It wasn’t easy.

Tiny Toenails in Tagua Nut.
04/17/2025

Tiny Toenails in Tagua Nut.

I’m cutting my toenails today.
04/17/2025

I’m cutting my toenails today.

Olivewood Nut dish. Great figure in this piece that I cut many years ago.I try to save the crotch figure from checks and...
04/12/2025

Olivewood Nut dish. Great figure in this piece that I cut many years ago.
I try to save the crotch figure from checks and cracks but Olivewood is close to impossible to dry without it cracking somewhere.
In my early days of making Burl tables back in the early 70’s, I began using slow setting epoxy to fill the cracks and added black dyes that were compatible with epoxy.
I was very glad that when I began taking weekend classes with Art Carpenter in the early 80’s, that Art also liked to use epoxy with black dyes to fill cracks and strengthen the wood. It enhances the appearance to my eyes and resembles spalted wood.
This is a gift for one of my nephews.
It has an oil and wax finish which gives the wood a nice smooth tactile quality.

I’m working on a new Marquetry project for my upcoming class at the “Two Rock School of Woodworking” in Petaluma at the ...
04/09/2025

I’m working on a new Marquetry project for my upcoming class at the “Two Rock School of Woodworking” in Petaluma at the end of May. This is a rare scarlet Ibis bird that lives in South America and parts of the Caribbean.
My class will be on advanced Marquetry techniques and I will demonstrate how I double bevel cut shell, soft copper, Tagua and Betel nuts and other exotic materials to enhance a design and create a unique style.
This class is already sold out but please feel free to contact Timber at the school to sign up on their waitlist for future classes. I used black lipped mother of pearl for the long bill which really helps to accentuate the image. Mother of pearl is very difficult to photograph so I included a couple of different angles. You might notice a fine line of copper that I double bevel cut into the wing as a small artistic detail. The majority of the Ibis is Bloodwood which helps to resemble the birds colors. I’m using Pernambuco for a lighter area to add some color contrast. Lots of work to go but since I love my work it seems like fun.

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Santa Rosa, CA
95403

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