Roger Bulkley & Sharon Bulkley

After retiring from the aviation industry in 2000, I was then free to pursue my life time passion of working in wood. I had been an amateur “sawdust breather” for thirty years, but wanted to go beyond making simple projects. I had become exposed to the ancient art of Marquetry while living in Oregon, and marveled at the beauty resulting from “painting” with wood. I started making simple purse mirrors and have graduated into much more sophisticated pieces, all providing the “canvas” upon which my artistic vision is presented employing the wonderful beauty of wood as the vehicle of this expression.

Marquetry originated over three thousand years ago in Egypt, and has continued throughout the centuries.

I make line drawings of nature, as well as abstract designs, and hand cut the various elements of the drawings using a scroll saw, surgeon’s scalpel, or chisel. I use no computer guided equipment or lasers. After the cutting is completed, I assemble all of the elements together, resulting in a “painting” that is entirely created from many different species of exotic and domestic woods. The Marquetry scene is inlayed into various functional furniture, cabinets, boxes, and wall art that I also create. The finished creation is therefore a wonderful combining of artistic expression and artisan crafting. While some wood workers accent their work with elements of Marquetry, I prefer to have the Marquetry take “center stage”

I am so rewarded by art patrons seeing my work at fine art/craft shows and, as a result, commissioning work specifically designed according to their own desires.