Marquetry is the use of thin wood veneers and other materials to create a design in a panel of wood. Traditional marquetry was generally used as a form of decoration in fine furniture such as table tops, however, it can be a used to create any type of picture, including pet portraits.
First draw the outline of your design onto your base veneer.
Use a sturdy (and sharp) craft knife to cut out the first shape from the base. It is often easier to make many light cuts rather than one firm one when cutting the veneer.
Place a piece of coloured veneer under the shape you have just removed and trace the shape of the hole onto it.
Cut the shape out of the coloured piece, apply glue to the edges and place it in position in the hole in the base.
Repeat this for each coloured piece of veneer using the colours to create a tonal representation of the picture you’re creating.
Once completed the finish piece can be mounted onto a backing board to support it, then framed