Wood 1012 Color Theory - Using New Mediums

Color Theory is the root of much of what we do. We can not repair a wooden object and hide that repair unless we can match the color of the wood and the coating on the wood. In color theory, we will make color wheels, and learn how colors relate to one another. We look at hue, value and chroma; and we learn how different mediums work differently.
In the first picture, you can see we are color matching, that is to say, the students are given a sample of wood and asked to find a mixture of colorants that will match. Currently we are using glazes to find that match, but in the near future, we will use powdered pigments, dyes as well as using different glazing and toning techniques to achieve a match.

In this second picture, we are discovering our powdered pigments. With these powders, we can mix them with a binder and carrier and make a paint. In this picture we are charting out what these colors look like on a white background so we can start to understand how they will behave when we start using them on wood.

2009-2010 School Year Begins

Another year has begun with a fresh group of students. Once again we will be chronicling the year in order to show a prospective student what the NIWF experience is. The Wood Finishing Technology Program is a 36-credit course; all 36 credits are in wood finishing with no other gen-ed requirements. You can follow our curriculum throughout the year by class title. The 9 month program (August 2009-May 2010) is broken up into nine classes:


Wood 1012 Color Theory
Wood 1015 Spot Repair I
Wood 1019 Spot Repair II
Wood 1004 Wood Working
Wood 1007 Methods of Fastening
Wood 1010 Wood and Finishing Technology
Wood 1026 Advanced Finishing
Wood 1032 Furniture Conservation
Wood 1021 Wood Refinishing

Each course is approximately 17 working days and is set up in a way that one could take just one or two courses, please refer to the DCTC catalog for more information on classes that might have a pre-requisite at www.DCTC.edu

Most of the blog posts will be titled with the corresponding class, so if you want to know what goes on in any of these classes, stay tuned and see first hand what and how we learn! And be sure to go back in the blog are read about last year.

On a side note, NIWF offers a Furniture Service Technician certificate program for completing the first three courses (Color Theory, Spot Repair I & Spot Repair II). Furniture Service Technicians repair minor damage (referred to as spot repair) to wood, vinyl, leather and fabric. Spot repair usually involves (but is certainly not limited to) repairs such as minor water damage, scratches, nicks, dents, cigarette burns, or even a fairly large damaged area such as the corner of a table. These repairs are made by filling the void with a solid material and applying color to it, matching the surrounding area. Leather and vinyl repair is done much the same way. Upholstery can be repaired without having to re-upholster the entire piece.Furniture refurbishing means cleaning (instead of stripping) furniture and furniture maintenance (polishing and waxing).Furniture Service Technicians may work at the customer's home site, in furniture stores, or in a workshop. Possible job opportunities include self-employment, furniture stores or outlets, or an existing furniture service business. While total furniture restoration requires a workshop setting, the Furniture Service Technician can work from a small toolbox.