Artisan's Statement

Biography

Marty Schlosser has been designing and making custom furniture for residences, commercial establishments and charitable organizations for over 30 years. Marty also enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of wood with others, through classes on fine finishing and woodworking techniques and through magazine articles. Marty is a member of the Ottawa Woodworkers Association and is registered with the Canadian Arts & Crafts Index. Marty’s studio is located in Ottawa, from where he makes commission-based, custom-designed furniture, one piece at a time.

Design Process

Marty strives to design furniture that reflects his client’s lifestyle and fulfills their functional specifications. He prefers to meet personally with clients, to better appreciate where the furniture piece is to reside. At the first meeting, notes will be taken and initial sketches drawn. Marty’s work ranges in style and influence. He is as comfortable crafting pieces in the style of Queen Anne as he is with Shaker or Contemporary. Once client and craftsman are comfortable with where the design process is leading, attention is then given to materials and finish.

Materials

Marty pays considerable attention to the quality of the materials that go into each commission. Wood is carefully selected from either his own inventory of domestic and exotic lumber, or from one of his suppliers, with which he has established strong relationships over the years. Where appropriate, veneers are judiciously selected and employed, either in lieu of, or in conjunction with, solid woods. Hardware, like wood, is integral to the success of any piece and as such, is carefully selected and sourced.

Construction and Tools

Once design, materials and finish have been decided upon, Marty focuses on joinery and structure. He employs only those methods of construction that have proven their durability over the years. Marty relies on both power and hand tools to build furniture. While he willingly uses machines to improve efficiencies, Marty firmly believes that most joints are best fitted with hand tools.

Finish

Marty’s approach towards finishes reflects his appreciation of wood as a tactile material; a good finish, properly selected and applied, both invites and rewards the touch. Over the years he has developed a pallet of finishes that range from modern to traditional. He prefers to use modern waterborne finishes over traditional oil and wax-based finishes. This reflects his environmental conscientiousness and interest in making furniture that can stand up to the rigours of daily use.

Prices & Guarantee

Prices reflect materials and finishes chosen, and the amount of time required to design and craft each piece. An estimate will be set at the time Marty and the client agree on the final design, wood and finish. Color samples and designs are to be signed upon approval. Payment terms are; one half upon design acceptance and one half upon delivery. Delivery times will vary, and are estimated at the point of design acceptance. Transportation costs, if applicable, and taxes, will be reflected in the estimate.

Guarantee. Marty proudly signs each piece of furniture he makes, and they are guaranteed against failure of workmanship and materials for the lifetime of the original owner and of any relative who inherits them. Any failure that is not due to abuse or misuse, will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Transportation expenses will be the responsibility of the client.

Charitable Contributions - 2008

Marty elected to support the Salvation Army this year, through the donation of an executive boardroom table for their Public Relations office in Ottawa. He teamed with three other companies, who generously donated materials or pro bono labour to bring this project to fruition. Their contact information is shown below. The table was delivered in May, with the official unveiling to be held later this year.

The following shows the original sketch, followed by a few photos of the completed piece. Wood: walnut veneer, edged in solid broadleaf quilted maple. Finish: waterbased garnet shellac, with water-based hybrid varnish.

List of Companies and Individuals Who Teamed with Marty in the Boardroom Table Project:

A&M Wood Specialties, Cambridge, ON. Platinum-level contributor

Bill's Custom Cabinets, Ottawa, ON. Gold-level contributor

Richelieu Canada, Ottawa, ON. Gold-level contributor

Richard Scott, Ottawa, ON. Volunteer labour.

Diane Jolicoeur, Ottawa, ON. Volunteer labour.

Karen McBride, Ottawa, ON. Providing storage of materials.