Nicholas Chandler



		As well as being the third generation designer maker in the family, I’ve been a qualified teacher for nearly 25 years and have taught in schools, colleges and on private courses in the U.K. and U.S.A. My students have benefited from the fact that I am a practising craftsman making a living. You will see me designing and making furniture for current clients and exhibitions, and past work can be seen in books and magazines. Naturally, I shall be devoting time to the acquisition and development of your bench skills initially through a series of set pieces that give you the necessary foundational core skills.

They are the corner stones of your future development and once learned will give you the confidence to progress rapidly and safely. The pieces you make are yours to take away. Thereafter, you will advance by designing and making your own work guided and assisted as necessary. The biggest advantage is that you are taught in the environment of a working studio. You will learn not only from one to one instruction but also by example and you will see me drawing, thinking, solving problems, thinking some more, and building furniture, sharing with you the reasons for a particular decision. The things I teach you have been learned at the cutting edge of this business that I love and I won’t waste your time or mine - everything I do at the bench is for a reason. *ABOUT YOU* Your course is centred around you and what you want from it; whether its to enjoy a short course concerning instruction about a specific skill or technique such as laminating curved components or veneering whilst on holiday in Spain, or whether it is to embark on a change of career, your course is designed to incorporate your requests as far as possible. Initially, your progress maybe slow as you are concentrating on getting it right – not on how fast you can do it, that only comes with time and practice. But one thing at least is certain – you can only get better. *TOOLS* Once you have made the decision to come here, I will send you a list of the tools you will need to get you going which does not include anything I think frivolous or unnecessary. The quality of tools available today is very good and if purchased wisely will last several lifetimes, not just yours. I’m still using some of my grandfather’s purchases that fairly zing along and are a joy to use. Remember – a tool is for life, not just for Christmas. Whether you are here for a week, a month or a year, time will be spent fettling tools to get them in correct running order. They are as important to you as the violin is to the violinist. However, the difference between using a plane fresh out of the box and one that has been properly tuned is the “difference between night and day” as one former student said. *DESIGNING FURNITURE - and how to go about it* “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” Scott Adams. “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up.” Pablo Ruiz Picasso Designing is playtime, and making what you have designed is an adventure. Although it doesn’t fall into the Indiana Jones category, it should be enjoyable and the most fun you’ve had since you were four years old playing in the sandpit. I can show you how I go about the process of designing and making, as it a very personal response to an inquiry and through example and guidance, assist you when designing your own work. A table can have one leg (oh yes it can) or ten - not just the usual three or four, and must they be straight? On the one-year course in particular, you are here to use some time to develop your own design vocabulary. Don’t worry about letting your design fantasies run wild on the drawing board, you can’t make anything that is outside your capabilities as a maker, so, the more you make, the better you get as a designer. What’s good design? And for that matter, what does bad design look like? I can give you pointers through that potentially grey and murky area and help you to train your eyes as well as your hands. Previous experience required? Not really. I have taught men and women that have never picked up a chisel or a plane and watch them progress very quickly. All you need bring with you is a hunger to make fine furniture, whether its for your own pleasure or for the rewards of starting your own business. *TUITION FEES* One week - 750€ includes timber One month - 2,500€ includes timber One year - 14,000€ *ACCOMMODATION* Seville is situated in the south east of Spain, capitol of the province of Andalucia and the fourth largest city in Spain, with a population of about 800,000 people. In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed from here to find a new route to India and came back having discovered a new continent. In 1992, the world EXPO was held here and so everyone came back from there to visit and see what a fine town it is too. It is rich in Arabic, Roman and Christian histories, art and architecture so you will not be short of places to visit or of inspiration for your work. It is still cheaper to live here than on the Mediterranean coast in terms of renting self-catering accommodation and food. Medical provision is of the same quality, if not higher than you would receive in the U.K. Don’t forget your E 111 form. *GETTING HERE* Flights run direct to Seville airport using the major airlines of Iberia, KLM, Air France, Alitalia or British Airways; Jerez de la Frontera using Ryanair and is one hour away on the bus. This is a big country so if you are driving we are 6 hours from Madrid, 10 hours from Barcelona, and the only train route is via Madrid from which runs the AVE high speed train (2 hours) and you have to book it in advance. I can find accommodation for you in Carmona and arrange it all if you don’t speak Spanish, or alternatively you can try using www.sevilla5.com which always has a good selection of properties in Seville.


This features some of the folk that have come to study with me.


	Jason Sieling, WA, USA. Jason is an accomplished high school art teacher, but needed a break from teaching to get back to the tools. He is primarily a sculptor, but fancied having a go at making furniture. After much exchange of information by e-mail and a long phone call, he arrived here for a one month course. He is now dividing his time between teaching, furniture making and making his wife happy. Left: Jason enjoys his dovetailing!
	Left: Jason levelling the edge of his cabinet.

	Neil Pendregaust, UK Neil has been out here twice now to extend his making skills, firstly for a week and then for a fortnight. He is a busy executive in real life but loves to make in his spare time. I was surprised and pleased at his knowledge and skill level that he already has, and he's looking to develop it further all the time. Left: Neil dovetailing drawer.
Above: Neil's box with 2 drawers fitted.	Above: Neil laquering his box.

	Mark Ibbs, UK An advertising executive from a top company in London, Mark needed a change and came here for 3 months. He, like the others, dabbled in making things but needed a concentrated period of time to really get to grips with making furniture. He has a future as a designer, and now has an appreciation of what it takes to make something from start to finish. He completed a stationery box, a wall cabinet and designed and made a fine chair. No mean feat! Left: Mark's finished wall cabinet.
Above: Mark's chair maquette made from pine.	Above: Mark's chair complete, Mahogany.

	Alison Elphick, UK A translator of so many languages it makes your head swim, Alison came out here for a weeks course because she's 'always wanted to make something in wood since she was a girl watching her uncle, a cabinet maker'. She made a very fine job of a stationery box. Left: Alison testing her refurbished plane.
Above: Alison sawing dovetails.	Above: Alison paring mitres.
Above: Alison actually laughs while sanding.	Above: All finished - a happy camper!

Jason Roberts, WA, USA. Jason was one of the students I taught on a program in the states who had never picked up a chisel before I taught him, let alone used a hand plane properly. His background is in house construction with his father, but his fascination for wood and working it differently had begun before he met me. Possessor of a wood mill and solar kiln which he built himself, he rapidly acquired the delicate hand skills required for furniture making. He e-mailed me earlier this year to say he won a place to study for a year at the prestigious College of the Redwoods, in California, one of the finest colleges for fine furniture making in the US.

Chip Tait, Baltimore, USA. Chip was another of the chaps I taught in the US who now has his own website, www.chiptait.com and a plan to make fine furniture. He also has a bar, Lovejoy's, in Austin, Texas, so next time you're passing, pop in, have a drink and say Hi from me.

	Paul Donovan & Stuart Grant I've currently two more chaps on one year courses, Paul & Stuart. Both are from different working backgrounds. Paul, a maths graduate and late of the Civil Aviation Authority has been here snce May with his wife Jo and made a beautiful bench upon which to make the rest of his projects. Left: Paul's bench top stock just arrived.
	Stuart, a former bodguard, scuba instructor, mechanic, bar owner is now adding furniture designer and maker to his impressve C.V. It's going to be very safe in here for the next year! Left: A sweaty Paul has just finished planing the bench frame parts.
Above: Paul's finished bench.	Above: Paul's showing off now.

Jason Sieling, WA, USA.

Neil Pendregaust, UK

Mark Ibbs, UK

Alison Elphick, UK

Jason Roberts, WA, USA.

Chip Tait, Baltimore, USA.

Paul Donovan & Stuart Grant