The Art of the Craft: Exploring Leather
Hey there! Welcome to my little creative space, where I share what I’ve been working on lately. From current experiments to past projects and commissions, you’ll find a bit of everything here.
If something catches your eye, most pieces are available—just send me an email if you’d like to bring one home. Thanks so much for your interest in my art—it truly means a lot.
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For me, leatherwork started as a side project and quickly turned into a passion. After years in design and digital work, I found something special in the hands-on process of crafting with leather. That first project had me hooked, and I threw myself into learning everything I could about the craft—its techniques, traditions, and possibilities.
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Now, I get to combine my leatherworking skills with my background in the arts to create pieces that go beyond utility and tell a story. I love exploring the boundaries of leather as a medium, pushing it beyond its roots and into something more expressive.
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Every piece I create is a mix of practice, experimentation, and a little bit of creative risk-taking. Thanks for joining me on this journey—I can’t wait to share what’s next!
MENDED - Exhibition @ Roxy Gallery 2024 >>
Notable Works
These standalone pieces represent spontaneous creations crafted from leather. They emerge organically, not tied to any specific ongoing project—simply born out of the creative moment. Each piece is a unique expression, capturing the essence of creativity in its unscripted form.
"Playing with Leaves" is an ongoing artistic venture rooted in the nostalgia of my childhood, inspired by a whimsical game where I would collect leaves to fashion intricate images. This playful endeavor holds a cathartic quality, as the leaves effortlessly lend themselves to the creation of beautiful and harmonious forms.
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Reflecting on my childhood musings, I recall a minor frustration – the leaves inevitably dried, turned brown, and became brittle, making it challenging to share my creations. The transition to leather as my chosen medium offers a liberating solution, allowing me to mould and shape these natural elements without the immediate threat of decay. Much like the process of tanning halts the natural decomposition of skin, leather becomes a medium to freeze the fleeting beauty of leaves. Recapturing the essence of my childhood play, I assemble the leather leaves in familiar ways, pushing the boundaries of their transformative potential.
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Conceptually, crafting leaves from leather and arranging them into figures and forms, occasionally narrating a story, serves as a commentary on the fictions that weave into the fabric of our lives. These narratives contribute to our sense of identity, order, and pleasure, shaping the core of who we are. Looking back, I recognize that, as a child navigating the challenges of being an immigrant in a foreign land, this creative game served as a means to infuse a touch of fantasy into my surroundings, imbuing them with meaning where little sense existed.
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As an adult, this artistic pursuit continues to add layers to the tapestry of fiction, inviting viewers to explore the delightful realms of imagination. Crafting stories has become not just a nostalgic escape but a way to infuse the world with joy and wonder, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. It's a journey I thoroughly enjoy, a playful exploration of creativity that resonates with the child within, making life a bit more fantastical and a lot more fun!
Playing With Leaves Project
Mathematical Knot Project
In my artistic journey, I've delved into the intricate world of carving knots onto leatherwork, where the fusion of leather and knotwork gives rise to a captivating aesthetic. As my exploration evolves, I've recently turned my focus to mathematical knots, specifically navigating the Alexander Briggs chart of prime knots to weave complex patterns.
These studies are guiding me toward a deeper understanding of knots as a decorative element in the contemporary artistic landscape.
This project is a continuous exploration, with each knot telling a story of precision and beauty, transforming the traditional craft into a modern artistic expression.
