We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Kelly a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ryan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I am mostly a self-taught leather crafter. I had been exploring some different creative outlets, including some woodworking and metalworking. When I became interested in leather work I already had a foundation in how to visualize and execute an idea. The medium of leather was different, the techniques were different, and most of the tools were different. There was a lot of trial and error at first. Honestly, there is still a lot of trial and error to this day. Especially when I’m trying a new technique or method. The only way to learn something is to do it. Listen to what other people in the craft have to say. Admire their work and learn from them but don’t copy it.

Ryan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always admired heritage craftsmanship. I’ve always wanted to learn a trade. I dabbled in lots of creative mediums, and still do, but what landed me in leather crafting was my passion for colonial American history. Seeing examples of period correct accoutrements really sparked my desire to make and recreate them. The 18th century hunting bag alone is such a varied piece of functional art that ranges from utilitarian folk art to elaborate professionally crafted bags for the wealthier members of society. I still enjoy making period correct leather projects using the correct materials and techniques. Many of the tools used in colonial America for leather craft are the same tools that we use in the craft today. I like to bring that old world craftsmanship to all of my work. My more modern leather work is all made one piece at a time using all hand tools and a lot of historical influence. Each piece that comes out of my shop is only touched by my hands. Everything is made with an eye for detail and built to last a lifetime.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of the things that continues to drive my passion for leather crafting is the infinite amount of directions one could go in the craft. Leather goods, floral or Western tooling, saddle work, shoe and boot making, book binding, historical reproduction work… the possibilities are truly endless. I feel like it’s not possible to get static in this craft. There is always something new to learn. There’s always something to get better at. So I am always pushing to learn and grow in my craft.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

People not familiar with the leather craft process may not realize how much background work goes into making a new product or a one-off custom item. First, in my process there is some visualizing and drawing of potential designs. As the drawings get more refined and the design begins to coalesce, I usually next make a pattern. The pattern is then used to make a prototype. Many times the initial prototype does not turn out as intended or expected, so the design has to be tweaked and a new pattern developed. This process continues until I get a porotype that I am very happy with and I think fits as a finished product or as the desired custom piece for a customer. With the final design, I then make a more permanent template that can be used to replicate the pattern again and again for future use. Some pieces, especially historical pieces, require even more background research to ensure the historical accuracy and relevance. The final product the customer sees is just the tip of the iceberg. There is lot of unseen research and development that goes into a new product. Every step is done by hand and takes time. Often that is reflected in the price of a hand made or one of a kind heritage style piece of leather work. When you buy something from an independent leather crafter, you are not buying a factory made, mass produced item.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rpkleatherworks.com
• Instagram: @rpkellyoutdoors
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rpkellyoutdoors
• Other: Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/Rpkleatherworks

Image Credits
Sarah K Photography (all photos)