Jeff Luke - Through time with Needle and Thread
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Today we're talking with Jeff Luke, a contemporary artist and leather worker from Ohio. Jeff specializes in making original leather pouches and accoutrements with inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries.
We talk with Jeff about his work and how he goes about his creative process and how you can get started making your own accoutrements. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk with Jeff to see and share a new side of his creative work. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I enjoyed it.
What got you into muzzleloading?
About five years ago I started to really become fascinated with "the old ways" of our forefathers, including guns. My first purchase was a used Traditions Kentucky rifle. It all kind of escalated from there I suppose and now I'm hooked.
What drew you to traditional leather work?
Having done leather work for several years, my interest in muzzleloading got me thinking about how I could transfer my enjoyment for leather with my newly discovered fascination with the history, guns and accoutrements of the 18th and early 19th century.
What eras do you create work in and what drew you to those time periods?
Most my my work is based on pieces that would have been in use in the 18th and early 19th centuries. I am still amazed at various styles and level of craftsmanship exhibited in some of the early accoutrements.
How do you balance historic recreation and flexing your own creative muscles?
While I admire the work of original craftsmen of eras past, I have never bench copied an original. Instead, most of my work is based on certain aspects and details of those that I find interesting. It seems that hunting/shooting pouches ranged from very crude, unadorned vessels to more refined and decorated "fancy" pieces. I enjoy letting my creativity flow across that range, while building pieces intended to outlive their owners. The construction techniques used are all reminiscent of those that would have been used centuries ago. Each piece is cut and sewn by hand, using linen thread, waxed by me.
Important for newcomers: You don’t do this full time, what does a day or week look like for you in your shop/workspace?
I truly love doing these things, so I try to spend as much time in the shop as I can. It's my "happy place" as it were. Monday through Friday is typically up at 3:00, brew a pot of coffee and in the shop by 4:00 for about an hour or so, then off to my real job from 6:30 to 3:00. I get home at 3:30pm and back in the shop until around 5:30. Saturday and Sunday shop time is normally 3:30 until around noon. I find the quiet morning hours allow me to focus and be most productive.
What tips do you have for aspiring leather workers?
I would encourage folks who might have an interest in trying their hand at leather accoutrements to start with a simple, flat sewn pouch. Of one or two piece design. Buy a cheap veg-tan goat hide, some linen thread, a couple of needles, an awl and jump in. That first piece may not be beautiful, but will spark a desire to either move forward, or cherish that one piece created by their own hands. If there is a desire to keep going, you can move on to more complex designs, details and construction methods. I see a lot of folks try a very complex piece as their first and get frustrated when everything doesn't come to gether as planned. Focus on solid sewing and construction and everything else will progress as you get more projects under your belt.
What Resources, books, etc do you recommend for leatherworking?
I would recommend the T.C. Albert book Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch for construction and general how to. For a historical reference to the various shapes and styles of original pouches and other accoutrements I would recommend The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch by Madison Grant.
Follow Jeff’s work on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PoBoyGear
Follow Jeff’s work on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hide.stitcher/
TC Albert’s Book on Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25445537-recreating-the-18th-century-hunting-pouch
Affordable leather tools and supplies - Tandyleather.com
