About Us
Workshop
visits are available by appointment.
Dirk
Leach Rustic Arts is located on the Saco
River in the village of Bar Mills, in the
town of Buxton, York County, Maine. My workshop
is situated about 20 minutes southwest of
the fine City of Portland, and 20 minutes
due northwest from the Saco Exit (36) off
the Maine Turnpike.
I have been working
with maple sticks since 1992. Sometimes
a book can change your life. "Making Rustic Furniture" by
Daniel Mack started me down this long,
twisted road of making functional objects
with materials harvested directly from
the forest. This Woods Work is central
to rustic artistry. I don’t need
to cut down the rain forests. I thin my
neighbor’s woodlot and pay him
for the privilege! In keeping with the
rustic tradition, I stay local. In the
late fall and winter, I tramp the Maine
woods looking to harvest furniture parts.
Sugar maple saplings make strong chair
frames. Red Oak, White Ash, Yellow Birch
and Hornbeam yield beautifully grained
and colored seat slats. Gray Birch and
Pin Cherry, considered junk trees, can
be turned into delightful rustic accents. |
Harvesting Furniture Parts! |
For me, it is the Shop Work that
really puts the buzz in rustic artistry. I
draw inspiration from the simple, functional
forms of Shaker design. A hastily prepared
sketch translates that idea into a sticky hybrid.
Each project begins a new adventure. And, while
I may have built similar pieces before, no
two are exactly alike. Because there are no
square edges or straight lines in rustic artistry,
it means every rung, post, arm and slat must
be “coaxed” into fitting with its’ mate.
The whole process is fraught with what designer,
David Pye, once referred to as the “craftsmanship
of risk”. Over the years, trial and error
have truly been my greatest teachers. Rustic
Artistry is always on the extreme edge of woodworking.
Traditional woodworkers tend to dismiss us.
I like that.
A
Full Load
|
At
this time I am offering several limited-production
designs. They are only limited by the
number of years I am still able to walk
on this earth. I also make a number of
one-of-a-kind pieces that I place in
galleries or display at shows. Every
object I produce is signed and dated
so that future generations may come to
know something of the value of hand craft. |
Lead
time on furniture orders tends to be
around 4 to 6 weeks; longer in the
summer months and shorter in the winter.
The process begins when you contact
me.
I
will look at your requirements and
get back to you with a quote and
projected delivery date. I do not take
a deposit and will only accept payment
upon your complete satisfaction. Every piece
I build is guaranteed for life.
No small print. No legalese. My word
is my bond. |
Rustic Arts' Home |
