Ron Layport spent 40 years in the advertising business in Pittsburgh. As head of his own company, his days were long and packed with pressure. When he finally got home, he would head for his woodshop–a place of peace and focus, he says–and work there well into the night.
For many years Layport was absorbed with furniture making. In 1991, his handsome open hutch was on the cover of Fine Woodworking issue #89. Soon afterward, wanting to make round legs for tables, he took a weekend turning workshop. The tutorial, as it happened, was with David Ellsworth, the highly-regarded vessel turner. Layport turned a bowl that weekend, bought himself a lathe, and never looked back. His late-night focus shifted for good from furniture making to vessel turning.
In 2000, he sold his advertising business and became a full-time woodturner. Working purely by trial and error, he began carving his turned vessels, using repeating animal imagery and radical through-carving to develop the distinctive style that characterizes his work today. This audio slideshow presents dozens of Layport’s pieces and features his descriptions of the process he uses and the path he’s taken in the field.
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Comments
Beautiful stuff!
JUST --- WOW ---
This takes one to another place where all woodworkers have a desire to reside. Call it WW Heaven or Nirvana.... makes no difference. The expression of ones heart comes through in his work.
Thank you for sharing.
JUST --- WOW ---
Every time I think I have an idea first, there is always someone who has gone there before me. How humbling to see this work of a lifetime. Simple and Beautiful. Yet think of all the time he spent before even coming to think of turning this way.
His discipline, supported by his native talent, enhanced by his skill,and most importantly of all, fueled by his heart, are all driving us to simply say "WOW!"
He is not talking in words and words do not do his thoughts, as expressed by his works, any justice.
I live about 35 miles north of him and work with wood, but he is leagues away and on a different plane.
If I were a tree and knew I'd end up as one of his works, I'd die with a sigh and a smile in my old bark. :-).
Unique style, unique idea. Thank you for sharing your ART with us.
The aesthetic is unparalleled. Well done.
These are among the most beautiful wooden artifacts I have ever seen. They represent wonderful, impressive, and inspiring work.
I am humbled by the artistry and skill displayed in these objects.
Thanks for sharing the video.
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