12 years ago Prewitt Howie walked into the annual Prescott, AZ Leather show and discovered leather tools. Without knowing what they could do or how to use them, she bought her first elegant, slim, steel tools and they were put away for a few years before being brought out to begin the learning of them and leather. Wonderful leather artists helped her along the way and she continues to learn the art of leather tooling.

    A desert dweller for most of her life, her mind is filled with images of cactus and mountains and roadrunners; but the trees, flowers, beach and colors of her new home in the Florida Panhandle are influencing her art in a way she describes as “invigorating.” Her canvas is Hermann Oak veg tanned leather. Atop her work bench is a chipped, irregular 30” X 15” piece of granite she found out under the sun and rain at a store in Lillian, Alabama. She “paints” her designs with a swivel knife, steel tools and a mallet. The “burnish” a beveler makes when running it along a line cut with a swivel knife into a receptive piece of veg tanned leather is satisfying in a way that she describes as “delicious.” As her skill with tools increased, she knew that creating her own patterns and tooling her designs was enormously rewarding. Creating patterns for the logos of local business’ and collaborating on custom gifts became a thrilling leather challenge.

    The world had become filled with shapes, images, and ideas to capture on leather that can last a lifetime. Prewitt warms at the coupling of function and art; she sees the everyday items around us as an opportunity to fill life with art and inspiration. An empty wall is an invitation and items such as handcrafted coffee mugs, door mats, mouse pads, serving dishes, jackets, outlet covers, front doors, trash baskets, couch cushions, handbags, stepping stones, pencil holders, and TRAYS are as well. She warms when discussing the function of the trays that hold and organize the stuff of life. Something about art at the bottom of a tray that is seen and used every day is appealing like a greeting card with a special message standing on a counter. When folks around her began commissioning custom pieces, she realized that mounting a tray is an added dimension to a hungry wall.

    Now, as an artist at the historic Quayside Art Gallery, she has found a home in an environment bursting with the fine craft of talented local artists and enjoyed by the visitors who, like her, want to fill their surroundings with inspiring, handmade art.