Leather brings out his creative instincts

Sitting in his northeast Beijing studio, Cai Honghao hammers on a piece of cow leather, bringing to life a new design. [Photo by Gao Shan/Xinhua]

Cai Honghao adds Chinese sensibility to a unique craft.

Flowers, ocean waves, animals, totems: sitting in his northeast Beijing studio, Cai Honghao hammers on a piece of cow leather, bringing to life a new design.

Cai, 41, is one of China's few leather crafters. He uses hammers and shaping tools to emboss art work on leather.

In May, he came first in the best pictures category at the World Leather Debut in the US, with the work "Spring Deer", a depiction of peach blossoms and deer. Another series titled "Unicorn" helped him win second in personal items.

"Leather crafting relaxes me and slows life down," Cai tells Xinhua.

He began crafting leather six years ago when he was the creative director of an advertising company. Fed up with the stress of his job, Cai declined to renew his contract last year.

He is now devoted to leather crafting. "It's great fun as I try new designs and make it more challenging."