Sculptor builds practical works of art
There is rarely a project he shies away from, but the majority of his recent work has been trellises and arbours for local homeowners over the past three years.
In his home workshop, Boyle is in the midst of creating a baby grand piano case for a Roncesvalles Village musician, who wants it to disguise his synthesizer - he wants it to appear like he's playing the piano.
"I really must go see him play," Boyle mused Wednesday during a tour of his shop and subsequent visit to two of his finished projects, one of them in Baby Point Village, the other on Indian Road Crescent.
"People say, 'think outside the box.' I think, 'what box?'" Boyle said en route.
Although carpentry has been a hobby most of his life - starting at the age of five he built tree forts - Boyle said he fell into it as a profession when other pursuits didn't pan out. He used to be a software guy working for Internet start-up companies. When he said he was "kicked out of the industry," his girlfriend said 'Why don't you do some renovations on the house?'
That house boasts a porch with built-in benches, spiral stairs and planter boxes. A Japanese style arbour is the entrance to the backyard.
He can also take credit for designing and building the interior of a friend's health food store. That project jump-started his carpentry-turned-art career. One of his latest pieces is a trellis for a Baby Point neighbourhood homeowner.
"She thinks it's too beautiful; she doesn't want to put plants in front of it," he said.
He designed it first in 3-D on the computer, the entire project taking just two weeks.
"I wanted to sneak in lots of extra detail," he said pointing out the harp-shape design in the centre.
Every project, he said, is a challenge. That's the way he likes it: Artistic and one-of-a-kind.
"You walk around Toronto and it's hard to find even a little something that's out of the ordinary. I don't know anyone else who does this," he said.
Boyle is Canadian so why shouldn't his carpentry have a uniquely Canadian style?
"It's always great to get a client who says 'just go for it,'" said Boyle.
It's rare though.
"I have a big pile of 3-D designs on my computer of things that have never gotten built," he said. "Somewhere out there, there's a client who's looking for an artist."
