Painting with Wood: A Tribute to John Angus Eifler

“They say a great teacher stays with you forever. Thirty years ago, I walked into a small workshop in Louisville, Colorado, and met John Angus Eifler. He didn’t just teach me the art of marquetry; he taught me how to see the ‘masterpiece’ in everything I create. Here is a tribute to a true Renaissance man, a mentor, and a friend.”

When I was in my mid-twenties, I was searching for a way to bridge my love for wood with my desire to paint. That search led me to marquetry—the art of “painting with wood”—and more importantly, it led me to John Angus Eifler.

Almost thirty years later, I find myself looking back on those weekends in Louisville, Colorado, wanting to honor the man who shared so much of his heart with his students. John wasn’t just a teacher; he was a romantic, a thinker, and a true Renaissance man.

The Heart of the Workshop

About twice a month, I would drive down to John’s marquetry workshop. At the time, John was retired and living on a rural property in Lafayette, Colorado. He had lost his wife years earlier, and we would often talk openly about his search for a new partner. He was a man deeply at home with who he was and possessed a rare capacity for self-reflection. He was the kind of person who, instead of following the crowd on a lunch break, would take a quiet walk or write poetry. He eventually shared some of his prose and poetry with me, and the depth of his spirit shone through every line.

John discovered marquetry later in life, and it became his primary creative outlet. His own work was flawless; his artistic designs (many of which were landscapes) didn’t just look like pictures; they felt like home.

A Spirit of Generosity

John’s approach to teaching was defined by pure generosity. He never charged for his classes. He provided the materials, the wood, the patterns, the textbook, and even the donuts. He hand-built custom saws for his students and made custom picture frames for us, free of charge.

But his greatest gift was his encouragement. John called every single piece a student created a “masterpiece,” and he truly meant it. Whether it was a student’s very first attempt filled with mistakes or a complex design, he saw the act of creation as one of the most sacred human experiences. He didn’t just teach us how to cut wood; he instilled in us the importance of creating with our hands. Through him, I finally recognized the artist and craftsman within myself.

Memories of Lafayette, Colorado

I remember visiting his home to pick up a project once. He showed me his workshop and his wood collection, encouraging me to take pieces home for my own use. I can still taste the “killer” grilled cheese sandwich he made me in a cast-iron pan that afternoon. It was a simple gesture, but like everything John did, it was filled with warmth.

Later in his life, when John handed the workshop over, I visited him one last time to give him a gift of gratitude: a large marquetry picture I had made specifically for him. He was deeply moved, telling me he would ensure it was passed down in his will. I wrote on the back: “To John, the best teacher a student could ever hope for.” I don’t know where that picture is today, but the memory of his surprise and joy still fills my heart.

A Lasting Influence

We used to spend our class time bantering about technique—the “saw vs. knife” debate—but the tool didn’t really matter. What mattered was the community John built and the love he poured into it.

If I could rewind the clock thirty years, I would go straight back to that workshop just to spend a few more hours in his company. John Angus Eifler always brought out the best in himself, and in doing so, he brought out the artist in all of us. His influence on me has truly stood the test of time; even after thirty years, I still value creating things with my hands as something sacred and special. That gift is his true legacy.