Karen DeGuire - Laser cut wood
I am a creative force of nature. It’s the
air I breathe, the way I worship. I am
always looking for new ways to bring beauty into existence. I studied oil
painting, ceramics, photography, and theatrical costuming in college. I
dabbled in all of those things as hobbies and professionally, until I discovered a local maker space that offers all kinds of new technology. The
laser cutters presented an amazing opportunity to use materials I hadn’t
explored before, and quickly I had a new passion with endless possibilities
and abounding inspiration.
My laser-cut art consists of many layers and many steps. The design
process on the computer can take weeks for a single design. Once I decide
on a color scheme, I paint each ⅛” sheet of birch wood by hand with
water based wood dyes and metallic acrylics. I then cut them out one by
one on a 60-watt CO2 laser. When the layers are cut, I meticulously adhere
each layer together using a roller and dental tools to control the glue. I
find the precision involved in this step is very satisfying and therapeutic
for my mild OCD. The layers are pressed one at a time in a custom jig I
made with three four-way pressure clamps to insure adhesion. After all the layers are secure, I seal the piece with polyurethane and place a hanger and bumpers on the back. Every piece is one of a kind and a labor
of love.
My influences are rooted in nature, sacred geometry, and architecture.
Everywhere I go, I see a new design in the making or a shape to be created.
I believe my ability to organize shapes and colors into universally
resonant motifs is one of my greatest strengths and I enjoy sharing the
results with others.
