Tim Schuett, an artist originally from Ankeny but Iowa City has been his home for 15 years. He specializes in carpentry and fractal art while also being passionate about our planet. At the University of Iowa he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences with a minor in Sustainability. Though he aims to make an impact with his pieces, he maintains a very minimal ecological footprint and uses recycled materials in almost all of his projects.
He was inspired to learn this particular skill by the desire to recreate the organic fractal patterns that are found in nature such as in mountain ranges, watershed systems, lightning and in the human brain’s synaptic system. This is a dangerous process to replicate so it must be stressed not to try this at home. In order to create these pieces he uses a high voltage transformer (in excess of 2,500 volts) to run an electrical current through the wood from two opposing points. As the electrical points are drawn towards each other the electrical flow explodes in every direction trying to find the least resistant path. This explosion of energy creates the very intricate, spidering tree patterns and the deep burn grooves are the primary path of energy. Once the two points of conduction meet they ignite and create large flames out of the wood. While he is able to guide the current, he cannot fully control it which makes each and every pattern unique and beautiful.
He was inspired to learn this particular skill by the desire to recreate the organic fractal patterns that are found in nature such as in mountain ranges, watershed systems, lightning and in the human brain’s synaptic system. This is a dangerous process to replicate so it must be stressed not to try this at home. In order to create these pieces he uses a high voltage transformer (in excess of 2,500 volts) to run an electrical current through the wood from two opposing points. As the electrical points are drawn towards each other the electrical flow explodes in every direction trying to find the least resistant path. This explosion of energy creates the very intricate, spidering tree patterns and the deep burn grooves are the primary path of energy. Once the two points of conduction meet they ignite and create large flames out of the wood. While he is able to guide the current, he cannot fully control it which makes each and every pattern unique and beautiful.
Laura Todd, painter, says her greatest goal as an artist is to paint works of art that will bring joy and inspiration to others. Photographs are her main source of inspiration. She paints her own interpretation of the photograph by highlighting the contrast between the soft and bold and hyping up the color. Bright color is found in nearly all of her artwork because it simply makes her very happy. In the words of her college painting instructor, Ken, "If it were not for color I would be drawing instead of painting". Laura's joy is to share this happiness by taking what is already beautiful and honoring that beauty through the gift of art.
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