FEATURED ARTIST
NORTH STAR PYROGRAPHY – JENNIFER LABERGE
With a degree in web and graphic design under her belt where she often worked with graphite or created cartoons , Jennifer Laberge found a passion for her current medium after purchasing a wood burner in Arkansas while visiting family . She taught herself how to manipulate wood with the instrument and learned the many intricacies of different wood types - hardwood , softwoods , grain , figuring , heartwood and even the sapwood can all burn differently and can affect the outcome of the design . A cheap skateboard served as an early canvas ; she later moved on to clocks and has also worked with paper and leather . She has tried over 40 different varieties and now favours maple , basswood , poplar , and cherry .
Carefully incorporating natural features like knots and using a variety of pen tips and heat controls , she freehands original designs onto the wood . Her work often features fantasy themes including gnomes and dragons , wildlife and pets , cars , and mandalas . She usually relies on the unique colours of the burned wood but sometimes includes watercolour paint or pencil accents .
Raised in a military family with an American father , Laberge has lived all over the USA including Massachusetts
and Tacoma , Washington . She returned to her birthplace of Sparwood around 10 years ago after getting married and having her first daughter , having lived for a while in Cranbrook .
Many customers find the artist through her Instagram page where she has over 25,000 followers , she also shares her home-based practice through other social media channels and at local craft fairs . She accepts commissions – often for pet portraits – booking around 3-6 months out and shipping worldwide . A stay-at-home-mom to 2 little girls , she enjoys reading , gardening and camping in her spare time .
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