Rick Madden was born in Boise Idaho in 1955 and later attended high school in a small town in Ness City Kansas. Rick joined the Navy and served for the next 4 years as a jet engine mechanic working on jets and helicopters stationed in North Island. Rick met his beloved wife Jeannie who also served in the Navy and married in 1976. Rick was discharged from the Navy in 1977 and went to work in the Research and Development department at Solar Turbines Intl. and specialized in the development of Ceramics and Coatings for the aerospace industry working on NASA and DOE projects. After leaving Solar Rick and Jeannie managed large apartment complexes and for the next 12 years running a successful management operation specializing in troubleshooting problem properties. While managing Rick started a business fixing kitchen and bathroom surfaces and learning about the properties he managed.
Rick’s love for the outdoors and the new sport of snowboarding led him to take a trip to Lake Tahoe and after three years of researching Tahoe moved his new business and family to South Lake. Rick like so many other Lake Tahoe locals shares the same story. After 2 years and purchasing a home Rick lost his love Jeannie to breast Cancer but continued to snowboard and build his business. Rick has serviced South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas for over 30 years as a Surface Repair and Refinishing specialist and has become well-known for his trade.
Rick has always wanted to pursue an art career having tried several different things like custom clawfoot bathtubs with themes and cutting them into sofas and chaise lounges but one day while watching a YouTube video Rick decided to pursue the art of Lichtenburg burning. Rick dove head first into the art of Fractal burning and spent the next 3 months building his burning center, practicing without interruption learning the art of burning safely.
Fractal or Lichtenburg figures were discovered by George Lichtenburg a German professor of Physics in 1777. This discovery led to the creation of one-of-kind fractals in wood through the use of high-voltage electricity and is absolutely fascinating. Every piece Rick creates results in its own completely unique design which is why Rick loves to create fractal art, he enjoys that no two people will ever own an identical piece of his work.
Rick is enthusiastic and looks forward to creating artwork that he can share with others
