Artist Bio

Rick Madden was born in Boise Idaho in 1955 and served in the Navy in 1973-1977 and after being honorably discharged did Research and Development work in Aerospace Industry in San Diego. Rick always loved the outdoors and nature and being avid snowboarder and Specialty Refinisher moved his family and business to Tahoe in 1994. After serving the people of South Lake Tahoe for over 30 years and having always wanted to make his living as an artist Rick tried many different pursuits in search of his perfect medium. Utube provided that opportunity and Rick dove head first in the Lichtenburg or Fractal burning in 2019 building his own burn system and spending the next three months learning and practicing to burn safely. Fractal burning was discovered in 1777 by George Lichtenburg and German professor of physics and carries his name today. It involves the use of high voltage electricity and creates one of kind fractals in wood and is absolutely fascinating but extremely dangerous. Rick built his burn system to be portable not knowing the direction he wanted to go and finally settled on making one of a kind fractal burned Lazy Susans and has grown to several items he makes and shares "with others. Due to the fact that electricity never follows the same path twice Rick loves to make pieces that someone can own knowing it can never be duplicated. Rick loves to take existing furniture and customize it and has since done several repurposed pieces and commission art as well. Rick loves Lake Tahoe and much of his art incorporates the Lake design using epoxy and was even granted a copyright on one of his designs "Reflection" which he is extremely grateful for.