Kodama Burnings
I am a pyrographer and jeweler based in the Adirondacks. I design earrings from locally collected tree branches, highlighting each piece’s natural grain with intricate hand burnings made using a heat adjustable pyrography pen. I often incorporate watercolor, copper leaf, stones, and deer antler into my designs. I handcraft Argentium silver hooks, and burn a silhouette of the tree species the earrings are made from onto a wooden display for each pair.
I also create small functional objects such as coasters, bookmarks, ornaments, cutting boards, and vases, shaped on a bandsaw and refined on a belt sander, then finished with detailed hand burnings. I accept commissions for larger custom work, including wall hangings, portraits, and landscape burnings, which can be integrated into interior spaces such as cabinetry, doors, and furniture.
I draw inspiration from the natural world and the bonds we form within it. Moments, places and relationships I focus on become intwined with the grains of the woods life history.
Artist - Kellee Schmidt
The Process:
Gathering and Woodworking
Everything I make originates from the natural world. I collect branches from a variety of tree species within the Adirondacks. I often rely on my father’s knowledge, as well as a field guide I inherited from my Nanny (my mom’s mother) to identify the various trees.
My earrings often include additional elements such as deer antlers, feathers, and rocks I have collected from various adventures and parts of the world.
The wood and pattern of the grains often drive the idea of the design. At times I have a design in mind where I intentionally source a wood to complement my concept.
Originally, I cut the branches or antlers to their desired shape on a bandsaw located in the barn I grew up in, now my dad’s workshop. The bandsaw was refurbished by my dad and our deer neighbor Bud, an exceptional machinist.
I later purchased my own bandsaw that I now use to cut earrings as well as small pieces such as coasters, ornaments and bookmarks.
After selecting desired earring pairs, I sand them on a mini belt sander and finish by hand sanding.
The Burning Process
I complete all burnings by hand, using a heat adjustable pyrography pen. I adjust the temperature of the pen, as well as change the shape of the tips, to achieve detailed lines and delicate shading.
The process is slow and pushes me to study and understand the ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind what I am creating. Much like a tattoo, the marks I make into the wood are permanent, so the initial planning process, including pencil sketches, is essential.
Every piece of wood has different burning characters, some burn fast, others require high heat for an effective burn, some will accent the natural grains when being burned over and others will continue to burn after removing the pen. .
The Earrings
Each earring design is chosen based on the shape, size and unique grain patterns of the tree branch they were cut from. They are often inspired by our natural world and those with in it. Many earrings have specific connections to my personal life. My hopes are others will find a pair that speak to them or connect them to a moment in time or place they wish to hold with them.
I hand burn the images, each a mirror pair, with a heat adjustable pyrography pen, to achieve intricate details. At times, I include additional elements, such as watercolors or brushed on copper leaf. Some earrings I make from deer antlers or stones I have collected, and some I create by carving raw material such as wood and stone, with a handheld engraving pen. I seal each pair with a protective polyacrylic matte finish. The earring hooks and hardware I handcraft from Argentium Silver and on the rare occasion 14k gold wire. Each pair of earrings I place on a wooden display that I hand burn a silhouette image of the tree the earrings were made from.
Wall Hangings and Functional Art
I create functional pieces such as coasters, book marks, cutting boards, charcutier boards and vases . These are sourced from various pieces of woods that have come into my life, often wood my father has cut from the property I grew up on. I shape these pieces on my bandsaw and belt sander and may add additional details with an engraving tool.
I love to create larger wall hangings as well as custom interior pieces, such as cabinetry, doors, and furniture. I specialize in custom work related to the pets and animals we love, as well as, landscapes and places that have significance to us.
All of my pieces are handcrafted from start to finish. For example, book marks are made from smaller, left over pieces of wood, that I cut on my bandsaw and sand until desired thinness. All pieces are sealed based on their function, with finishes such as Danish oil, clear polyacrylic or a food grade oil.
My first memories include drawing with my mom, and building our home with my dad. I have practiced art in various medias such as painting, graphite, clay and sculpture throughout my entire educational and personal life. 10 years ago, I was gifted a simple wood burning tool from a secret Santa. My first burning was of two scuba divers and a jelly fish (influenced by our - my husband, myself and dog’s- love affair with the ocean as we just moved home from the coast of Taiwan). I was immediately drawn to pyrography. My life was busy and messy. I found I could easily plug in my burning tool just about anywhere, and my husband graciously allowed me to burn all over our camper van that we were essentially living out of in Alaska. My practice began to grow as I completed a few commissions and personal gifts.
How it Started
My husband and I were married on my families property under an apple tree that holds meaning to me on multiple magnitudes. At the time, my dad had sliced thin pieces off a branch of this tree that revealed beautiful markings, he had delicately sanded them (along with his fingers), drilled a whole for a hook and gifted me a pair of earrings. He graciously made several more, in which I hand burned a simple tree and gifted these to the women in my life that supported me then and continue to be fundamental to me now.
When I had my son 3 years ago, I found the courage to pursue my pyrography as a serious endeavor. I invested in tools and a personal work space and began to fine tune my practice.
Get to know the Artist
I am a mother to a 14 year old pit bull named Moose (beefy boy, block headed, requires blankets and tucking in, loves all things water) and a 3 year old boy (sturdy, blocky body, requires smoooshes, loves his flamingo and all things wild and free). Most nights my husband and I will be sleeping in a dog pile of four. I love adventuring and playing in the outdoors. New places, people and experiences have always drawn me in. Taitung and Alaska hold a special place in my heart, and the Adirondacks will always be my home. Good people, dogs (they are all good) and good coffee are important to my life.
I graduated Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a Bachelor’s of science in Neurobiology and minors in Environmental Studies and Fine Arts. I went on to graduate with an Advanced Master’s degree in School Psychology. These opportunities lead me to Alaska, with encounters I am sure to never forget. Maybe the bear peaking in my tent early one morning with Moose asleep at my side gave me the courage to step into a different path than career I was pursuing. Or, maybe our minds just like to connect dots and create romantic stories, either way I am content with where life has brought me.
