ʻThe Oak Lairʼ brings northwoods flair to woodworking

Cullen Bright’s work draws from fantasy and real life places and activities.

By Kevin O'Brien – The Tribune-Phonograph

After years as a graphic designer, Cullen Bright started to wonder what his images and logos would look like as three-dimensional objects rather than lines on a computer screen.

Branching out beyond the digital and print world, Bright found woodworking to be his preferred method of projecting his artistic ideas into the physical realm.

Two years ago, the Chippewa Falls resident started The Oak Lair, a custom wood crafting business that offers everything from wall art and trail signs to magnets and ornaments.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m a skilled woodworker,” he admits. “I could maybe build something basic.”

Bright’s skill is translating complex designs into tangible objects, using a laser cutter to etch out images such as northwoods landscapes and symbols you might see on a trail sign.

Originally from Iowa, Bright earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of Northern Iowa. Following graduation, he went to work in the printing industry, a career which he continues as an employee at Great Northern Corporation, which makes cardboard packaging.

Bright met his wife in college and they eventually settled in Chippewa Falls, close to her hometown of Eau Claire. The natural surroundings of the area provide a steady stream of inspiration for him as an artist.

“As you look farther into the distance, you see the different layers of landscape, whether it would be a certain type of tree, or hills or whatever,” he said. “I just thought that would be a fun thing to try to emulate with layers of wood.”

In an area where a lot of people like to decorate their homes and cabins with outdoorsy art, Bright also saw the commercial potential of his creations. He attends about three craft fairs every year, but most of his sales come through personal connections he makes.

Before he could start making his pieces, however, he had to invest about $5,000 in a laser woodcutter. The decision to invest that much money was made easier by the fact that he had experience with the software he needed to use, along with a work space attached to his garage and some free time to spare.

“It was kind of a leap of faith, for sure,” he said.

That leap has landed him a spot where he’s now thinking about buying a second laser cutter. By reaching out to bars and other businesses that cater to tourists, Bright has gotten larger orders for items such as decorated magnets and cribbage boards.

“It would be nice to be running two machines at once, to maximize that time,” he said.

To procure the wood he needs, Bright originally started off buying scrap pieces from a local cabinet-making company. When it went out of business, he was able to purchase a large stock of leftover materials. He uses medium density fiberboard (MDF), which comes in a variety of veneers, including hickory, maple and cherry.

“You can choose how you want to mix and match those and which ones work better for which projects,” he said. “Generally, I use a quarter-inch MDF board.”

Project ideas come to him from a variety of sources. A friend of his has a family cabin on the Mondeaux Flowage in Taylor County, and that led him to connect with the owner of the Mondeaux Dam Lodge, which now sells his cribbage boards shaped like the flowage.

Bright said the outline of the flowage is a good fit for a cribbage board, so he just decided to make one and give it to the lodge owner as a gift. The owner ordered five more right away, and others started contacting Bright about the highly localized game accessory.

“That’s the type of thing I like to do, is just sort of plant the seeds, scatter some seeds and see what happens,” he said.

Just recently, Bright got some of his magnets into the gift shop at the famous Leinenkugels Brewery in Chippewa Falls, which he called a “big win” due to the amount of people coming through there. He’s also provided items for the Chippewa Area History Museum.

One of his first customers was Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa, near where he grew up, which sells his magnets as low-cost souvenirs for tourists.

Another line of products he makes are decorative trail signs, which incorporate symbols used by the National Parks Service. For those who enjoy activities like hiking, canoeing or camping, the six-by-six inch signs provide a wordless way to celebrate their hobbies inside their homes.

“They’re kind of whimsical too,” he said. “The little figures are almost like Lego people or something. They’re just kind of fun.”

Bright said his creations usually just “start with a conversation,” and he eventually provides a rendering to a customer to show them what is achievable with his wood-cutting technology.

Some of his ideas come directly from his experiences in the outdoors. Years ago, he and a friend were out fishing in a canoe when they stopped and pulled the craft onto the shore. The position of the canoe – partially protruding into the water and perfectly framed by trees on all sides – inspired him to take a photo of the scene.

Years later, that image ended up on a piece of his wall art shaped like the state of Wisconsin. He has etched similar images inside the shape of a northwoods fish. Both of these items are among his most popular.

As advice for those thinking about turning a hobby into a business like his, Bright said “Be prepared to take on some technical challenges.”

“You want to know what you’re up against,” he said. “In this particular case, you’re dealing with a laser beam, so it can carry some hazards. You have to know how to maintain the machine. It has to be in pretty much perfect alignment all of the time. The lenses and mirrors have to be cleaned all of the time, the exhaust has to be working properly. There’s a chiller that keeps the laser tube at a certain temperature.”

Anyone interested in ordering Bright’s work, or providing him with an idea for a project, can contact him through his website, theoaklair.com.

[caption id="attachment_188201" align="alignnone" width="240"] The Oak Lair offers a wide variety of pre-set as well as custom designs.[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="197"] Cullen Bright of Chippewa Falls, started The Oak Lair, a custom wood crafting business that offers everything from wall art and trail signs to magnets and ornaments.[/caption]