Art With Purpose: Why I Spent Hours Creating a Piece… Just to Give It Away
Would you spend hours creating a piece of art only to give it away?
Well—I did. And I’d do it again.
This latest stained glass illusion piece, made entirely from laser-cut and hand-stained plywood, is headed to a silent auction for the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. They’re hosting a fundraising event this July, and when I heard about it, I knew I wanted to contribute. Even though I’m just one person working out of a small, dusty workshop, I believe that sometimes art can be about more than just the process—it can be about purpose.
A Cause Worth Supporting
The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre supports youth in our community who are struggling with addiction. Their work is deeply challenging, emotional, and—without exaggeration—life-saving. I’ve donated to them before, and when I heard they were planning another event, I didn’t hesitate.
While I may not have the reach of a large organization, I can create something that’s meaningful. And this time, I decided to make a golf-themed piece, in the spirit of the event itself. I hoped that by tying the artwork to the theme, it might attract more attention—and more value—for the silent auction.
Breaking Down the Process
Creating this piece took many, many hours. There are hundreds of small plywood segments, each cut, stained, and placed individually. Here’s a quick breakdown of the five-step process I followed:
1. Design & Concept
Because I’m still learning this technique, I’m not yet sketching everything by hand. I started with royalty-free images from Canva that captured the visual idea I had in mind—a classic golf course scene with trees, water, fairways, and greens.
From there, I used a combination of AI image tools to give it that stained glass look. Each program did part of the job, and I ended up jumping between three different platforms just to get the image to a point I could work with.
2. Editing in Lightburn
Once I had the final AI image, I brought it into Lightburn, where I cleaned up all the lines and adjusted the nodes to get everything laser-ready. Honestly, this is where half the time is spent—it’s detailed, sometimes tedious, but totally worth it.
3. Laser Cutting
This step is the easiest (thanks to the tech). I load the plywood into the laser, hit start, and let it go to work. That said, it still takes about 2 hours to cut, and I need to stay in the shop during the whole process—usually catching up on emails or tidying up.
4. Staining the Pieces
Once cut, each piece is hand-stained individually. I use a mix of wood stains and tints to create layered effects, mix custom colors, and add subtle shading. This part really brings the image to life. It’s time-consuming, but it’s also my favorite part of the process.
5. Assembly & Finishing
Finally, I glue each piece onto the backing, coat the whole piece in a clear gloss, and build a frame to finish it off. The result is something that looks and feels like stained glass, but made entirely of wood.
Giving With Intention
This won’t be the last piece I donate to the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre—if they continue hosting events and want my work, I’ll be there. And I’m also open to contributing to other causes.
If you're connected with a charity or foundation in the Ottawa area (or even just have an idea), feel free to reach out. I can’t commit to everything, of course, but I do try to help where I can. Leave a comment or message me if you’d like to talk about a future donation.
What About You?
Have you ever created something and donated it? If so, I’d love to hear your story—what you made, where it went, and how it felt to give it away. Leave a comment below, and if you’re open to it, I’d love to share your story in a future video or blog post.
And if you’ve never done it before, maybe this will inspire you to try. Pick a cause that matters to you, make something with care, and see what happens when you give it away.
Thanks for following along and supporting art with a purpose. More videos and builds are on the way—so stay tuned.
— Paul
Dusty Workbench