Sonny Romano

Sonny Romano is not your typical artist, and man’s does he have a story. His unique approach is mesmerizing and thought-provoking. His medium... high voltage electricity!

Inspired by the beauty of the natural world, a passion for science and experimentation, and a drive to create something truly new, Sonny has developed a unique approach to the captivating and controversial art form known as Lichtenberg woodburning.

Born and raised in SWFL, Sonny spent most of his time make many other Florida natives, taking in the outdoors, fishing, and enjoying everything Florida has to offer, as he was truly fascinated with the wildlife habitat, the ocean, and lighting.

As a lifelong musician, and maker of pretty much anything, Sonny began building guitars and doing other custom woodworking projects in 2018. Although his work was beautiful, Sonny wasn’t satisfied. With a desire for innovation, he wanted to create something new, that truly stood out and was immediately noticeable as something he made. That’s when he discovered Lichtenberg wood burning online, which is the rare and extremely dangerous practice of passing, high-voltage, electricity through wood, creating a beautiful, organic, and wild looking finish. This technique is also as deadly as it is captivating, as it required building a homemade device out of a microwave transformer, which can generate between 2000-3000V. More than the electric chair.

Immediately hooked, Sonny began working on his device, experimenting with different components and conductors until finally, he made his first burn. In no time, Sonny was applying this technique in creating guitars, furniture, pretty much anything made out of wood was getting zapped and Sonny was selling it, and had never been more fulfilled.. Shortly after his successful experiment, COVID-19 hit, abruptly, bringing his short term success to a halt.

While on lockdown, Sonny spent most of his time researching his newly developed craft, comparing his work to other practitioners, and decided that he could take it a step further, and his main focus would no longer be woodworking. He wanted to create art using electricity, and become the best in the world.

Sonny then moved into his shop and spent three years experimenting, observing how the current would act under different conditions, developing his own technology and techniques, and eventually was able to draw using the electrical current.

 To achieve this unique style, Sonny applies a conductive liquid to the wood, and applies electricity on 2 points of the wood. While charging the voltage and position of his probes, he “collaborates” with the current, creating a burn in the desired area. The result is a work of art that is always 100% original to itself, as it is completely impossible to duplicate exactly, even by him, as “lightning never strikes the same place twice”. The Lichtenberg figure is truly appealing subconsciously to everyone, as it appears all over the universe. From topographical maps of river systems, the glimmer of the sun through water, the texture on the skin of many animals, to your cardiovascular veins. And, of course, LIGHTNING.

From there began his development as an artist, where he found inspiration easily in the things that he so loved, which was the beauty of his home state, the wildlife, the ocean, rock and roll, and most of all his son Luca.

After a year of developing his new found talent, Sonny finally found the fulfillment he longed for, creating beautiful works of art, commissions rolling in, rolling in creating portraits for people, portraits of his family, cars, EVERYTHING! Things were looking up, the sky was the limit, but that sky grew dark when hurricane Ian ripped through SWFL like a smelly, relentless fart.

Sonny spent the storm at his parents house with his son. When the dust settled, Sonny went to his shop and fear the worst, but remarkably his rickety old shop held the up, his equipment, and work was safe. Without power, and without a paintbrush, Sonny spent the next few weeks lending a helping hand around the community where he could, putting his resourcefulness and ability to build/fix almost anything to good use. After a couple weeks, the power came on, and Sonny was itching to get back to zapping, which he quickly did.

Although his shop held up, there were a few leaks, there are also damaged electrical chords, which caused a fire leading to an explosion late one night while Sonny was out fishing. When Sonny was notified he sped to his shop, but it was too late, everything was ashes. All of his equipment that he designed and developed over the years, multiple guitars, and aside from 6 of his favorite pieces, all of his work was ashes.

Sonny was devastated to put it lightly, and didn’t think he had to start over, he was ready to call it quits. After coming so far and overcoming so many obstacles already, his family and friends refused to let that happen. They took to the Internet, created fundraisers, and with the loving support of artists and woodworkers around the world, and help from the community he was devoted to, he rebuilt his shop, redesigned his

equipment, and came back stronger than ever. in 2023 he started his company, Thunderstruck Woodworx.

When he’s not in his shop tinkering, you might find Sonny doing demonstration’s around swfl, shredding on guitar at a random dive, fishing under some bridge, or hauling ass around you on his Harley.

Born May 1976, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marvin D. Rouse first recognized his interest in

colors and was inspired by his Uncle’s quick sketch of a race car to be creative, and began

drawing at the age of five. By twelve, he is excelling in art at his school employing his skills

as a young entrepreneur selling his art on t-shirts and jean jackets. In 1995, he started his

business at eighteen-years-old, providing local Indianapolis homeowners and businesses

his artistic design services, completing everything from album covers to large scale murals, including his young clothing line, Rouse, had become a real local success.

In May of 1998, Rouse relocated from Indianapolis to Naples, FL, with a dream to further his career as an artist with an opportunity came about during spring break with his girlfriend now wife in Spring of 1998, of which they decided to move in 3 weeks from Indianapolis to Naples Fl. Upon moving, he established his business as Rouse Designs, LLC, providing the community a creative service built mostly through word of mouth. Now, 25 years later, the artist has a growing presence, and creative demand in Naples and abroad.

His art is about us, faces, emotions expressed through color, shapes and thought- provoking images to encourage feelings of happiness, joy and imagination, expressing what we all share. A gifted artist with raw talent, as it shows in his signature style mostly present in his abstract works. He is creatively prolific, sculpting concrete and being commissioned to paint everything from pets to exotic cars. In 2018, he held successful exhibitions downtown at Naples Art, dinner with the Artist, Pop-Up Gallery with UAC in Venetian Village. Group show “Three M’s Synergy” 2021 Sydney Berne Davis Art Center.

 In 2022 Rouse was invited to “BUTTER” Fine Art Fair held in his hometown Indianapolis. Inspired by the name of the Art Fair Rouse created an 8’ft. x 2’ ft. giant stick of butter opened with wrapper peeled back and standing on a 45* degrees angle.

In April 2022 Rouse moved into his new Studio * Gallery downtown Naples at 853 4 th Ave, S. 34102. 

Rouse has a real passion for the arts and community, and has supports multiple local

organizations of Collier County through his creative gifts and inspirations, they include:

Greater Naples YMCA, Child’s Path, M.S.Centers of South West FL, Special Olympics, Naples Art, Naples Zoo, C’mon Children’s Museum, Legal Aid of South West FL.