
About
Court O'Reilly is a renowned pyrography artist and author from Ontario, Canada best known for her bold and intricate original pyrography artwork that she creates and shares across social media as Hippie North.

HOW IT STARTED...
My Story
I bought a locally crafted cherry wood canoe paddle to gift to my dad and I wanted to have two initials engraved into it. After a quick search on the internet I learned I can burn the initials myself. So, one woodburning tool and two initials later I accomplished my first woodburning project. I was hooked.
At this time in my life I was completing my undergrad in Bio-Medical Sciences and would find myself painting in between my classes. I loved the creative freedom when making art so whenever I got the chance to pick up a paintbrush I would. That is until I tried woodburning and fell in love with the slow pace and smell of campfire while creating whatever my imagination dreamt up.
Canvas and bristles were traded for wood and metal. I sought local connections to woodworkers who could create the wood blanks I envisioned for my art. Growing my pyrography skills alongside these talented woodworkers allowed me to become an expert in not only pyrography but also wood species and utilising woodworking tools to create my own wood blanks. The rest is history

HOW IT'S GOING...
My Services
I am currently based in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada where I create my pyrography artwork and sell to collectors globally. With nature being my biggest source of inspiration, earthy elements are integral to my pyrography pieces. I generously include textures by deeply carving and etching realistic details of nature into my work.
I specialize in realistic animal and people portraits as well as architectural designs and natural landscapes. Each year I focus on creating unique and nature-focused original pieces that are available to purchase in my online shop.
If you want to get started with pyrography I published a book, titled Woodburning Workshop, where I teach you foundational pyrography skills. I also offer beginner and intermediate pyrography tutorials on Youtube.
I am available for collaborations and partnerships throughout the year. I have previously worked with Sony Pictures, Blizzard Entertainment, and Def Leppard. Feel free to reach out and inquire.

How it continues...
My mission
I strive to create sustainable, unique, and high quality works of pyrography.
My art remains eco-friendly by working only on fallen or sustainably sourced air or kiln-dried local wood slabs. I use non-toxic wood finishes to seal the wood to keep the art safe for your home and the environment.
Each wood slab is inspected and considerately selected to ensure the highest integrity and quality of wood.
I intentionally choose wood with unique grain patterns and character to enhance the pyrography artwork. All artworks are original designs hand-burned by me.
Feel free to browse my gallery page or my social media @hippienorth where I post my current artworks.