Randy is a self-taught artist. His earlier career began in a glass shop where for ten years he worked to become a master glazier. In his spare time he pursued his love for woodworking. Growing tired of the everyday grind and feeling very passionate about the possibilities of woodworking, he struck out on his own in 1988 and started Knapp Studios. Band saw wood boxes were the first to show up in galleries on the west coast. But it did not take long for Randy to come across kaleidoscopes. Kaleidoscopes are a natural fit for him because they are multimedia and combine many different skills. Glass cutting and woodturning, two of his favorites combined well. Since 1988 he has honed his skills and learned many new ones. Randy’s interest in ornamental turning was sparked in the mid 1990 after him and his wife, Shelley, collaborated with an ornamental turner. Because Ornamental turning dates back to the 1700’s the machines are extremely rare and sought after as collectable antiques. Not being able to purchase an antique machine Randy built his own using modern materials in 2004. This has opened up a completely new avenue for Randy not just in kaleidoscopes but in woodturning in general.

 Shelley Knapp is a self taught artist with a love for color. Her first artistic exposure to color was though quilting in the early 1980’s. Not realizing it at the time but by making very colorful scrappy quilts, she learned how to read color and developed a natural feel for it. Thru the 1980’s her energies turned to raising their 2 sons. In 1990 she joined Randy, her husband in making kaleidoscopes. She immediately found that love for color again by creating the images for their kaleidoscopes with hand lamped worked glass. Living on the beautiful Oregon Coast now she finds inspiration in the natural beauty that surrounds her. Her passion for colors is evident in the stunning look of the images found in their kaleidoscopes.

 The results of Randy and Shelley Knapp’s team work are well documented in several major kaleidoscope collections in the United States and Japan as well as many books and magazines. Their love for their art and working with their hands is evident in the things they make.