Keenan McCormack has been making and modifying guitars for some time, playing them and writing songs for much longer. He was once lucky enough to have master woodcarver Jimmy Joseph for a neighbour and learned a lot from “Jimmy Joe” about Indigenous artwork; the complex, fun, and challenging nature of West Coast Formline; and woodcarving. Most of all, however, McCormack found this relationship sparked his interest in drawing again.
He then went on to combine the central role guitars have played in his life for many years with this revitalized art practice. More recently, he has been focused on designs inspired by forms of symbolic identity—exploring pagan folklore, tarot, Celtic art, and the occult. He is drawn to the powerful imagery, patterns, and characters of these themes, which he applies to guitars through carving and painting techniques. He creates both original works and commissioned ideas. In 2024, his work caught the eye of Roland Orzabal of English pop-rock band Tears for Fears and the two collaborated on a custom guitar featuring knotwork and a scene depicting the horned god Cernunnos.
