Cochranite Rob Petkau builds illuminated sabers for a living.
Cochranite Rob Petkau builds illuminated sabers for a living.
Originally from Airdrie, Canada's only professional illuminated saber designer started building sabers over 17 years ago as a hobby; Now as owner of Genesis Custom Sabers, Petkau works 30 - 50 hours a week building original and custom made sabers.
“I am a science-fiction artisan, ” Petkau said with a laugh.
“I remember walking into a (coffee shop) in 2009 and there was a sign that said ‘Love What You Do' and it meant to apply for that (coffee shop) and I didn't - but it got me to thinking, I wish I could make my hobby my job... and a couple years later, I did. ”
While working as a youth pastor, Petkau started building light sabers trying to replicate props.
“My father was an electrician so I dabbled and learned lots of things from him - after a few years of doing it as a hobby, I found out that people wanted to pay me to do it, so it became a self-funding hobby, ” Petkau recalled.
The then-pastor sold his first original saber for over $1,000 in 2008.
“Every time I've sold something expensive or high-end, I assume it is just a blip and that no one is going to pay that much, ” Petkau said.
Now the sci-fi artisan ships his illuminated sabers all over the world, just recently selling his most expensive custom illuminated saber last year for approximately $3,400 US. The more standard illuminated sabers typically go for around $500-$600, the artist explained. Petkau's customer base is mostly in the United States, but have recently started coming from Japan - “I'm big in Japan, ” he said with a laugh.
Every single illuminated saber made by Petkau is an unique design, and while the designer does not sell light saber replicas from the Star Wars franchise, he is admittedly a huge fan of the films - watching the most recent film, Star Wars; The Force Awakens, twice.
“I try to think, if I was a Jedi or a Sith, what would I want my saber to look like, ” Petkau explained. “The new lightsabers… I find it intriguing - and as a person who does this full time I can't help but think if I was doing that, what I would want it to look like. ”
The designer's sabers are similar to light sabers in the shape and size, and the Genesis Design sabers also illuminate and make noise through motion detection - the details of Petkau's sabers are original.
While Petkau said he has not had any “official ” recognition for his work - he does get a lot of great feedback and is currently looking into creating some prop design for with a start-up film company.
“There are lots of things I would love to do - though I'd rather spend my time and energy trying to make the most amazing thing I can - if I get noticed, great. And if not, I still love what I do, ” Petkau said.
“The whole thing that drives me is, ‘I want to hold a real light saber.' When I see people pick it up and their eyes light up… then I know I'm nailing it. When I get that type of reaction, it fuels me and keeps me on track. ”
But some of the best feedback the sci-fi artisan gets is from his two sons.
With a six-year-old and a two-year-old, Petkau laughs while he comments that, his one son thinks it is normal to have a dad who builds light sabers.
When asked if his sons think Petkau is the coolest dad in the world, he replies;
“It depends on the day you ask them. ”
Petkau will have a booth set up at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo this spring. For more information of the designer and his illuminated sabers, go to genesiscustomsabers.com
