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Guest Instagram: @dani.kaes

Hello, Lightning Tamers! Percy here, and welcome to episode 63 of the Taming Lightning Podcast. Today, I’m thrilled to chat with “Dani” Kaes, a talented light artist and educator based in Seattle, Washington.

With a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Puget Sound, Dani brings a scientific lens to her neon practice. She’s also a passionate educator, deeply committed to open access to information, ensuring the neon community continues to grow and evolve, sharing her knowledge at places like Pilchuck Glass School, the Museum of Neon Art, and the Glass Art Society.

In this episode, we’ll take a lightning round of different topics—like how different gases influence the colors we see in neon art, why color theory is such a big part of the process, and nd the science behind vacuum systems and gas mixtures. We’ll also get into some of the more technical topics like getters (or whatever Dani prefers to call them), Penning mixtures, and ionization efficiency—but don’t worry, Dani has a knack for making it all easy to follow.

We’ll also hear how her scientific background has shaped her artistic approach, the questions in neon she’s still curious to explore, and—of course—we’ll talk The Boy, her energetic furball of feline who’s always by her side.

So, settle in for a great conversation with someone who’s not just making neon art but also advancing the craft with curiosity, humor, and a scientific edge.

Welcome to the podcast, Dani Kaes!

Time Stamps

• [0:28] Introduction to Dani Kays
• [4:19] Dani's Artistic Journey
• [7:01] Exploring Color Theory
• [11:06] The Science of Gases
• [16:41]Understanding O-Rings
• [19:17] Getters in Neon Production
• [22:59] The Impact of Temperature
• [26:09] Gas Mixtures and Their Effects
• [31:12] The Boy: Dani's Feline Companion
• [39:48] Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes

Music credits

• Preview - Retro by ONE

• The opening theme -Taming Lightning by Trav B. Ryan

• Credits - Walking by Ras-Hop