“Pyrography is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning.” That’s the Wikipedia – our new authority on just about everything in the universe and beyond – definition.
I think the key word here is “controlled,” and I tell you what, I am about to go out of control with a surprise early birthday present: a Burnmaster Eagle woodburner set by Mastercarver!
Seriously. Do not expect to find me for awhile. I will be out in my shop.
Does this make me a pyrographimaniac? Quite possibly so. I may have to start my own support group.
This thing is amazing! Primary feature: ADJUSTABLE HEAT. TWO ports for pens (other models have just one). Plus, as a bonus, 10 (TEN!) tips – an assortment of writers, skews, and shaders. (Update: I just created a Products page – so if you’re interested in some woodburning systems, I provided links.)
This does not mean I will be ditching my tried-and-true pen friend with the solid tips that screw into the base. It’s an inexpensive model, sure, but it has served me well. I purchased it at a Rockler Woodworking and Hardware store in Seattle for around $30. All my wolf gourds were done with just two tips on this little number, and I learned to control the heat by moving quickly, blowing on it, touching lightly, or all of the above. It will still have lots of handy applications (for example, it comes with an Exacto knife blade and some embossing tips, along with its basic writer and shading tips. The knife blade is handy for cutting and sealing nylon fabrics, like for making kites).
But I also think this new machine is going to help me take my art to a different level.
Sue Walters has a book out, “Pyrography Workbook,” which has helped me tremendously in various tips on improving my woodburning techniques. I have also found a lot of information online.
True confession here: looking at these people’s work is both inspirational and intimidating. These are real artists.
I will be the first to admit I am just a beginner in all this. That’s why I am always showing off my gourds – it’s like, wow – I actually did something here and I like it! I loved the precision of it – the intensity of it – I loved how the personality of the wolves came out in them as I went. I drew them freehand on the gourd and just started going for it. (See more in my ETSY shop!)
No – they weren’t the first thing I’ve ever done, but each project is kind of a first in its own way. It is fun to push your capabilities just a little bit over the edge – to where you realize, shoot, “I could screw this whole thing up at any moment with a slip of the pen” – or “if I don’t get the proportions right on this nose, he’s going to look very pig-like.” I get in my own way a lot.
But you know what I finally told myself? It’s OK to be an amateur. Quit listening to the inner critic that tells you everyone is going to be struggling to stifle laughter until drinks are spewing out their noses!
In other words – quit taking yourself so dang seriously. Focus on having a good time, already.
And what I found was, yes, it IS fun to see yourself improve. And it is definitely fun to see something in your mind take shape, and quite often, as in writing, something much deeper reveal itself in the process.
So – as recommended by Sue Walters, the first thing I did was grab a scrap piece of pine and draw out a grid of 40 squares. Then I started playing with the pens – four squares for each – and labeled the rows according to which tip I used.
Through this process, I became less intimidated by the tool and more adventurous with experimenting with what each tip could do. What was kinda cool through this, was that I could see how other things that I’ve done work into the woodburning techniques. For instance, I’ve done a fair amount of woodcarving, and you find that you can create a 3D effect by burning deeper into the wood. These tips can get very hot – they melt into the wood faster than I would have expected! Textures become as simple as repeated touching the tip to the surface. The skews are like knives – and they definitely cut into the wood. One texture piece, for example, created with the 1/8″ round heel tip, started looking a lot like a pine cone. I experimented with different ways of creating light, shadows, movement, random designs and textures. Flowers, trees, waves, hair, reflections all started to take shape. Sometimes it’s the part you burn that makes the design; sometimes it’s the part you don’t that stands out the most. Sometimes it’s how you see the negative.
I am going to have a lot of fun with this thing. Housework was never one of my top priorities anyway. The garden is asleep. Laundry will always be there. Children? Husband? They can fend for themselves.
There’s no stopping me now! ha!
