FIRST STEPS IN PYROGRAPHY OR FIRE ART
To produce a good piece of pyrography you really need to have the capacity to use your powers of observation.
Observation is a skill in itself that comes from learning the art of concentration and being able to observe and replicate information accurately.
So take the time to truly look at the image that you want to use in your design. Carefully study the light and darks in the picture and the areas of grey to help you determine what kind of shading is required and pay particular attention to pattern.
Practise on a piece of spare wood the kind of marks you may use, trying different nibs/points to create the effects that you want. After putting in some concentrated effort you will realise that the lightness of your touch upon your pyrography tool and the length of time you hold the point upon the wood will determine the colour of wood burn.
Remember to go easy on yourself if your first piece of work does not meet your own exacting standards.
When you buy an item of quality, it will not have been be produced quickly but clearly will have been produced by someone with great expertise.This hard earned experience comes from a history of applied thought and also from continued patience and experimentation.
Don't be put off by this because pyrography is a skill that with some practise your knowledge of wood and also pyrography equipment (in particular nib/points that you use), will quickly become second nature. You will also remember the strength of touch required on the types of wood you have chosen and how to create levels of shading.
I have to admit that I have always enjoyed drawing and I guess I’m okay at it. Pastels pictures that I have created are just one step onwards from pencil drawing but I usually end up making a mess of my watercolours because I don’t know when to stop adding colour, I just can’t judge when to leave the picture alone.
So pyrography has given me the opportunity to express my art with an easier kind of progression.
First of all by burning sepia tones and then later on I have learned to add different forms of colour (watercolours, inks etc), sparingly at first, one simple shade a time. Eventually I learned how to allow artists colours to enhance my pyrographic work.
My first attempt of pyrography was a simplistic etching of the face of my cat whilst he was asleep. I drew a basic outline of the shape of his face and used a selection of different nibs to create his eyes/nose/mouth and the pattern of his fur. I was really impressed that I had been able to create his image quite easily and his face looked reasonably good, giving me the confidence to try more difficult projects.
One of the good aspects of pyrography and wood burning is the ease by which you can create a simple design and it can be made to look very professional once you have learned how to add colour and to finish off your piece of wood with a laquer or varnish.
Enjoy yourself experimenting with shading, pattern and getting used to different nibs to make a your first pyrographic marks upon wood!
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