Woodburning
Woodburning, also known as pyrography, is an intricate art form that involves using heated metal tools to etch designs, words, and symbols onto wood. The term “pyrography” comes from the Greek words for fire and writing, and the technique has historical roots across various cultures, including ancient practices in Africa, Greece, and Rome. Over the centuries, woodburning has evolved into a recognized folk art, with significant advancements in tools and methods, particularly in Europe during the 1500s.
Modern artists utilize electrically heated pens that offer adjustable temperature settings for greater versatility in their work. Techniques in pyrography can involve sketching designs onto wood, transferring patterns using carbon paper, and manipulating heat to create varying line thickness and shades. The choice of wood greatly influences the final artwork, as different types exhibit unique grain patterns that can enhance the designs. While many woodburners pursue this craft as a hobby, some turn it into a profession, selling their creations through various outlets. Overall, woodburning continues to captivate artists and enthusiasts alike, blending tradition with contemporary practices.
Subject Terms
Woodburning
Woodburning is an art form in which heated metal is used to burn words, pictures, and other symbols into wood. It is also called pyrography, which is derived from the Greek words "pur," meaning "fire," and "graphos," or "writing." (Pyrography can also refer to the use of similar techniques on non-wood materials, such as leather or gourds.) Archaeologists have found evidence to suggest that pyrography was popular in some African cultures, including in ancient Egypt. Archaeological evidence also suggests that pyrography was used to decorate wooden furniture and other objects in ancient Greece and Rome.
Woodburning evolved as a folk art in many areas of the world. By the 1500s, pyrography was considered a serious art form in parts of Europe, and increased interest led to the development of new tools and techniques. In England, for example, woodburning artists, known as pyrographers, developed special ovens into which they would insert a variety of metal pokers. By using different pokers with different sized tips, pyrographers could create detailed designs. European artisans were also the first to use stains and paint to create woodburning art in different colors.
In the nineteenth century, woodburning artists developed a new pyrographic iron using a hollowed metal "pencil" through which benzoline gas was pumped. This kept the tip hot enough to burn into the wooden surface. The benzoline torch could also be used with wood dyes to create colored burning effects. In the twentieth century, engineers devised a way of using electrical currents to heat the tips of a burning iron. However, the primary disadvantage to early electric burning pens was that, unlike pokers inserted into a fire that could be cooled by exposure to the air, the pens held a constant temperature.
Advances in electrical engineering soon followed, and engineers devised burning irons with adjustable heat levels, allowing artists to burn lines of varying intensity. Most modern woodburning irons feature adjustable heat settings, allowing for more carving versatility. Modern pyrographers also use a variation on the electric irons developed in the early twentieth century. Some irons feature detachable and interchangeable points, which allows artists to switch from sharp points, used to create fine lines, to wider irons, used for shading.
Techniques
Pyrography is similar to drawing or sketching and those with similar skill sets will generally have an easier time learning woodburning. Many pyrographers choose to sketch their designs onto the wood before they begin burning, while others prefer using a freehand approach with the burning pen, rather than relying on an earlier sketch.
Transferring Patterns: Many pyrographers sketch a design, and then transfer that design to the wood before they begin burning. This is often done using carbon paper. This is accomplished by laying a sheet of carbon paper on the wooden surface, and then tracing the design over the carbon paper. When the carbon paper is lifted, the design remains on the wood.
Adjusting Heat: With experience, pyrographers learn to adjust the heat of their burning pens to produce lines of different thickness and intensity—the hotter the burning pen, the darker and deeper the lines it will make in the wood. Experienced pyrographers can also use different heat levels to create a range of shades, from light tans and browns to black.
Using Wood Grains: Depending on the type of wood, the area used for burning may contain grain patterns, ranging from lines of different colors to arcs and circles. Pyrographers often try to incorporate these grain patterns into their designs. For example, curved lines can become hills or mountains in a landscape piece, while jagged lines can add texture to a wildlife portrait. While grains can prove to be challenging, they also provide a source of inspiration, especially for those working on freehand projects.
Shading: To create shading, many pyrographers use special tools that provide a larger burning surface than the points of the typical burning pen. These shading tools can be used to burn evenly across a larger area. Many pyrographers also recommend burning lightly at first, then progressively darkening areas for effective shading.
Trends
Exotic imported woods are becoming increasingly popular in woodburning; in some cases, imported woods are more inexpensive than native woods because of availability. Each type of wood responds to the burning pen in a unique way. By using exotic woods, artists may find that they must also vary their burning techniques to achieve the desired result.
Many pyrographers today do most of their shopping online, purchasing wood and other supplies from a variety of vendors. Online vendors sell a variety of woods, from domestic woods common for woodburning to a variety of exotic woods from Asia, Africa, and South America. Online vending has also allowed small companies that manufacture or sell high quality burning pens to distribute their products to a larger audience.
Woodburning for Fun vs. Profit
While most pyrographers are hobbyists, many artists sell their woodburning through specialty stores and home décor retailers or online. While experienced pyrographers may make a living creating and selling custom and original woodburning projects, for beginners, the time spent completing a project will make it difficult to achieve a significant profit.
Quality wood-burning art can sell for thousands of dollars, though smaller works or those by less well-known craftspeople will generally sell for less than $100. Those interested in pyrography as a career are advised to seek professional art education or woodworking training and to invest time in learning how to draw and sketch before attempting to translate these skills into pyrography.
Learning More
Associations
E-Museum of Pyrographic Art <http://pyromuse.org/>
Woodworking Network <https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/>
Books
Boyer, Robert. The Amazing Art of Pyrography. Evanston, Ill: Evanston Pub, 1993.
Chapman, Al. Learning the Art of Pyrography. New York: Schiffer Publishing, 1999.
Irish, Lora S. Great Book of Woodburning: Pyrography Techniques, Patterns & Projects for all Skill Levels. East Petersburg, PA: Fox Chapel Publishing, 2006.
Poole, Stephen. The Complete Pyrography. New York: Sterling Press, 1996.
Veasey, William. Burning and Texturing Methods. New York: Schiffer Publishing, 1984.
Walters, Sue. Pyrography Workbook: A Complete Guide to the Art of Woodburning. East Petersburg, PA: Fox Chapel Publishing, 2005.
Waters, Sue. Basic Woodburning. New York: Schiffer Publishing, 1994.
Wright, Daniel. Introduction to Pyrography: The Art of Woodburning. Petaluma, CA: Search Press, 2003.