The art of burning on wood, leather and paper.

Also Talks and Demonstrations given.

Commissions taken.

GALLERY

EVENTS

INSTRUCTION

Links

Pyrography means "writing with fire" and is also sometimes known as pokerwork. Pyrography is the art of burning or scorching a wooden surface using a variety of methods including hot wire. The black lines that the burning of the wood makes look like 3D pencil lines.

Pyrography  is the traditional art of using a heated tip or wire to burn or scorch designs onto natural materials such as wood or leather. Burning can be done by means of a modern solid-point tool (similar to a soldering iron) or hot wire tool, or a more basic method using a metal implement heated in a fire, or even sunlight concentrated with a magnifying lens.

This allows a great range of natural tones and shades to be achieved - beautiful subtle effects can create a picture in sepia tones, or strong dark strokes can make a bold, dramatic design. Varying the type of tip used, the temperature, or the way the iron is applied to the material all create different effects. Solid-point machines offer a variety of tip shapes.  Wire-point machines allow the artist to shape the wire into a variety of configurations, to achieve broad marks or fine lines. This work is time-consuming, done entirely by hand, with each line of a complex design drawn individually. After the design is burned in, wooden objects are often coloured, sometimes boldly or more delicately tinted.

 The wood most commonly used, are the Light-coloured hardwoods such sycamore, beech and birch as their fine grain is not obtrusive, and they produce the most pleasing contrast. However, other woods, such as pine or oak, are also used when required. Pyrography is also applied to leather items, using the same hot-iron technique.