PyroGenesis

Pyrography is ancient art of wood burning. It's Greek translation literally means, “to write with fire”. Modern techniques make the art much easier and convenient. In Colonial times, metal tips were heated over the fire and then pressed into wood. This craft was usually undertaken by young boys in their spare time. With electricity, pyrography is much quicker and easier. Wood burning pens may be purchased at any craft store for a reasonable price, but beware of “art kits”. They are made with young children in mind and do not burn very hot. Professional wood burning pens can cost hundreds of dollars and their numerous custom tips can add up to a hefty sum as well. I use a $25.00 pen with $5.00 replacement tips and it suits me just fine...for now. It burns at 900 degrees Fahrenheit and I hope to create a resistor so that I can manipulate the temperature and create different tones in my art.

Another form of Pyrography is Solar Pyrography.  While alot of teenagers who come across this fascinating concept like to cook insects with their magnifying glasses, some pyrographers like to create beautiful art with their magnifying glasses, sometimes using several different lenses to create different intesities.

Many people find Pyrography to be a very relaxing, recreational art, myself included. I was first introduced to the art when my mother bought me a kit as a Christmas gift when I was about ten years old. Afraid of the iron's heat I put the gift in the attic for several years until one day I rediscovered it and had to try it out. I decorated the four pieces of wood included in the kit (shown below) and had big aspirations.

Again, it was another year or two before I picked up the pen again. In fact, it was just last Christmas when my mom bought me a photo frame and wood plaque. I didn't jump on those projects however; it was some months before I was in any mood to do them. The likely reason of this was because of the burn. I literally had to hold the pen in one place for approximately ten seconds before it would even burn a light brown color! And since I couldn't drag the pen lightly or quickly, progress was not only slow, but sloppy. Very discouraging. I complained about this...just in time for my birthday this year, and I was given the pen I use now, complete with hot knife, soldering tools, and five various wood burning tips. With hopes high, I skipped over to the craft store and found something even better. Basswood! A lovely pristine medium framed with bark, lichens, and moss, and ready to add to any picture I am inspired to burn. On June 20^th, shortly after my birthday, I completed a Canada Goose.

I was amazed at how quickly my pen burned. I could just lightly slide it over the surface of the wood and if I held it in place long enough, even see a few glowing embers. I found my inner Pyromaniac.

My Aunt Irina told me of Etsy, and inspired me to sell my work there. I began to do my research, surfing Etsy, and Google, and found that most of the world dedicated their talents in pyrography to the occult , paganism, and Hollywood. A wonderful few surprised me with their work in wildlife and even, inspirational themes. I love drawing God's creatures. I've only recently begun to draw people and surprised myself. I've been surprising myself quite a bit lately, both in achievements...and failures. My people no longer look like monkeys...but actually like true homo sapiens...with both eyes staring in the same direction. I've never had an art class in my life; and when I say that, that doesn't include public school art time where we were given construction paper and paper mache and bits of yarn. The only art class I EVER took...was called, “Observe and Learn”. I was inspired by gawking at the work of other artists (the greatest of the great included) and thinking to myself, “When I get home, I'm going to do something like that.” I did too...in my mind.

          Actually, I was never satisfied. But I kept trying. The mistake I made for years was to press a bold outline onto the page and fill in the rest of the picture with my imagination. And then one day I walked by a piece of scrap paper on the floor of a back room in my grandparent's house. Compelled to pick it up, I saw a beautifully detailed graphite sketch of a ram on the back. My Uncle Joshua has artistic talent and always inspired me to do better. Now, he wasn't around, and yet his work on a piece of old printer paper was going to change my work forever. My eyes greedily consumed the lighting and shading and tones of the sketch. The every detail of the ram standing among scrub on a mountain slope stuck with me.

          I went home, and applied what I had seen to my sketches. Like a missing puzzle piece, it snapped perfectly into place. Overnight my strokes became more rounded and light, my textures more contrasted, and my shading...well, when all you have is five art pencils. Anyway, the point of this is, (sorry for digressing- but hey! It's a blog!) I've only begun to improve this year. And I decided right away that I'd dedicate all of my work to the Lord Jesus Christ. So I'm nowhere near as great as some, but that wont stop me from presenting God and you, with my very best. I hope that you will like my selection, and as always, if you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see, or personal favorites, let me know! God bless you all!

Genius is 99% inspiration, 1% perspiration

          - Thomas Edison