Literally speaking, “pyrography” means “writing with fire.”  But pyrography encompasses so much more than merely writing.  Designs are scorched into a surface, generally wood or leather, with an instrument similar to a soldering iron.  While the art of wood-burning has been around for centuries, there are modern implements made specifically for the purpose of designing and scorching wood into artistic designs. 

While most closely identified with drawing, pyrography emulates a variety of arts, including drawing, painting, and even photography.  A massive range of tones and shades can be achieved simply through the controlled application of heat.  Because of the natural quality of the surfaces, either wood or leather, a beautiful sepia effect can be achieved, giving the subject a very natural feel often seen in sepia photographs.  By altering elements such as the size and shape of the tip, the amount of heat, and the application of the tool, one can create different effects, ranging from bold and dramatic lines and shading to subtle and refined nuances.

Lone Elk

Basswood plaque, copyright Kristin Hoium, 2008.

The type and color of the wood one chooses for wood-burning depends on the desired end result.  Light-colored hardwoods are the most popular, and are often found in craft stores for this very purpose.  Probably the most widely-used woods are birch or basswood.  Through personal experience, I’ve found that basswood creates the broadest range of values, creating a rich, caramel-colored burn.  It is, however, softer than other woods and therefore burns faster, making it a finicky surface to work on.  Most pyrographers prefer to use a light wood with an unobtrusive grain, such as birch, basswood and sycamore, to enhance the effect of their design without the distraction of the wood grain.  I’ve found, however, that almost any wood can suit a pyrographers needs.  Pine and oak, both with heavy, difficult to manage grains, can serve as part of the design when a natural feel is desired.  The wood burning exaggerates and enhances the grain since it burns deeply in the wood and hardly at all on the grain.  Outlined designs, rather than those with heavy shading, are preferred when one doesn’t want to enhance the grain of the wood. 

Fish – Trim Molding

Pine, copyright Kristin Hoium, 2007.

Bear – Trim Molding.

Pine, copyright Kristin Hoium, 2007.

Moose – Trim Molding.

Pine, copyright Kristin Hoium, 2007.

Light woods, however, are not the only surfaces to be considered when wood-burning.  Dark woods, such as walnut, cherry, or cedar, can enhance the design with their naturally beautiful colors.  Throughout the years, I’ve discovered that wood-burning is an art unlike any other.  While most arts, like drawing and painting, rely on a blank, flat surface as the base for a greater image, the wood, to a pyrographer, is part of the image.  We choose our pieces of wood based on their shape, their grain, their color, their size, their flaws and whorls and knots, often times choosing a piece of wood because of it’s flaws simply to enhance and celebrate the natural quality of the material. 

Wolf Pair.

Walnut plaque, copyright Kristin Hoium, 2009.

Pyrography is an art that requires patience and practice more than anything else.  The technique is similar to drawing, but there are few tutorials out there that will allow you to immediately master the technique.  The purpose of this article was simply to expose the art of pyrography as an art unlike any other.  It contains all the elements and versatility of drawing, painting, and even photography while maintaining a natural and organic feel unrivaled by most arts.  Used for centuries, pyrography was traditionally a folk art.  Today, however, it has elevated itself to the level of fine art due to it’s precision, nuances, and beauty.