[Pippin]

I'm curious to know:

how to delete my user profile

[Woodartist]

Well, I started making walking sticks and people wanted "things" on them. So I woodburned text and images with a Walnut Hollow fixed temperature burner. Got interested in the burning and joined a forum where I could develop my skills. Since I was color blind the sepia toned images attracted me as did B&W photography was a while back. I didn't take classes because I believe you have to develop your own skills naturally.

I wanted more versatility, so bought an Optima woodburner. After a few years of burning I became good at it and branched off into portraits and other subjects. So I started doing commissioned work as well as the walking sticks. Found out I could make good money at it, so went full time Still making a living at it but lost my eye sight. So now I'm doing carving with woodburned accents. Sounds odd but the carving is easier with the bad eyesight....as well as oil painting.

My previous life was in Aerospace engineering ( master's work at John Hopkin's Applied Physics lab) and did a lot of wood working in my spare time. Always avoided art because of the problems I had when a kid with color. Took a bout of cancer to guide me in the directions I wanted to go. I'm also a writer but now I'm digressing

[Woodartist]

Well, the old saying "life is too short," really hits home when you get a wake up call I think the carving is an evolutionary part of pyro....for some. As you mentioned the pyro and carving doesn't take a lot of room, and makes for a great art for those with limited space. Interested to see what you do with those spools, since I've never worked with them.

[Woodartist]

Interesting application !! Never saw that done before, but a great idea.
Thanks

[WOODIE13]

I initially got started in wood burning when I was 15 yrs old, made a poplar wood box, burnt a deer, trout and turkey gobbler on it. Took a little break (about 15 yrs) and started tinkering with it again with a Walnut Hollow. Did pretty good with it, just the one temp slowed down the work, the last year and a half, I bought a Colwood Detailer, great little machine. It also cut the burn time tremendously. Never knew it was called pyrography before the last couple years.

Most of my works involve wildlife, avian subjects tend to be my passion, but have gotten pretty good at burning K9's and structures as well. Have done a couple portaits of people, still need some work to develop my skills on them.

I have had no formal classes in it and other than some basic art classes in high school, it has been mostly trial and error (more error than anything else). Recently, I placed 1st and received an honorable mention with two of my works in an art contest in the mixed media 2D in the novice division, my first contest ever, so that has driven me to experiment a little more and apply other techniques I have learned through this forum and others to better my ability/creativity.

I only have one book on the subject so far, it is by Al Chapman, "Learning the Art of Pyrography". Great book with a lot of good tips and it has helped me out tremendously. Al has also been a great mentor and I follow his works and advice, his best quote is "it is not always what you burn, but what you don't" in pyrography. Some of his pictures of his works can be seen at http://www.picturetrail.com/alchap333

I like the Walnut Hollow, but the single temps limitted me, I felt, so I invested in a Colwood Detailer with replaceable tips, great move IMHO. As far as fovorite tips, I use the skews and shader primarily, have more tips, just these are the ones that I am used to and like. Want to pick up a couple more, maybe a micro tip and smaller shader, but that will come with time.

My favorite surface, primarily wood (boxes, plaques, turkey calls, slabs, whatever). Any type of wood, but basswood, pine, birch, poplar tend to be the mainstay for me. I would like to try some of the tagua nuts as well as gourds some day, just too many forks in the fire right now.

[squbrigg]

Began doing some burning just a few years ago, the year my wife outfitted me with a Foredom and Razertip burner, to help me get back into carving after a car accident. I began experimenting and found a new way of expressing my love of ships and the sea....... burning images on wood: boxes, plaques, etc. Also discovered the uses of burning in detail accent in carvings. Since I always did sketching of my ships , the transition to burning was easy, so it's all self taught. I did learn a lot from Susan Irish's book on Burning and the book by Sue Walters, they were invaluable in getting me going. I admire their work and ability greatly.

Life is full of interesting surprises. I do a lot of burnings now.

Bob

[Pyrographer]

Originally Posted by Pippin

I'm curious to know:

how and why you got started with pyrography?

self-taught or classes?

books on pyrography that inspire you?

pyrographers who inspire you (and web links if you have them)?

your favourite (most used) burner and pen/tip?

your favourite (most used) surface (which wood, paper, fabric, nut etc.)?

Don't feel obligated to answer the whole list, if you'd rather chime in on just one or two questions, but of course I'd be interested, if you want to cover the whole list.

Pippin, I guess I'll actually try to answer some of your questions without getting into too much of my life history.

I have been involved in art since the age of 11 and at the time was drawing and then got into painting with oils. If interested I believe there's acutally some info on my website. I worked for the Federal government for over 30 years (first as a clinical social worker with Oncology patients then in Human Resources) About 15 years ago suffered some personal challenges due to stress from my job as a Human Resource Director and ended up having to stop working. After many years hubby got me involved in woodcarving and while taking a 3 day chip carving class at a woodcarving Rally in Texas I got introduced to woodburning. There was a group of people woodburning behind me and after 3 days I was hooked on the smell....

Your next question...I bought a burner while at the rally and went home and started experimenting so I'm self-taught. I definately think that my training in drawing and painting helped me pick it up easier and my style of burning incorporates the blending I loved with oil paints and the tones I loved in drawing. I had always loved our old family photos (I mean OLD) that were sepia toned and that is what inspired me to try to capture the look of an old sepia photo. I discovered that when my brain was being put back together after my meltdown my "vision" was no longer as vivid in color so the more natural earth tones seemed to really fit where my head was at and still seems to be.

Books that inspire me. Well when I was learning there weren't any sad to say. Most at the time were merely basic patterns with little or no instruction and the few that had instruction just didn't appeal to me. Which is one of the reasons that I ended up getting talked into writing my first book and then my second book. Since then Sue Walters came out with her book and now Susan so the people just getting into pyrography have lots of good choice because now there are several good books on the market...including mine . But honestly other than mine I have to say that Susan's (Lora Irish) would be a very inspirational book if I was just starting out.

The two pyrographic artists who are inspiring to me are David Kreider and Dino Muradian and I'm sure you can find their link if you do a google search. Linda
Sales is another artist who's burning style is very similar. I actually wish I had discovered these artists when I was learning but you certainly should look at their work if you can find their sites. They, like me are into photo realism. Dino uses a single temperature burner and Linda uses a nibsburner but I'm not sure what David uses. All of them are outstanding artists...not just woodburners. I can only hope to be half as good as David or Dino when I grow up! That is if I ever grow up.

My favorite burner is the Razertip and my favorite pen is the one they made for me when I started using their burner, the HD5MP. I use it for 95% of my work. I exclusive use fixed-tip pens.

My favorite material to burn is and always will be wood. When I started, like most beginners I used basswood and italian poplar exclusively. Now I primarily use woods such as birch, soft and hard maple and maple burls. Wood is what hooked me on woodburning in the first place. I dabble in other mediums from time to time but none have quite the attraction of wood.



Bill, I've seen your walking sticks and they are lovely but I never had a chance to see any of your burnings on the other woodburner forum. I had no idea you did pyrography portraits. I would love to see them and I'm sure other members would like to see some of your burnings as well. Perhaps you can share a few of them with us.

Nedra

[Pyrographer]

You know I hadn't seen Dino's site in a year or so but I just clicked on the link to see what he's done lately. Interesting to see his copy of one of the old masters. His version could certainly hang next to the orignal. It is outstanding. Now you see why I love his work. And to think he uses a single temp burner. Of course I bet his hands are just a bit bigger than ours making it easier to handle that big pen.

Nedra

[teeburn]

Hi Pippin,

My first experience with woodburning was in my early childhood with my dad and then my local girl scout troop. So I have very fond memories when I think of woodburning and how I started.

We raised horses so my dad would use woodburning to make stall and tack signs and stuff like that. I use to like to come up with the lettering and the composition and he showed me how to use the burner. Then of course in the girl scouts it was one of the crafts with did for our badges.

I always love the smell of the wood burning also and have always liked all things wood. The smell still makes me think of my dad and he hasn't wood burned many many years.

Back then it was of course the old single temp burners by Walnut Hollow. which I still use on occasion.

How I got started in pyrography as an adult is I've been involved in arts and crafts all my life and when I met my husband we wanted something we could do together and he wasn't interested in anything I was doing at the time.

So he had been going to all my annual crafts shows with me and we seen this group of woodcarvers that always attended most of the shows I went to and found out my husband use to work with one of the members. They had always been one of my favorite displays because of the woodburning and I also thought the carving was very interesting. So we got to talking to him and his wife and they invited us to their club and we said we would check them out.

I wish I could say we check them out right away but we didn,t we threathed to join for the next five years!!!! Then finally it will be two years in February that we finally did just that and we joined in March. So that is how I got involved in wood burning as an adult with our club members. Best thing we ever did besides getting married. Sometimes better than that!!! Just kidding! LOL You old married folk know what I mean. So it started off as an art project, something my husband and I could learn and relearn for me and enjoy together.

When it comes to self taught or classes, I would say both. I started it out self taught basically a little instruction from my dad and scout leader. Then my self and books and some help, advice from my club mates. And then I was fortunate enough for the past two summers to take a three day seminar which my hubby has paid for me for my birthday. Which all have helped me in my development and style.

There are several sites that have helped me in that too. Mainly the Woodbuner and this site.

As far as books there are so many good ones out there but I would have to say all of Cheryl Dow's patterns books and dvd. And Susan's (Lora S. Irtish's) books the Great book of Pyrography and her Landscapes in Relief which is of course a carving book but all the patters can be use for woodburning also. I'm also learning to relief carve for my goal of becoming a relief burner when I grow up. Which is a wood burner that uses relief carving to enhance their burns even more, even more depth. And I love and collect angels so her Great book of Fairy Patterns has quite of few angels in it and the fairies are great too, very inspirational. If I didn,t get the titles exactly correct sorry. I also like Sue Walters books.

Then you asked about pyrographers that inspire you to many to list. Of course all that I mentioned above and last but not least Lynda Gibbs Eaves. We lost her last year, she is greatly missed. I didn,t mention her above because I don't know of any actual books of hers but I know she has a very good dvd that I still have on my list. Her husband is going to release some more as soon as he can bring himself to edit them. He know she would like that but it understandable he can't bring himself to that yet, especially it will be the one year marker in December. All my club mates and my friends and fellow artist at the woodburner and here. Nedra,s work. Woodie13, Silver Fox, Gordo,Woodartist. Again too many to list everyone. I can pm you addys if you want them.

My favorite burner is my Optima 1 dual burner with the fixed tip pens. My very favorite pen is the bent tip spear shader and my hair pen. I researched burners extensively and then I tried the Optima at the club, the most popular burner among our club members and I liked it so I got it. I think there are many good burners out there but I like the Optima pens the best.

I haven't had a chance to experiment with alot of mediums, things like leather or tagua nuts, gourds, paper but I have some to try. Just never seems to be enough time to try them. When I have time to burn I naturally go to the wood. I am looking forward to trying them but I know I will always gravitate best to the wood. There are also alot of other woods i would like to try. I have only been able to burn on basswood and Italian poplar so far and basswood being my favorite so far. I would love to try a burl I think they have so much character with all the figuring. I know the figuring can make it challenging but that is part of the fun.

Well now that I have written a mini version of War and Peace, I think I have covered everything you asked. It has been interesting reading everyone,s responses.

Blessings,
Teeburn

[Hollis Mckinley]

Laying on the floor in front of the fireplace when I was a kid, heating pieces of metal that I wrapped a cloth around for a handle. Smelled up the house, so got ran out of there more than once.

Did all the artwork in my high school senior book.

My favorite wood is birch. The way I look at it, if you are pleased and staisfied with your work and the goal is set high, if it's not liked and appreciated then find something else to call a hobby.

I make my own tips and use the wal-mart special. Throw thier tips away to get er done. Doing a piece of pyro or carving is like restoring an old vehicle, never get through, just have to stop some place when it is good enough for me. Self taught I guess will answer all your questions. Didn't get nothing out of my answers, just wanted to pipe in on a good subject and thanks everyone for a good site to share interests. Semper Fi! pogerope