Winter Birdhouse Woodburning Tutorial

[ethome]

Two things that I noticed as a rank beginner but at the age of 67, not without experience. In burnlayer-1a.jpg under your pattern you have a grid of texture samples. Is a pattern of that grid available somewhere? Secondly, I was struck by technique you are using. In coloring pictures with crayons as a kid, I was taught to trace the line with a color and then fill in the spaces with shading, etc. I noticed that you did not trace the lines first. Any referrals to beginning techniques would be appreciated.
Elmer

Originally Posted by Irish

Step 5: Burn layer one

Standard writing tip
5.5 temp setting

I printed a copy of my first shadow drawing image (shadow-7.jpg) and I am going to use it as my guide for my first burn layer. This drawing shows me where the darkest areas of the design should fall.

Working with the standard writing tip in a comfortable writing position for my hand I have placed my temperature at a 5.5 setting. That is a cool or pale burn setting for my unit.

I want to keep the early burns in the pale tones during this early mapping step. As I work through the project I will slowly bring each individual area up to it's final tonal value.

The holly leaves and berries behind the post are worked in a random curling doodle stroke. This will give the leaves a touch of texture. I am filling in the entire leaf and berry area as all of this grouping falls in the shadow area.

For the post that supports the bird house I used a tight scrubbie stroke working up and down to keep with what would be the wood grain direction of the post.

A simple straight line stroke fills in the two areas on the house that fall behind and under the perch struts.

Before I begin shading under the right side roof strut I wanted to pull a pencil guideline. Since the roof strut has a fairly straight edge the shadow it would cast will also have a straight edge. I marked my line about 3/4s of the way down on the house from that roof strut. This is a very light pencil line.

That roof strut shadow is now worked with a straight line. Because these lines are long they tend to burn a touch more cool than the short straight lines under the perches. That's OK as this area is one of my largest shadows and the pale tone will create a nice gradually blend to the dark later.

burnlayer-1a.jpg
burnlayer-1b.jpg
burnlayer-1c.jpg
burnlayer-1d.jpg
burnlayer-1e.jpg

Susan

(Hey Carveduff and Jax! Thanks for joining in the thread. Duff ... somehow I just don't think I can twist Mike's arm that much, even with a smile. Jax, I really believe that if you try the drawing steps you really will be surprise that you already know more than half of that stuff.)

[Irish]

Hi Elmer ... welcome to the tutorial.

The grid sample is a sepia value scale that was worked in step #31. It is created through cross hatching and the technique is covered in that step.

I do not outline my designs, neither as a first step nor as a final one. I do add detail lines along some of the outer edges of my elements as a last step.

Outlining permanently defines an area - it traps you to keep all of your burning inside of those lines. As you work any design you may discover that you need to make changes or corrections to your pattern. As an examply you might want to lengthen one of the bird's tails or change how the vines wrap around the post. If you have already outlined all of your tracing lines you don't have that option.

I prefer the freedom to make adjustments to my designs as I work the burning.

More importantly life does not have outlines ... Look around your computer desk ... My keyboard is pale gray and is lying on a maple desk top. The keyboard does not have a dark blackish line along it's outer edges, the keys are not marked with a black line along there square tops, the desk edge not only does not have a black outline instead it has a bright white line where the desk lamp light hits it.

Place your hand on your computer desk ... the sides of your fingers are not outlined and the shadow that your hand cast not only is not line defined it's edges are softly blurred.

Outlines only happen is patterns and coloring books. For as truely realistic effect I only use "outlines" where I have two areas that touch but are just not strong enough from the shading burns to be distinquished as two separate areas.

If you have a good pencil tracing you don't need outlines to be able to follow the pattern as you work. And if your pattern lines are not strong or you are losing some from rubbing your hand across your project use a pencil to strengthen those lines.

As you read through the final steps you will discover that for this burning I work accent lines at the very end to add fine detail and to define some edges.

Hope this helps.

Susan

[Mottles]

S-a-d-i-e, don't know how I missed your Winter Birdhouse woodburing. It is just wonderful you really followed Susan's direction and made it your own. Good Job!
Kathy

[Sadie]

Hi
Thanks Kathy for the nice comments.
thanks WCI for the birthday wish.
I am working on the eagle with wings spread out from Irish's book.

[Curt Keplinger]

Where do I find the tutorial at?

[burnin_passion]

Curt...
See the var that says "Page 13 or 13) followed by <<First , etc.? Cick on 'First' and it will take you to Page 1. Read all the posts that flow from there and you'll piece together the tutorial. Note that some of the inital postings are related to, but do not specifically reference, the Winter Bird House project. Don't get discouraged...just keep reading and it will all come together for you.

[burnin_passion]

Follow up...
Sorry, I mis-typed. The first line should read...."See the bar that says...."

[bobpat1952]

Just attended my first wood carving class at the nearby Wilderness Center and really am enthusiastic after the sharing with many experienced carvers. VERY HELPFUL!

[Mottles]

Hi bob, I see you are new to carving and woodburning. Being able to take a class is always very helpful to beginner's. You'll learn a lot, keep practicing as that is as far as I'm concerned the best teacher. If you need help just ask, lot of knowledge on this Message Board.
Kathy

[crafty angel]

Hi all......this is my first time writing and I hope to have many more. I do a lot of crafts and have just recently decided to try wood carving and burning. I've tried a few items on my own and am quite happy with the turnout....now I'm ready to get deeper into it. Any helpful hints will be greatly appreciated. I'd like to try the birdhouse next.