Since I began posting my pyrography art on social media, I’ve had multiple people ask me what it is. Pyrography is also referred to as wood burning. This medium is not as well known as other art forms like painting, for instance. To be honest, I didn’t know what it was either until I stumbled across a pyrography pen at the local craft store. I was intrigued when I saw this tool and decided I wanted to try it. The rest is history.
History
The word pyrography translates to”writing with fire” from the Greek pur (fire) and graphos (writing). Since prehistory, humans have been creating art with the charred remains of fires. But when the first pyrography machines were invented, creating art with fire became a popular medium for the modern era. These pyrography machines were invented in Europe during the Victorian Era. Pyrography is a traditional folk art in many countries, including Europe, Argentina, and South America.
Tools
This art form is done with a pyrography pen. There are two different styles of pyrography pens. The first type of pyrography pen is called a solid-point burner. This tool looks kind of like a soldering iron. My first pen was a solid-point burner. This burner comes with different tips to achieve different effects, like lines and shading. I never bothered changing tips and just stuck with the universal tip out of convenience. Changing the tips requires waiting for the tool to cool down completely, and I’m not that patient. But this tool is perfect for beginning pyrography artists and is very affordable.
The second style of pyrography pen is a wire-nib burner. This tool looks more like a large pen with tips made of curved wire. Tips are easy to change out and don’t require waiting for the tool to cool down completely. Wire-nib burners allow your hand to be closer to the board and are more comfortable, in my opinion. More advanced pyrography artists tend to prefer wire-nib burners over solid-point burners due to their versatility and comfort. Wire-nib burners are also much pricier than solid-point burners.
The other tools I frequently use in my wood-burning art are a Dremel and a butane torch. I use my Dremel to do highlights, fur, and whiskers on animals. When I want to burn large areas like black backgrounds, I use a butane torch.
Wood
Do your research before buying wood for pyrography because not all types of wood will work. The grain of the wood affects the way your burn is applied. Light-colored hardwoods with a fine grain are the best woods for pyrography. Some of the most common woods used are sycamore, basswood, beech, and birch. I have only used basswood because it’s affordable and easy to find at my local craft store. Be sure to look over the piece of wood before you buy it because many pieces will have blemishes in them.
Safety
When choosing your wood, make sure it is not toxic; consult this list of wood allergies and toxicity if you’re not sure. Ensure you’re not burning on treated or man-made wood because these types of wood will release toxic fumes into the air. It’s important to wear a mask/respirator while working because the fumes and wood dust can harm your respiratory system. Investing in some fans and a dust collector is also recommended if you do a lot of wood-burning.