Woodburning: It's called 'pyrography'

Members of the Avenue of the Saints Wood Carvers gathered earlier this week to try their hands at wood burning, an art form officially known as, "pyrography."

Leading the night's subject was club member Lonnie Watson of Richland, accompanied by her husband Rick, who is also a club member.

Armed with magazines and how-to books, Lonnie proceeded to show club members how to add details to their carvings using pyrography.

The irons used were not the inexpensive sets one finds in department stores, designed for beginners. These were $70 and $90 sets with variable heat settings and a variety of tips for burning. Each of the tips ranges in price from $7 to $24. "On this hobby, you can spend as much or as little as you want," said Rick Watson.

"But I almost always use just a basic writing tip," Lonnie Watson said, "for just about everything." By saying everything she means dots, circles, arcs, even squiggles. Pyrography often enhances a carved piece by adding fine details or just as finish work.

Lonnie's woodworking craft is using pyrography as her primary creative expression. Although basswood is her favorite wood to use, on this night she brought sheets of Italian poplar with designs she had already transferred from coloring books and from magazine patterns.

"Even woodcarving patterns work well for this," she said.

With little discussion, she started the group in using their irons to follow the patterns provided, and experience the types of burns at various temperatures, getting a feel for the amount of pressure to apply and speed of tracing over the lines to get an even burn without splotching.

"There's a hair more to this than I thought," said Mike Deming of Keokuk.

"I have a whole new respect for it."

You can read the entire story in our Oct. 19 issue.