Burn painting, or pyrography, is the process of painting a picture on a piece of wood using hot solder. Besides being an effective way to relieve stress, pyrography can also produce interesting artistic works and can be a beautiful decoration in various homes. You can paint using the burn painting technique as a personal pleasure to make wall hangings, or make a gift for someone else. Whatever the goal, it's a good idea to get to know the basics of pyrography before you get started.
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Part 1 of 3: Getting to Know the Basics of Pyrography
Step 1. Prepare the necessary tools
To create a pyrographic painting, you will need a basic set of tools. After producing a few paintings, you may want to have additional equipment. However, the following tools are sufficient for beginners:
- Solder for burning wood. There are usually 2 types: conventional solders with one heat setting and interchangeable soldering bits, and the more expensive pyrographic solders with two styluses and various heat settings. You can get pyrographic solder at online stores for a price range of IDR 75,000 to IDR 700,000.
- Wide selection of soldering points. This kit allows you to produce lines of the desired thickness and can handle a variety of patterns.
- Sharpening belt and aluminum oxide to clean the solder bits regularly.
- pliers.
- Clay pot or soldering holder (to maintain safety while the appliance is still hot).
Step 2. Find a good piece of wood for pyrography
The best choice is wood with a soft surface. Wood hardness can be rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest wood (such as balsa) and 10 being the hardest wood (such as padauk). If you are a beginner, you should choose soft wood. Hardwoods are expensive, heat resistant, and usually darker in color. On the other hand, softwood is cheaper, easier to burn, lighter, and provides good contrast. Try looking for the following softwoods if you are just starting out in this activity:
- Pine
- Basswood
- Birch
- Ash
- Maple
Step 3. Use solder with care
The solder will get hot very quickly. So, install the soldering iron that you are going to use before you turn on the device. Always use pliers to attach and remove solder bits. Wait about two minutes for the soldering iron to heat up. While waiting, place the solder in a soldering iron holder or clay pot to minimize the risk of accidentally burning the wood.
Step 4. Sand the wood before use
Take the sandpaper no. 320, then wrap it on a flat wooden block or grinding machine and sand it evenly on the wood surface. Painting details will look sharper and clearer on a very smooth wood surface.
- When sanding wood, do so following the wood grain. The wood flower is the direction of the wood grain. Sanding along the grain of the wood will minimize any irregularities or scratches that might appear if you did the opposite.
- After the sanding process is complete, clean the wood surface with a damp towel. This step helps remove any remaining sawdust and makes your sketching easier.
Step 5. Use light strokes, don't press too hard
Many beginners make the mistake of pressing the wood surface too hard with solder because they think it's necessary to make an impression. Not like that. In fact, using light strokes is preferable because you can route the solder more easily, minimize errors, and eliminate the chance of accidentally burning the wood.
Step 6. Don't be in a hurry when drawing using the burn painting technique
You won't get any rewards for making a burnt painting in the fastest time. Creating a burnt painting, regardless of the material you use, is a lengthy process. As you get used to using a soldering iron, keep the following in mind:
- Constant pressure is the best trick. For beginner designs, it's a good idea to make the grooves evenly across the wood surface.
- The longer you hold the solder in an area, the darker and deeper the indentation becomes.
Step 7. To make it easier for you to create a burnt painting, follow the direction of the wood grain
Rotate the piece of wood so the wood grain is pointing downwards. This will make your work easier because you will be moving the solder downwards and burning the wood surface in the direction of the grain. Burning wood in the opposite direction of the grain creates greater resistance.
Step 8. Practice and experiment often
Once you have the equipment you need and learn the basics of pyrography, buy a few pieces of wood and practice using the various soldering points included. Once you have an idea of what the curves of each soldering point will look like, you'll know which one to use for a particular project. The soldering iron used will depend on the type of drawing and how much detail will be added to the drawing.
Part 2 of 3: Transferring Designs to Wood
Step 1. Choose the method of moving the design that best suits your needs
Of course you can create a burnt painting without drawing a sketch with a pencil first, but most beginners find it helpful to have a sketch. There are three basic ways to copy designs on a wooden surface.
Step 2. Draw the design directly on the wood surface by hand
If you are a talented artist and good at drawing, it may not be difficult to draw designs directly on wood using a graphite pencil. This isn't the easiest or most effective way to create a design, but you won't end up with an image that looks clumsy and sloppy as it would if you made a copy of another image.
Step 3. Copy the image on the wood using graphite paper
Sketch or print the image you want. Place the graphite paper (face down), on a wooden surface, use masking tape to hold it in place, and place the design drawing on the paper. Then, use a 2B pencil to trace the sketch with medium pressure and unbroken lines. Remove the graphite paper and thicken the sketch on the wooden surface using the same pencil.
Step 4. Copy the image using the transfer tool (transfer tip)
A transfer device is a flat soldering iron that uses heat to transfer ink from a printed image directly over the wood surface. You can scan or search the internet for images to use. Next, stick the image onto the wood surface with tongs and start heating the transfer tool. Slowly, a little at a time, sweep the transfer tool across the paper, just above the ink. Lift the paper and examine the design you just transferred.
Part 3 of 3: Training Skills
Step 1. Start by choosing a convenient place to put the wood so you can reach it easily when using the soldering iron
This step only takes a minute and should be done often. If you are hunched over wood and using the solder at a dangerous distance from your body, it will be more difficult for you to do this job.
Step 2. Consider starting from the bottom or outer edge of the sketch
This way, if you make a mistake, it won't be obvious. Don't worry, most errors can be fixed by sanding.
Step 3. Don't be afraid to burn the same piece three or four times
Remember, do it carefully. You only need to apply light pressure so that the solder can be moved easily and smoothly. Try to move the solder toward you, not away from you, as you start to burn the wood, while resting your wrists on the wood if possible.
Step 4. Finish the outer frame first
Burn the edges of the design first to reveal the basis of the composition.
Step 5. Then, try experimenting with textures and shadows
If you want to create a 3D image instead of standard 2D, you will need to experiment with different solder points (such as soldering irons which can produce certain shadows and textures). As always, practicing for a few hours on the back of the wood will go a long way as you create shadows on the actual image.
Step 6. Continue with adding colors
Now it's time to add color to the image. Adding color is optional and may look better on some images than others. Use watercolors and brushes that you like. Watercolor pencils can also give great results.
Step 7. Clean the soldering irons periodically to deliver maximum heat
You can rub the solder bits against the sandpaper block for a quick clean or use a sharpening belt with aluminum oxide for cooled solder bits. This step can remove excess carbon adhering to the soldering iron. Dip the soldering iron in cold water for 1-2 minutes before touching it if you're not sure if it's still hot. Remember, use pliers to safely remove the soldering iron.
Step 8. Consider using exhaust fans while working
Some woods emit more smoke than others. Inhaled smoke can cause lung irritation. To prevent this, turn on the exhaust fan if you are working in an enclosed space.
Step 9. After the burning process is complete, apply the varnish
The final step is to apply a protective layer on your artwork. Wait until the varnish is completely dry, then your project is considered complete.
Warning
- Be aware that the solder is very hot and can cause serious burns if it comes into contact with the skin. Do not leave solder that is still connected to the mains unattended as this may cause a fire.
- When applying varnish, do so outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Inhaling the vapors can cause serious health problems or even death.
