What is Pyrography?

'Writing with fire.' Sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?

Without overcomplicating things, pyrography basically means 'writing with fire' or creating art with fire. It is the art or technique of decorating wood by burning a design on the surface by hand with a heated metallic point.

Many people refer to pyrography as 'woodburning,' which for the majority, does what it says on the tin. However, woodburning is done on wood, whereas pyrography can be done on other surfaces, including leather, cork, canvas and even paper! 

There are a range of pyrography tools available, from electrified solid point pens to wire point pens. Each style of pen has its own range of tips, nibs, points... whatever you want to call them! And each one of them creates a different effect and texture on the surface you work on. Increasing the heat can also help vary the tones, from light to dark, but I wouldn't recommend burning on a high heat for a long period of time unless you're in a well ventilated room with a fan and/or face mask. Look after your lungs, folks!

If you're looking into trying pyrography for the first time, I would try burning on flat pieces of wood first, something like a coaster or maybe a chopping board. This way, you'll have the chance to get comfortable with your pen and understand which tips work best for you.

For more hints and tips, search @connieflowerart on social media or please feel free to get in touch.