Finding wood plaque blanks to create pyrography on is not difficult. There are many natural wood options to choose from.
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Wood burning can be done on a variety of surfaces – as long as they have no special finishes applied and are of a natural material – you are “A” for Away!
You will never be short of wood burning projects – no matter what your style or needs are.
As the name implies, wood burning or pyrography, means burning art. This means that using the right base is very important.
Most pyrographers use wood.
But not any type of wood.
All timber must be dried and be untreated natural wood.
It definitely has benefits when you use a soft timber like basswood, which is the most popular choice by many wood burners world wide.
Admittedly, it is not easily available to some artists, particularly off the American continent where basswood is not common or grown in their part of the world.
As long as the wood you use is soft, does not have too many knots or hard blemishes to interrupt your design, you should have no problems.
Natural plaques are very popular as they provide a lovely rustic look to your art work. Most of this style of plaque comes with the bark still intact on the edges.
Shaped plaques have been cut out into a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These include plain circles, squares, rectangles and anything else.
The world of wood craft blanks is endless.
There is a huge selection of other blanks that you can wood burn on to create your art.
Below are some alternatives that are just as popular and fun to use.
Gourd crafts are gaining in popularity amongst pyrographers and crafters alike.
Many artists combine the art of wood burning, carving and painting to create the most stunning artwork pieces.
They are a little tricky to work with as their shape is so variable and contoured – but very rewarding.
Again – no applied finishes before burning.
Finding ready-made blanks should not be difficult from any craft store. You will find spoons, trays, boxes, key rings and so much more.
Just be aware of what they are made from and that they are untreated.
These are perfect for gifts, useful items around the house and decorative features on any walls.
Giving personally crafted gifts like these mean so much to the person receiving it. The time and careful thought that has gone into the creating is worth a great deal.
As with all the above, the same applies to leather.
No finishes and be careful of the smell – good ventilation is a necessity.
You will require a heavy-duty paper to burn on. A linen paper by Strathmore is a good option. They are available in pads of up to 20 sheets.
Be very careful using this medium.
Building the colors up slowly is a must. Do not burn too dark too soon as you may end up with a hole!
As you can see, the options are plentiful when choosing your base to create on.
The only hindrance is your imagination and confidence in yourself. Push the limits a little more every time and experience a sense of achievement and self satisfaction with the results of your hard work.
Be a part of this extraordinary craft and art form.
Always choose your pyrography blanks carefully and with your intended artwork in mind.
