Art Action Toolbox Technique: Pyrography

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PYROGRAPHY

MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX TECHNIQUE NO.8

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BEFORE YOU START! Â&#x2039; Think about how your work will be displayed when it is Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK >PSS P[ IL PUKVVYZ VY V\[KVVYZ& >OV ^PSS IL rLZWVUZPISL MVY TV\U[PUN [OL ^VYR& >PSS P[ IL ZLJ\re for the K\YH[PVU VM [OL L_OPIP[PVU& 0M P[ PZ PU H W\ISPJ ZWHJL KV `V\ need permission to show work therL& Â&#x2039; Prepare by exploring possible themes with the grV\W At MCAC we use non-formal learUPUN TL[OVKZ Z\JO HZ roleplay MVY\T [OLH[re and KPZJ\ZZPVUZ [V JVUZPKLY

themes in more KLW[O Giving time for the group to JYP[PJHSSy rLÃ&#x2026;LJ[ on what they learn supports them to JVTL \W ^P[O H\[OLU[PJ TLZZHNLZ Â&#x2039;>e also examine the work of other artists [V JVUZPKLY OV^ [OL` NL[ [OLPY TLZZHNLZ HJrVZZ ;OPZ NP]LZ `V\UN WLVWSL PUZWPYH[PVU MVY ^H`Z [OL` JHU ]PZ\HSS` L_Wress [OLPY V^U TLZZHNLZ Â&#x2039; Many young people alrLHK`OH]L ]PZ\HS SP[LYHJ` ZRPSSZ [OH[ allow them to sift through the masses of information they perJLP]L VU H KHPS` IHZPZ 7rVQLJ[Z SPRL [OLZL LTWV^LY `V\UN WLVWSL [V W\[ [OLPY V^U ]PZ\HS TLZZHNLZ IHJR PU[V [OL W\ISPJ spherL HUK LUJV\YHNL [OLT [V [OPUR TVrL JYP[PJHSS` HIV\[ [OL images and messages they regularly perJLP]L

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Click here for a link to a slideshow of this process

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE Decide whether to work individually or in groups.

Stage One: Generate the design. Explore a theme or an issue together, as described in the previous page. Then, create an image to express your ideas on the theme. This can be done in a variety of ways. You can explore the issue using theatre methods and then take photographs of the theatre pieces. You can copy pictures from newspapers and magazines, using the photocopier to enlarge or isolate the parts you want. Either way, you will need a copy of your image on paper.

Stage Two: Decide how you want to transfer your image onto the wood. There are 2 options: 1)ZJHSL P[ VU [OL WOV[VJVWPLY [V Ä[ [OL ZPaL VM ^VVK ;OLU trace around the image with a pencil. Flip the paper onto the wood face down and work over the image with another pencil to transfer the traced line onto the wood. The graphite of your ÄYZ[ SPUL ^VYRZ SPRL H [YHUZMLr. (If there is text in the image you will have to reverse the image before transferring it to the wood!)

2)The 2nd option is to photocopy the image onto acetate and project it onto the wood with an overhead projector, using a pencil to copy the image onto the wood. If you have access to a data projector you can project the image straight from your computer without printing.

Stage Three: You are ready to plug in the tools and get to work. Decide in advance which lines to make thicker and which to make thin. Select the tips for your pyrography tool accordingly. Please be careful when using the tools as the nibs become quite hot! Use a pliers to take the heated nib off the tool when you need to change it.

Stage Four: The next stage is to make a contrast between background and foreground images in your composition. Use masking tape to block off areas of your picture that you want to stand out more (these will remain wooden with the look of the grain visible). Paint a solid layer of white acrylic over the whole piece of wood. When it is dry, rub bitumen into the paint (this gives it an earthy effect, then remove the masking tape.

Depending on taste, you can apply the masking tape precisely or roughly to get a different type of edge. Experiment and see which you prefer!

To display outdoors: Varnish the wood completely, both sides Drill holes in the corULYZ VM LHJO WPLJL <ZL JHISL [PLZ [V Ä_ [OL WPLJLZ [V MLUJLZ or wherever you have decided to display the work.

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