Guide to Pyrography

Post by Donna Freebury

Pyrography - 

“writing with fire”—is the art of decorating wood, leather, gourds, or even paper by burning controlled marks onto the surface with a heated tool. Once dismissed as a rustic craft for cabin signs and scout projects, pyrography has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Today you’ll find wildlife portraits, intricate mandalas, hyper-realistic human faces, and even full-color pieces that look more like paintings than burn.

Why Pyrography Feels Different From Any Other Medium

1. It’s permanent in the most satisfying way 

   One stroke and it’s there forever. No erasing, no layers of paint to cover mistakes. That forces you to slow down, plan, and commit—an increasingly rare experience in a digital world.

2. The smell 

 It smells like a campfire in your studio. Most artists end up loving it.

3. Texture is part of the art 

   The depth of the burn, the raised grain, the way light catches the charred lines—photographs never quite capture the three-dimensional quality.

4. It’s surprisingly forgiving 

   While you can’t erase, you can always burn darker. Light areas stay light forever, which flips the usual “dark over light” mindset off.

 Basic Techniques Every Beginner Should Master

1. Temperature control 

   Low (300–400 °F) for soft shading and paper. 

   Medium (500–650 °F) for most line work. 

   High (700–850 °F) for dark, fast outlines and cutting.

2. The four core strokes 

   - Dot (for texture—think animal fur) 

   - Line (pull or push depending on tip) 

   - Scribble/shading (circular or back-and-forth) 

   - Flat shading (using the side of a spoon shader)

3. Layering 

   Always work light to dark. You can go over a burn ten times to make it blacker; you can never make it lighter.

4. Heat management 

   Let the tool do the work. Pressing hard just gouges the wood and shortens tip life.

While I’m just a beginner I’m having fun learning this remarkable art form.