Library Journal
Pyrography uses a heated tool, much like a pen, to scorch or burn images into wood or other surfaces such as cork or leather. Ferris, a trained tattoo artist, takes a mixed-media approach to this type of craft, incorporating watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, and gilding that results in highly embellished, colorful works of art. After an introduction to the two types of pyrography machines available, Ferris discusses her setup, as well as some potential surfaces for the craft. Untreated wood and high-quality paper are the most common, with wood requiring basic preparation prior to beginning a burn. The types of lines that can be made vary based on the surface being used, the speed at which the tool is moved, the pressure placed on the surface, and the tool’s heat and tip. An extensive exploration of pyrography styles, featuring a variety of examples from Ferris’s work with descriptions of the tools and techniques used, makes up the bulk of the book. Projects ranging from small, beginner-friendly pieces to more extensive, large-scale illustrations are included.
VERDICT This well-structured primer will appeal to artists looking for a new medium, as well as beginning to intermediate–level pyrographers interested in adding new skills and techniques.
Henry Malt, Art Book Review
I would add this to my ever-lengthening list of 2022’s innovations, but I’m pretty sure pyrography has been written about before, albeit more as a craft, maybe a curiosity, than as art. This is the first book to cross my desk, anyway. It’s also worthy of note that this appears in Search Press’s The Innovative Artist series, which betokens both a broad coverage and a move of the technique into something more mainstream.
As you might expect, this is not a beginner’s guide, nor should it be. I think we can accept that those exist and that this is as much a showcase for an experienced practitioner as it is a book of instruction. That said, there’s plenty of technical analysis to get your teeth into here. Someone wanting to pursue this as art will find a great deal to occupy and challenge them and the results are simply stunning… This is basic techniques for the more experienced worker who mainly wants to make sure they’re on the right track and learn from a master.
… this is an astonishing book that will open your eyes to work you probably didn’t think possible. The detail and subtlety of shade and colouring that Cherry achieves is remarkable and looks more like painting or drawing. There’s much to learn and this is a book you’re going to want to spend a lot of time with – I’d go so far as to say that, if you price a book by the number of hours spend between its covers, this is definitely well below minimum wage.
Will you ever manage to achieve the same results as Cherry? Well, it wouldn’t be for want of trying, on your part or hers.
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