Customer Reviews

Great Book of Woodburning: Pyrography Techniques, Patterns & Projects for All Skill Levels

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Great Book of Pyrography" is a wonderful resource for someone starting out in pyrography and hoping to advance. The book covers techniques from most basic to advanced in a clear manner with tons of illustrations and photos.
I especially appreciated the explanation of both using a more basic single temperature tool (inexpensive and the one most beginners would be using) and the more advanced multi-temp tool.
By following the chapters in the book from beginning to end, especially utilizing the practice board (using 1x1 squares on a larger board to test various techniques) the reader can quickly learn and improve their skill level.

This book contains the work, mostly in one style, of one artist, mostly on one surface (birch plywood), using (apparently) two brands of burners. The author has a great understanding of how to coax a good range of light-to-dark from the variable heat nibs, but I found her use of texture to be lacking, whenever a smooth or gloss effect was appropriate. Her practice board includes a remarkable 81 stroke and stipple variations, but nothing there will help the pyrographer depict anything that glows or shines or relects. So the leather boots look like suede, the old car looks covered in fur, the eyes of her angry, sullen 'green men' and wildlife look dead, and the pond looks like a board. There are dozens of nibs, but this author uses just two in most of the work in this book, and most of the time we have to guess which of the two is being used in the projects.

If you want textures that shine (or whatever else you want them to do), check out Pyrography Workbook: A Complete Guide to the Art of Woodburning by Sue Walters. It has much less tedious repetition between text, captions, and exercises, and it covers a much greater variety of technique, including a whole chapter (rather than a paragraph) on the three basic pen tips, skew, writer, and shader, with a nib chart that briefly explains many more. Still, there is just one artist's work in what is boldly titled a 'complete' guide, but I do think Walters gets far closer to a complete guide than Irish.

This book has it all. Different techniques, how to create tone values, the options available in different woodburning kits, easy to understand and a world of information. I can't say enough about it.

Although I have been involved with woodcarving and sketching for years I have never tried woodburning. I turned to to Lora Irish's book as an introduction and am very happy with her work. She is an excellent teacher and her book takes the beginner through the basic stages of pyrography, including an excellent series of practice sessions and projects. The book is well bound and the color graphics are excellent. There is a glossary and an index. This book will take the beginner through the various stages of artistic competence as far as his or her abilities and interest allow.

I could not lay the book down. I want to try every project. Made me think out of the box.

"......In the Great Book of Woodburning,
YOU'LL DISCOVER:

* Skill-building exercises to help you master temperature,
stroke,
texture,
and layering

* Step-by-step instructions and more than 25 patterns for beginning,
intermediate, and advanced pyrographers

* Methods to help you judge the depth of color or tonal value for each area of your design....."
[from the book of back cover]

I liked the wildlife images in this book and some of the other drawings, not too nuts on the cartoon type of thing but I do not have to like everything, to each their own I say. But all in all was a good book especially the information on coloring with watercolors or oils was good to know with what type of wood works best with what type of medium. I liked the book.

I have to admit I like Sue Walters method better. I use this book as an extra reference and ideas. I have read allot of pyrography books and this was extra info that did not go to waste. The only reason why I give this book a 4 star is because in my personal opinion I feel that Sue Walters explains better.

Start with this one. If you are looking to get started or find out about the craft. It's all here with some fun projects to get you started. If you already have some experience you'll get a lot out of it as well.

I have enjoyed using this reference book. I would suggest it to anyone who wishes to enter the art form or to those who are already into it. The instructions and illustrations are easy to read and understand. It is full of patterns which also show the finshed work. It is very easy to follow what the artist has accomlished and to learn from.