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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)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

r. (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

cor

or wherever you have decided to display the work.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Click here for a link to a slideshow of this

process