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Winter 2015

Arts

Wooden box with pyrography art - bow shape burned on to box

Pyrography or Wood Burning is the free-handed art or technique of decorating wood, leather or paper with burn marks and the temperature control on metal tips.

I discovered the ability to work with this technique after I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. After this disease took over my life, I had to give up my job; this left me with a feeling of being useless. This was such a terrible feeling that I decided that I needed to do something to keep my brain working and to keep myself busy. I knew art was something in my blood, something that I loved, so I decided to give it a try. It took me a long time until I finally found Pyrography.

I started to see some finished products online and I loved them. I bought some wooden pieces and a pyrography machine and started to burn on those pieces some designs that I liked. After my family and friends saw my work, they gave me positive feedback and motivated me to sell them.

I decided then to follow the idea to sell my work. I contacted the organizer of a local store called `Out of Hand`. This store supports local workers in whatever they do; for example, crafts, arts, bakers, etc. The organizer said with only two months before Christmas the store had no spots available but she wanted to see my work and we could prepare all the paperwork for next year. I was a bit disappointed even though I knew that could happen. Regardless of when I could expose my work at the store, I took few pieces to be evaluated and to my surprise she started to look for a space in the store so I could bring all my work to sell right away.

Nowadays I have my work, which is named `Art`n Wood`, at a recognized store in town and online on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/luciana.pallonehespanholodasilva).