Hello, people of steem! Welcome to my page!
I was having a late night discussion with several people in a discord server about a week ago, we were talking about various art projects. The subject of woodburners came up and we were talking about our past woodburner art work. That got me to thinking about some of the things that I've done with a woodburner pen and I was going to write a post about it at that time, but other distractions got in the way. I finally remembered the subject and decided to write this post today. It seems to make sense to write about it now, with the new creative coin having come out on steem engine. So here's a look at a couple of different woodburner projects that I've done in the past couple of years. This is the first time that I've written about these projects on steem.
This first piece is a basic zodiac chart that I burned into a round piece of craft wood, the kind that you get from the hobby and craft store. The disk is about 7 inches in diameter. I basically did a google picture search at the time for various zodiac charts to look at, and then drew this design out on the piece of wood with a pencil. Then I took the woodburner pen and traced the pencil marks to burn the design into the wood. I have it hanging on my wall now.
Most of my woodburner projects have been metaphysical subjects, I tend to hang around the "woo woo" crowd a lot, so those subjects appeal to me. This next project is a good example of that. These are what I call oracle dice. Some people refer to them as "witch dice" or divination dice, but I prefer the term oracle dice for the ones that I've made. I've made several sets of these and sold a couple of sets at a metaphycal gathering that happens every year on the second weekend in August up in the Keweenaw peninsula. This is my personal set of dice. I drew the symbols on the faces of the dice with a pencil, and then burned them into the wood. I cut the squares of wood from a piece of curly maple that I had available. These dice are about 1 inch square and have symbols on 4 sides, with 2 opposing sides blank. Each symbol has a specific meaning for doing an oracle reading. As you will probably notice, some of the symbols are based on rune symbols.
Speaking of runes, I've done several sets of runes on slices of tree branch that I cut myself. For some sets, I've used dry apple wood branches, and for others I've used dry willow branches. The reason for specific types of wood is that different types of wood have different specific metaphysical properties. I've only used the woodburner pen to make 1 set of runes. I had been carving the symbols into the wood with a hobby knife and using a red fine tip marker to color in the symbol after it's carved. With the woodburner, you don't need to color the symbols, the burner tip creates the color for the symbol. The runes I've made are based on the Elder Futhark.
I gave away the set of runes that I burned, so I can't show you those, but here's one of the sets that I carved the symbols into.
I haven't used the woodburner in about a year, but I've been thinking about getting it out again to make something with. I just haven't figured out what I want to make with it yet. I'm guessing that something will inspire me at some point.
That's all I have for this post, thanks for stopping by to check it out!
these are incredible!! i've always wanted a set of runes, just never bothered given the cost. you have awesome skills!
Well, I just happen to have an extra set of runes made from willow wood, a wood full of feminine energy...
They could be yours if I knew where to send them... :-)
bring them with you when you come out west ;)
Well, yes, I could certainly do that also. :-)
Very cool! My sister does artwork with a wood burner pen as well, and I just love seeing what is made! I love the astrology chart! Astrology is so interesting to me, so seeing this beautiful design just makes me happy!
Thank you!
I love the zodiac chart and your own personal dice. I had a friend that used the woodburner pen o didgeridoos that he made, it is such an amazing tool. Thanks for sharing your creations with us all xx
Thank you!
The husband and I were going to get husband and wife runes tattooed on our ring fingers. People won’t do it so we got tattooed bands
I love wood burning projects. I recently was gifted a better pen, but have yet to be able to get to work. For now I see sketches of something and I save it for when I can get back into my shop.
Glad someone else enjoys Pyrography.
I really don't work with the pyro pen as often as I wood like, I think I have too many hobbies... LOL
These are so cool. I've always wanted a wood burner, they aren't very expensive are they? Maybe I will get one to play around with. These are really inspiring.
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Thank you!
No, the wood burner pens are not too expensive, you should be able to get one at a craft store, or order one online if necessary. Over here, walmart has them in the crafts area.
To me, they look like a soldering iron with different tips. :-)
Next year, when i have some free time! There's just something really cool about it. Im not sure I can do.it as well as you!
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It's just a matter of practice. I draw the design on the wood with a pencil and then go over it with the wood burner pen, that way I have an idea of what it should look like when I'm done.
Those are awesome @amberyooper. What do you think about making wood "talismans" and/or "tokens" for carrrying (and or even sort of a whimsical and eclectic "barter" use as well)?
Thank you!
I think it would be fun to make talismans if I had some ideas for what kind of designs to make. They could certainly be used as barter tokens for things at a renne fair, for instance.
Well, I don't know if it would be too "trendy" but I bet vegvisir design would be popular. :D