Decorating leather with pyrography

[Johanna]

I get the most interesting mail!

This artist is from Brazil or Minnesota, not sure, and here is his description of his work:

I have been crafting my maps on leather using technique called PYROGRAPHY. Pyrography is the skill of using fire to create art. PYRO means fire and GRAPH means art. Perhaps the first art was done by the caveman on a piece of animal skin with a stick of burning wood. The maps I make are entirely done by hand which makes every piece very unique. In my work I use fine ox leather, simple tools and well practiced fire engraving methods. All the lines and shades are burned into the leather thus impossible to erase or fade. Dyes are applied to the skin to create deeper shades and contrasts. Next, the surface is coated with plant solution to protect it against time and insects. Finally, natural paste is applied to attain fine finish. The completed piece can be hanged with wooden rods and leather straps or enclosed into a wooden frame to complement any setting whetter it is home or office.

My maps are highly decorative, elegant and engaging. They make unforgettable souvenir, unique gift or breathtaking decoration which only becomes more beautiful with time. Because I use raw leather and hand tools each piece is slightly distinct and projects its individuality.

See examples at mapsonleather.com Be sure to look at the colored versions, too:

http://www.mapsonleather.com/coucol75100ab.html

It's not a very easy site to navigate, but click here and hover your cursor over "List of maps". After you make your selection, hover your cursor on the small images, and the picture will display in a larger size on the right side of the screen.

I was really impressed with the detail the artist/historian includes in all the pieces. I would guess that when paper was cost prohibitive and fragile, many a map was made in this fashion- even after a rough storm at sea, you could read it! Has anyone here ever tried pyrography? I've seen examples of it, but never anything on this order. I emailed the artist and invited him to have a look around leatherworker.net.

Johanna

[whinewine]

I presently have an article in for submission to Leathercrafter's Journal on creating a hanging business banner: it is meant as a visual advertisement to show off a few of my leatherworking skills and incorporates pyrography, carving and embossing on several different panels sewn onto a suede hide. This was my very first attempt at pyrography, and I plan to experiment further, but right now, I'm really strapped for time & have other commitments.

Btw, the maps are really quite neat!

[Johanna]

Whinewine- can you give us a tease about the article? maybe a pic or a description of the process(es)? Doggone it, I'm gonna have to renew my sub to the LC & SJ again!

Johanna

[whinewine]

Here is a small section of the banner, showing only the pyrography. I havent rotated it to a vertical position ('cause I don't know how- it took me long enough how to figure to post it here- [assuming I actually did it correctly]).

I don't know if they will use the article. As I said, it is in submission stage & I'm waiting to hear.

Russ

Edited January 13, 2007 by Johanna

[Johanna]

I flipped it for you. Wow. Love the detail on the dragon scales. Is that done with a heat tool? I remember as a kid using a magnifying glass and sunshine to burn designs onto wood. (Probably lucky I didn't start a major fire!) Obviously, your method is a lot more precise and gives you better control. Thanks for sharing!

Johanna

[whinewine]

Yes, it is done with a heat tool. As I said before, it is my very first attempt at pyrography.

[SmilinJim]

Whinewine, your work is great. Please post more when you have the time. I would like to see more of the banner.

I absolutely love the maps. Being a surveyor, maps have been an integral part of my life for... well a long time. I've got to get more info on this and will share whatever I can find that I think will be of interest.

Jim

[bruce johnson]

Actually we have been doing pyrography on the living beast for a couple thousand years at least. I have been doing some pyrography on hair-on inlays for quite awhile too. A few tips I found - It is hard to use a real branding iron and do a good job. Easy to burn through the hide, hair catches fire and blotches, and you are limited by the size of the brand. What I do is to use the woodburning pen with the point that looks like a modeling spoon. I just burn throught the hair, and then glide it forward, scorching the hair off as I go. It is not a real fast glide, as my woodburner just doesn't build up that kind of heat. Gives me a lot of control though. I make the pattern from a stencil, and then just mark out the lines with with a Sharpie of a color that will show up directly on the hair. This hair is going to be burned off anyway. Once the design is burned down to the hide, I dye it with a black Sharpie. I then brush on LeatherSheen over the black. This seals it a bit. I have attached a photo of a prototype wine list cover for an upscale restaurant I shipped today. The "R" is their logo.

I have a few questions for anyone who has done it on vegtan leather. I have seen some pretty magnificent pyrography sketches on leather, similar to pencil sketches. It was done with a woodburning pen with the different points. It was different western sketches on open panels with tooling around them to frame the sketch - photoalbums, Bible covers, that sort of thing. This work was done on what appeared to be oiled leather and had a finish on it. Unable to get many details because this was a consignment to a guy with a tradeshow booth, and he didn't know. I see on the leather and wood pyrography sites they recommend no oil in the leather and no finish applied. Anybody had any problems with it oiled or finished? Any cool tricks?

Thanks,

Bruce Johnson

[ClayB]

Hi Bruce,

That turned out really neat! I have never used hair on hide. Never even thought of using it, until I saw your picture. Personalizing something with someones own brand might go over really well. I might just have to try it with my own brand on something. Thanks for sharing your picture. I have gotten a lot of ideas in the last few days. I hope everyone keeps sharing pictures of what they are doing.

Clay

[abn]

Yeah, that is spectacular work, Bruce. Thanks for sharing your tips on how to do it right. Beautiful.

[Romey]

"This artist is from Brazil or Minnesota"

That narrows it down,haha

[Justis Cases]

I have a few questions for anyone who has done it on vegtan leather. I have seen some pretty magnificent pyrography sketches on leather, similar to pencil sketches. It was done with a woodburning pen with the different points. It was different western sketches on open panels with tooling around them to frame the sketch - photoalbums, Bible covers, that sort of thing. This work was done on what appeared to be oiled leather and had a finish on it. Unable to get many details because this was a consignment to a guy with a tradeshow booth, and he didn't know. I see on the leather and wood pyrography sites they recommend no oil in the leather and no finish applied. Anybody had any problems with it oiled or finished? Any cool tricks?

Thanks,

Bruce Johnson

I had a gentleman come up to my booth at one of the billiard shows and had a few samples of work he had done for several major league ball players. He said it was done with a woodburning tool and all he would need is a photo. Actually, he wanted to trade his services for one of my cases. I agreed and the case below is the one he did his work on. His name is Jim Williams and if I remember correctly he was from the mid west....Kansas I believe. I sent him a blank case finished with Resolene. I remember him calling me and complaining that the finish seemed to melt and hindered the detail. It looked OK to me but you know how these artist are. LOL

[grumpyold]

I do lots of pyrography on leather. I use mink oil paste to finish projects as it is the product I found darkens the leather the least. If you use a product that darks the leather you will have to adjust how dark you burn the design, other wise the detail will disappear. Doodle on scrap piece of leather you will use for the project and then apply finish, you should be able to see how much darker you need to burn.