Featured Artist Marsha Wilson

Artist Marsha Wilson uses a fascinating technique called pyrography to create intricate artwork. See more of her work by visiting her website.

 

 

Born in Weatherford, Texas in 1967, I am a self-taught artist in the ancient technique of pyrography. I now live in Klamath Falls, Oregon with my husband, Chris.

 

 

Pyrography is the burning of art with heated metal on anything that will take the heat. I usually burn on Baltic Birch wood, Bristol board paper and vegetable tanned leather. I find the burning tool to be very slow, methodical and relaxing.

 

 

The fact that there is no room for errors, or a way of fixing mistakes frightens many people, but when you are working at such a tedious pace the mistakes are small. The results resemble the sepia tones of an antique photograph and lend an air of nostalgia to my work.

 

 

I began this journey with a scrap board of Texas Cedar and an old wood burner with no temperature control, burning solid silhouettes and word signs. After seventeen years, I still enjoy the challenges and find new techniques all the time. Along the way I have been honored with several awards, like the first ever awarded Best in Show at the Sedona Arts Festival October 2022.

 

 

The biggest joy I get is in sharing with people who have never seen pyrography before, or who have tried wood burning and are surprised by all the different things that can be done with it. This has led to teaching classes online and through the Woodcraft store in Sacramento, as well as exhibiting in shows at galleries, festivals, art shows, and online.

 

 

I would describe my style as using the fire of transformation to breathe life into dead materials resulting in a soft interpretation of realism. I believe art should encourage and lighten our spirits and decorate our walls.

 

 

Lately I have been working on a series of miniatures. Each piece is only 3” square on a different surface. I have assembled all the different things possible to burn on including bone, antler, rice paper, gourd, togue seed, cork, mushroom, cotton muslin, wool felt, as well as a dozen species of wood.

 

 

My favorite subject matter is architecture. I get enchanted by evenly spaced lines and dramatic shadows, or sunlight streaming through a window. I also enjoy the challenge of large pieces as in a herd of buffalo burned on cowhide.

 

Marsha Wilson invites you to follow on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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