Featured Artist Aney Carver

Aney Carver uses a pyrography technique that creates deeply textured, richly patterned and brightly colored artwork. Visit her website to see more of her portfolio.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“Scarves and Polka Dots” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. Pencil drawing is where I started years ago, and I turned my love of art and creating into a graphic design career.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“Shush Glasses” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 12″ x 8″

 

I pulled away from art for a while, but then I started burning wood in 2015 and I created Pyrocrafters, a site featuring unique and handmade pyrography art in 2016. I spent several years burning commissioned portraits and signs. In the last year, however, I started working on my personal artistic style and what inspires me to create.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“Staring in Blue” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

It’s not an understatement to say that everything inspires me. I find inspiration in people’s expressive faces, in nature, textures, light and color.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“Thinking in Light” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

My eyes will connect with shapes and they will hit me in a certain way, which then becomes a vision in my head of something new. I try to capture and emphasize what makes the shape of something stand out. For example, I find that the way light and color form a person’s face so fascinating. I love to recreate their spirit and energy with burn lines and vivid colors.

 

wood burned floral by Aney Carver

“Sunflower” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

Burning texture deep into the wood is my technique of choice. I love, love, love to burn deep texture.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“Confidence in Orange” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

There is something about the sounds and the feel of burning wood that is so addictive. My textures become squiggle lines and silhouettes that take the form of an object through density. The dense burn lines are dark shadows and loose burn lines are highlights.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“Flower Shine” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 12″ x 8″

 

I enjoy being able to create a version of realism that is somewhat impressionistic. Once I stopped doing commissions, it took a while for me to discover my own process. But when I found my style, I fell in love with burning all over again.

 

wood burned floral by Aney Carver

“Color Poof” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

I have a passion for color theory and how it generates emotion. Adding watercolor to my burns creates energy outside of the shades of a brown burn pallet. I punch up the scene with an intensity that builds a story. I love to mix bright palettes and exaggerated colors to add depth and drama that makes it hard to look away.

 

wood burned portrait by Aney Carver

“In the Garden” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

When I originally started burning, it quickly became all about selling my art through custom requests. I got burned out (no pun intended) on the business side of filling orders. Now I want to continue to explore my newfound style, build my art portfolio, put my pieces in galleries and license my art.

 

wood burned abstract by Aney Carver

“Bokeh” hand burned on basswood with watercolors, 8″ x 12″

 

My goal is to focus on channeling what I find beautiful and interesting to look at and create new pieces through those inspirations. If I’m able to generate joy and curiosity for others, that would be a major bonus.

 

Artist Aney Carver invites you to follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

 

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