Elizabeth was born in Texas, the third of 6
children. Moved to Alabama at age 11.
Married with two grown sons, ages 23
and 32. I am part Blackfoot Sioux. I have
a B.S. in Social and Behavioral Sciences
(Psychology Major, Sociology Minor).
Hobbies: Forensic Science (profiling),
Gardening (I design Serenity Gardens),
Writing, Painting, Sketching,
Woodburning, and Woodworking. The
Internet (and this website) allows me to
incorporate all my favorite hobbies and
talents into one space!
Art is my passion. I’ve been an artist ever
since I picked up my first crayon, that’s
about 45 years. By the way, that's an old
picture! I'll put up a new one some day.
In my artwork, I have used many mediums
such as acrylics, lead pencils, oils, pastels,
and charcoal. I worked for a company in New
Mexico, Southwestern Arts and Graphics
(SAGA) for several years that printed artist’s
work on stationery and greeting cards.
During that time, my love and appreciation
for Native American (I’m part Native
American-Blackfoot Sioux) and
Southwestern design grew.
About 12 years ago (or longer), I began
having strokes (but was misdiagnosed as
having major depression and went untreated
or mistreated for about 3 years). At that
time, I was a 2-time cancer survivor, so I
didn't let those nasty 'falling out' spells and
loss of everything else, stop me.
Unfortunately, the frequent undiagnosed
strokes kept me paralyzed half the time on
half my body, so I was disabled in my late
40's. I was forced to seek a new form of art
that did not require 100% of my vision
which had been effected by several strokes.
Ten years ago, I bought a simple
woodburner at the local department store. I
thought that my favorite designs would look
incredible burnt on a natural substance like
wood where the natural grain still showed.
That was the beginning of a wonderful love
of a completely new art form. Now, my
specialty is Southwestern and Native
American art, but I can even blaze the
finest details of the human form in any
wood. I am also a woodcarver. I get that
from dear old dad. I've been woodcarving
and burning (I combine both) for several
years. The result is wonderful. With a little
patience, quality equipment, supplies, and
just a little imagination, you can learn how
to become a pyrographer.
Woodburning allowed me to regain most of
the use of my hands and vision, but further
strokes prevented me from continuing my
much loved work. Today, I am a 3-time
survivor of cancer (nasty little cancer gene
that runs in the family), and with the right
equipment, I'll be back woodburning soon!
History of Pyrography
The art of woodburning patterns, pictures,
or freelance onto wood or any substance
that will burn with a hand tool resembling a
soldering iron (I used one once to see if it
had the same effect) is called pyrography. It
requires a few special tools, a good deal of
patience, a medium to burn, a pattern to
transfer onto the medium or freelance art,
and a good flat surface (oh, and a painters
mask or good ventilation) and you’re ready
to begin. Woodburning has been around
since the pyramids and has been practiced
worldwide. Egyptians, African tribes,
Europeans, Hungarians, Argentineans,
Native Americans, and Americans have
practiced this art form for centuries in
general. In face, it was once the sole
province of duck and wood carvers. Today
wood burners are being used by virtually
everyone and on almost any median
including wood (any), ivory, rubber, leather,
gourds, cork, x-ray film, eggshells, vellum,
paper, leaves, and bone. I was drawn to the
art form the first time I saw a picture
burned onto wood. I love working with
natural elements. Below are some basic
steps for the novice and a great place to
start if you want to learn this fun art form.
What is the difference between arts and
crafts?
Craft comes from the German word Kraft,
meaning power or ability. Crafting is skilled
work: any kind (craft) and involves some
level of skill of an applied technique (and
can be mechanical). Crafting may require
tools or merely the use of hands. When we
think of crafting, we think of making or
producing some sort of object that has
function or purpose. In that respect, some
level of skill and intelligence is required to
craft.
Art has a purpose as well, aesthetics. It
evokes an emotion. Art requires talent but
not necessarily skill and I believe you will
find most artist are intelligent. While talent
can be cultivated in artists, imagination
comes from within. It is this imagination
and human spirit that defines the difference
between arts and crafts.
Most artists are crafters but not all crafters
are artists.
children. Moved to Alabama at age 11.
Married with two grown sons, ages 23
and 32. I am part Blackfoot Sioux. I have
a B.S. in Social and Behavioral Sciences
(Psychology Major, Sociology Minor).
Hobbies: Forensic Science (profiling),
Gardening (I design Serenity Gardens),
Writing, Painting, Sketching,
Woodburning, and Woodworking. The
Internet (and this website) allows me to
incorporate all my favorite hobbies and
talents into one space!
Art is my passion. I’ve been an artist ever
since I picked up my first crayon, that’s
about 45 years. By the way, that's an old
picture! I'll put up a new one some day.
In my artwork, I have used many mediums
such as acrylics, lead pencils, oils, pastels,
and charcoal. I worked for a company in New
Mexico, Southwestern Arts and Graphics
(SAGA) for several years that printed artist’s
work on stationery and greeting cards.
During that time, my love and appreciation
for Native American (I’m part Native
American-Blackfoot Sioux) and
Southwestern design grew.
About 12 years ago (or longer), I began
having strokes (but was misdiagnosed as
having major depression and went untreated
or mistreated for about 3 years). At that
time, I was a 2-time cancer survivor, so I
didn't let those nasty 'falling out' spells and
loss of everything else, stop me.
Unfortunately, the frequent undiagnosed
strokes kept me paralyzed half the time on
half my body, so I was disabled in my late
40's. I was forced to seek a new form of art
that did not require 100% of my vision
which had been effected by several strokes.
Ten years ago, I bought a simple
woodburner at the local department store. I
thought that my favorite designs would look
incredible burnt on a natural substance like
wood where the natural grain still showed.
That was the beginning of a wonderful love
of a completely new art form. Now, my
specialty is Southwestern and Native
American art, but I can even blaze the
finest details of the human form in any
wood. I am also a woodcarver. I get that
from dear old dad. I've been woodcarving
and burning (I combine both) for several
years. The result is wonderful. With a little
patience, quality equipment, supplies, and
just a little imagination, you can learn how
to become a pyrographer.
Woodburning allowed me to regain most of
the use of my hands and vision, but further
strokes prevented me from continuing my
much loved work. Today, I am a 3-time
survivor of cancer (nasty little cancer gene
that runs in the family), and with the right
equipment, I'll be back woodburning soon!
History of Pyrography
The art of woodburning patterns, pictures,
or freelance onto wood or any substance
that will burn with a hand tool resembling a
soldering iron (I used one once to see if it
had the same effect) is called pyrography. It
requires a few special tools, a good deal of
patience, a medium to burn, a pattern to
transfer onto the medium or freelance art,
and a good flat surface (oh, and a painters
mask or good ventilation) and you’re ready
to begin. Woodburning has been around
since the pyramids and has been practiced
worldwide. Egyptians, African tribes,
Europeans, Hungarians, Argentineans,
Native Americans, and Americans have
practiced this art form for centuries in
general. In face, it was once the sole
province of duck and wood carvers. Today
wood burners are being used by virtually
everyone and on almost any median
including wood (any), ivory, rubber, leather,
gourds, cork, x-ray film, eggshells, vellum,
paper, leaves, and bone. I was drawn to the
art form the first time I saw a picture
burned onto wood. I love working with
natural elements. Below are some basic
steps for the novice and a great place to
start if you want to learn this fun art form.
What is the difference between arts and
crafts?
Craft comes from the German word Kraft,
meaning power or ability. Crafting is skilled
work: any kind (craft) and involves some
level of skill of an applied technique (and
can be mechanical). Crafting may require
tools or merely the use of hands. When we
think of crafting, we think of making or
producing some sort of object that has
function or purpose. In that respect, some
level of skill and intelligence is required to
craft.
Art has a purpose as well, aesthetics. It
evokes an emotion. Art requires talent but
not necessarily skill and I believe you will
find most artist are intelligent. While talent
can be cultivated in artists, imagination
comes from within. It is this imagination
and human spirit that defines the difference
between arts and crafts.
Most artists are crafters but not all crafters
are artists.
About the Artist
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
