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 have a B.S. in Social and
Behavioral Sciences (Psychology Major,
Sociology Minor). Hobbies: Forensic
Science (profiling), Gardening, Writing,
Painting, Sketching, Woodburning, and
Woodworking. The Internet (and this
website) allow 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. That's an old picture! I'll put
up soon, I'm having a new one made this
coming weekend so it won't be long. I have
used many mediums such as acrylics, lead
pencils, oils, pastels, and charcoal. I worked
for a company in New Mexico that printed
artist’s work on stationery and greeting
cards for several years. 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
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 30s. I sought 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
believed that my favorite designs would
look incredible burnt on a natural substance
like wood. 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 have a B.S. in Social and
Behavioral Sciences (Psychology Major,
Sociology Minor). Hobbies: Forensic
Science (profiling), Gardening, Writing,
Painting, Sketching, Woodburning, and
Woodworking. The Internet (and this
website) allow 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. That's an old picture! I'll put
up soon, I'm having a new one made this
coming weekend so it won't be long. I have
used many mediums such as acrylics, lead
pencils, oils, pastels, and charcoal. I worked
for a company in New Mexico that printed
artist’s work on stationery and greeting
cards for several years. 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
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 30s. I sought 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
believed that my favorite designs would
look incredible burnt on a natural substance
like wood. 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
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