Hey, The holidays are over, what better way to take your mind off of the troubles in the world, but to get your wood burner back out and work on you basics. Here are a couple of things to do to increase your pyrography skills:



1. Practice burning a value scale. Remember, what ever you are burning on is the lightest light you can get. And just shy of starting a fire will be the darkest you can acheive. Try this:....draw five or six 1/2" squares in a row on what ever you are burning on, leave the first one blank, that's your lightest light. Then go to the last one and make it as dark as you can. OK, now see if you can make the middle ones middle range values from light to dark.



2. learn as much as you can about vanishing points ( There are many good books available on this subject). Remember, things that are further away from you will get lighter. This is one reason why being able to do a good value scale is so important.



3. Try different tips, until you are comfortable with one. ( I rarely use more than 2 tips on a subject anymore, and usually only one.)



OK, that should get you started, I'll be back soon with some more suggestions.



Ron