Laura Irish is a nationally recognized artist, and has authored numerous books. In the Great Book of Woodburning: Pyrography Techniques, Patterns, & Projects for All Skill Levels, she begins by discussing the various types of woodburners available, then covers preparatory subjects, including how to prepare a surface, and how to make and transfer patterns. Laura Irish brings a strong focus to the topic of judging depth of color, and also concentrates on teaching an understanding of tonal values and how to control them through the use of textures and layers.
The Great Book of Woodburning is a very thorough resource for learning and practicing a wide variety of texture strokes; key skills that can be brought into play with every project that a woodburner tackles. Laura Irish strongly recommends creating a 'practice board', onto which the many texture strokes should be applied. This practice board becomes, in effect, a 'palette', showcasing, and reminding the student of, the many textures and shading techniques that are always available for use. Techniques and textures include crosshatching, linear circles, random curls, check marks, zigzag, grass strokes, wavy lines, seashell circles, tight circles, scales, quilting, herringbone, diagonal ripples, water ripples, scrubby lines, tall grass, bricks, and straight line variations. The book also covers gradient tones and the sepia scale - tonal values and textures - the keys to creating any well rendered woodburning project.
The use of color with pyrographic work and finishing options are also discussed. More than thirty projects are presented in the Great Book of Woodburning. Each project includes a traceable pattern, and they are divided into a natural progression of skills; from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced.
190 pages. Paperback.
ISBN-13: 978-1-56523-287-7
ISBN-10: 1-56523-287-9
