Jessica Davidson
I have always loved exploring new mediums, so when I purchased a pyrography kit a year or so ago, I knew that I was going to have a blast with it. I was right. I quickly became captivated with this fiery art form. I did some experimenting with projects that were solely pyrography, but I felt there was still something missing. Color. Color was one of my first loves when I was discovering art.
As a young girl, I got a set of 50 colored pencils for my birthday and made it my goal to use every single one of them on one paper. I did, and the blindingly colorful result brought a smile to my face.
When I created my first multi-medium pyrography piece, I was concerned because I knew the pyrography wasn’t the primary focus anymore, but I also knew that I had stumbled upon something I could find tremendous enjoyment in because it has allowed me to combine several things I love into intricate artworks that can fit in the palm of my hand.
Firstly, it allows me to be connected to the ancient art world through pyrography. Classical artwork fascinates and inspires me, so to be doing something in the 21st century that was being done hundreds of years ago is very cool to me. Secondly, it allows me to appease that little girl inside of me who just loves to see artwork filled to the brim with colors and details. Thirdly, it allows me to make my work into a double entendre by putting “nature on nature” so to speak. I love a good pun. And finally, it allows me to honor the creator of the real, breathtaking nature that is to be seen all around the world.
As I have gotten out of my comfort zone the past few years, I have explored aesthetics and ideas that I would not have expected. These experiments and discoveries helped me to branch out with my art, but they also helped me to narrow down the things I love most. I have never fully strayed from several of my original loves, which were my fascination with colors and nature.
I’m captivated by artwork that is filled to the brim with color and detail, and so the result of these pieces is pleasing to me. However, the process of planning, sketching, and blending the colors on the wood surface is also very important and satisfying to me. It scratches that “artistic itch”.
It also allows me the advantage of adding details in pyrography. To me this adds a nice contrast to the vibrant colors, sets my pieces apart from pieces that are solely colored pencil, and keeps me connected to pyrography. Pyrography is one of my favorite rural art forms, as well as the root of my inspiration for these.
Finally, the delicacy of these pieces is important to me. I have done pieces of varying sizes, but these are among the most enjoyable for me. I love being able to hold them in the palm of my hand while I work on them, and then easily put them in my backpack for traveling. They are also relatively easy to complete for someone who has the attention span of a stick bug.