Interested in being a Patron to the Arts?

I know many of you like what I--and other artists--do, but don't quite know how to support us. Maybe you love the art, but haven't found that just right piece to purchase yet. Maybe you love the art, but have no use for it personally, and so (reasonably) haven't purchased anything. Maybe you just don't have the money to spend on an artist's work--I think many of us have been there! But, you still love the art, and you still do want some way to support it.

Let me introduce you to Patreon.

Patreon is a website that allows people to become patrons of their favorite artists. It also allows artists to connect with their fans by creating campaigns explaining their work, their goals, and what they are trying to achieve. Artists can set whatever goals they like, and patrons can donate any amount they like; artists are supported, and patrons get special perks and gifts for supporting something they like anyway. It's a great win-win situation!

Since quitting my job to care for my son and pursue art full-time-- a decision you can read about in full here--I've been struggling to meet all my goals. I can usually meet my business bills, and I can usually put food on the table, but that's about as far as it's gotten. Do I think it can get better? Yes. Do I have the patience to persevere? Yes.

But I'm not ashamed to ask for help, either.

I've got some lofty goals I want to meet with this business. First, I want to make enough to put food on the table and pay some basic bills, which I'm pretty much doing. But I could do better with some equipment upgrades and supplies, and without support it's going to take quite a long while to get those. Still, that's my Selfish Reason, and it's low on my priority ladder.

More importantly for me, I want to spread the knowledge of pyrography as much as I can. I want to educate people about this (obscure) artistic medium, spread some knowledge about it's history and modern applications, and help people to get into the hobby themselves.


Doing this means I have to accomplish a few specific things, including:
--Getting out to Festivals, Cons, and other events.
--Getting vendor insurance, so events and festivals are more likely to allow me to demonstrate on-site.
--Getting equipment to record proper, high-quality tutorials and training videos.

And, ultimately:

--Eventually, getting funds to rent space for hands-on pyrography workshops.

That's where you and Patreon come in. I've set up my own Patreon account, explaining my goals (which will change from month to month, depending on need) and giving perks for each level of contribution. These perks include 20% off of ANY order at ANY time in my Etsy shop, for the length of your patronage.







(NOTE: payments are automatically reoccurring, so if you only want to make a one-time contribution, please be sure to set a calendar reminder to cancel your contributions at the end of the month!)

I hope you'll consider giving the site a visit, and perhaps becoming a patron yourself. There are a lot of worthwhile artists on that site, so please brows around while you're there!

And, as always, thank you so very much for your support.

Want to do Pyrography? Yippee!!!!

What do you NEED to do pyrography?

I get asked pretty often what tools I use to create my work. Here’s a list:

1. Wood - unfinished. Never use anything you suspect has been finished or treated in any way!
2. Sandpaper - I use 150 grit, then 220 grit, but you can certainly go higher.
3. No. 2 Pencils - better than graphite paper or other transfer techniques; it’s non-toxic, erases/sands off easily, and it’s cheap!
4. A white eraser - the pink ones can leave pink smudges on your wood.
5. Exacto-knife - even the best of us make mistakes, and an exacto works as a useful “eraser.”
6. Something to clean your pen with - Ideally this should be a soft brass brush, or a polishing material (aluminum oxide) and leather strop to clean. You can also use your exacto-knife for this. I use a whetting stone, which is WRONG AND BAD AND DON’T DO IT, but whatever, I’m a rule breaker.
   
   And finally:

7) A Pyrography Pen.

If you’re starting off, get a cheap pyro pen at your craft store. For years, I used Walnut Hollow’s. It’s inexpensive and serviceable. Invest in the interchangeable tips, too, as different tips are useful for different techniques. Also, keep a set of pliers on hand to change the tips while they’re still too hot to touch; these pens take a ridiculously long time to heat up and cool down.

Walnut Hollow Pen
Walnut Hollow Tips

They also get uncomfortable to hold after a while, so you may have to get creative with insulating the handle. (I used to use tissues and duct tape, but for obvious reasons, I don’t recommend you do the same.)

If you know you like pyrography, and you’re interested in investing in better tools, then it’s time to get an adjustable-temperature pen. There are two main types: fixed tip and wire tip. Fixed tips have interchangeable pen attachments with different shaped tips. Wire-tips have, well, a wire tip, that you can bend, shape, and grind down to suit your needs. I prefer the fixed-tip kind, but they both have advantages.

I recommend getting an Optima 1, which is what I currently use. The adjustable temperature settings are extremely useful, and it’s one of your least expensive choices, as well.

Optima 1 Resources

If really want to invest in an excellent pen, I hear nothing but wonderful things about the Razortip. Be warned, though, it’s obscenely expensive. I haven’t been able to afford one, yet, but I hope to someday.

Razertip Website

REMEMBER: WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA.

I hope this is helpful!

A Word on Copycatting

Hey all! This is really important, so please read!

I truly enjoy creating tutorials for you guys. I want to see more people involved with pyrography, and I like helping people get better at this unique art form.

But I would ask you--I would beg you--to use my tutorials as examples and inspiration only.

Please do not directly copy my designs. 

I've seen quite a few people use my tutorials to make their own art, and that's wonderful! What isn't wonderful is when that art is clearly attempting to exactly copy my own. 

It really does not take much to change the design, and make it uniquely yours.  

I would deeply appreciate it if you would make a unique design of your own, rather than attempting to directly copy one of mine. 

Thank you so much for your consideration!

Tutorial : Pentacles Part 2 - Make It Fancy

First, please read this disclaimer. Thanks!

Now that you've created your pentacle shape, you have to decide whether you want your pentacle to be simple and clean, or all fancy.

Let's assume you want to make a fancy pentacle. Here's how I, personally, find it easiest to create the design.

First, decide what sort of design you want. For the example, I'm going with the theme of "abundance." I've chosen to decorate the pentacle with crop plants, specifically beets, wheat, and grape vines.  Since this design is for a client, and I have to get the client's approval before I start working on the wood, I'll be creating the design on paper first. You can work on paper or directly on the wood. If you choose to work directly on the wood, however, you must use a very light touch with the pencil. Frankly, I would suggest working on paper first.

Start by transferring the dimensions of the wood piece onto the paper.You can do this with a compass and a ruler, or you can use tracing paper to trace the pentacle you've already drawn on the wood.

Vendor POV: Wicked Faire IX: Through The Hedge

This year, I didn't attend Wicked Faire as a congoer. I attended as a vendor. VENDOOOOOOOOOOR. Yes! Let me tell you, vending is definitely a different experience from being a guest. If you're thinking about vending at a big con or festival like Wicked, this post might help you out.

First: What is Wicked Faire? And why was I so excited to vend there?

From the webpage: “The Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire is a miniature explosion of entertainment and activity, wrapped up in a fresh-baked Renaissance Faire exterior, filled to the brim with big tasty chunks of well-seasoned festival, spiced with a bit of convention, then dipped in a sauce of unconvention, and served at a terribly low price during one fantastic frenetic weekend every year. Only not so much with the “miniature” part. There are so many madly diverse fun things going on at any one time that, in general, if you come looking to find a good time, you are damn likely to find one.”

That's a pretty good description. The event takes place in the Doubletree hotel in Somerset, NJ. Every conference room in the hotel has vendors, or panels, or workshops, or some type of performance (musicians, magicians, burlesque, dancers, and more). They're all filled, all day, every day of the con. Frankly, there's almost too much to do. And even if you don't want to do anything, the people watching is pretty great. A lot of people come in costume, and since this isn't an anime or fandom convention, the costumes run the gamut of genres and genre-bending creativity.

It's also 16+, and while it isn't as risque as it used to be (the creators of Wicked have started some new cons specifically for the kinky and risque) it's still NOT a kid's faire. The entertainment, panels, and costuming is definitely adult-oriented. 

I've attended six out of the nine Wicked Faires. Wicked was also my very first ever vending gig. So it has a pretty special place in my heart. Being accepted to vend again was a huge deal for me. 

My First Booth: Wicked Faire 2005

Wicked Faire 2014

Pagan.

For anyone who might have been wondering why I make so many Goddess figures, Green Men, and Pentacles... yes, I'm actually Pagan.

As a matter of fact, sometimes I DO dress as a witch for Halloween!

Tutorial: Pentacles Part 1 - Shaping the Pentacle

First, please read this disclaimer. Thanks!

This is Part 1 of 3 on Making a Pentacle. The only things we'll cover here is preparing the wood and drafting the pentacle shape.

Part 2 will be about adding embellishments, and Part 3 will be about burning the design.

1. Collect your Materials

You will need the following:
- A wooden disc
-Sandpaper (150 grit and 220 grit, or higher.)
-No. 2 Pencil
-Eraser, white
-Tracing Paper
-Compass
-Protractor
- 12" ruler

I draft each and every pentacle from scratch. I  could make a