Smoky Wood Studios

Welcome to this week's Pyrography Notebook Entry! Safe Woods for Pyrography: Basswood is one of the most popular woods used by wood-burning artists. It is a solid choice because it's easy to burn, has very little grain and it burns beautifully. You'll get a nice contrast between the wood and the deep color of the burning. It is available in all shapes and sizes with and without bark. Italian poplar plywood is also very light in color and has a very even, smooth grain. Similar to basswood,...

Hi there, can you believe it's September already? This means it is time to open the commissions for the month! Here is what I have available: 2 Guitar-shapes that measure 15 x 12 inches 2 rectangular pieces that measure 14 x 10 Use Code: Sept324 to access and order! Let's do it If you want to see what I have done in the past, click here for the Gallery. What else is new? Well, I have been having so much fun creating the mini pyrography mushroom pieces that I thought I would create some...

Welcome to this week's Pyrography Notebook Entry! One of the hazards is the fine dust when sanding the wood or in some cases the pitch/sap or resin that emits harmful fumes when burning. There is research out there that indicates long-term exposure to the dust and fumes from these woods can cause asthma or increase the risk of more serious illnesses, such as nasal cancer. Molds can also trigger allergic reactions, and you should take extra precautions when using spalted materials. Some woods...

I'm excited to share some big news! My art is now officially available at the Crozet Artisan Depot. With fall just around the corner, I've been busy creating some pumpkin ornaments for the upcoming Pumpkin Witch Market. I'll add some of these pieces to my website later today, so be sure to check it out if you're interested. And the winner of the personalized pencil box is: Frank P. Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon. Cheers, Petra WANT TO SEE ME OR MY WORK IN PERSON? Upcoming...

Welcome to this week's Pyrography Notebook Entry! Softwoods vs. Hardwoods: Wood species are broadly categorized into two main types: softwoods and hardwoods. Softwoods come from coniferous trees, such as pine, cedar, and spruce, while hardwoods are derived from deciduous trees like oak, maple, and cherry. Despite the names, hardwoods aren't necessarily harder than softwoods; the distinction is based on botanical classification. Characteristics of Softwoods: Grain Patterns: Softwoods typically...

I’ve survived another year of the Fluvanna County Fair! The weather was nearly perfect for all three days. We encountered a brief thunderstorm on Saturday, but it turned out to be a wonderful weekend overall. I’ve reviewed the sales and updated the website so you can purchase items before I select which ones will be displayed in the new gallery, which will open tomorrow. As there’s limited time for you to choose, I encourage you to act quickly. Shop Now I’m preparing for the holiday season,...

Welcome to this week's Pyrography Notebook Entry! When you are interested in wood-burning, you might wonder if the tool you see at the craft store is the only option. Good news, it isn't! When I first started wood-burning I quickly discovered the Colwood Detailer Wood-burning tool. What I love about it is that it is temperature controlled allowing me to be more in control of the heat. This is important because each wood burns differently and some materials like Tagua Nut require more heat....

We were without power last Friday due to the storm moving through and that meant I had a forced day off. But I am still going to be at the Fluvanna County Fair on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you're local to the area, be sure and come by and say hello! August Commission Spots This is the time to start thinking about Christmas, how crazy is that? I have the Hexagons and the two Live-Edge Ovals left for the commission! Win a personalized pencil box Enter Now to win WANT TO SEE ME OR MY...

Welcome to this week's Pyrography Notebook Entry! A few months ago I was invited to be part of another local art store. It's one of those places where your work gets juried and I kinda forgot about it. And then I received an email to bring in some of my art so they could see it in person, which was a bit nerve-wracking. The big part was making sure that I used a wood-burning pen and not a laser for my art. I was offered a contract and in about two weeks will be delivering my first pieces to...