CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Burn It

Burn it up—the wood that is. I did wood-burning projects when I was a kid so this took me back to my childhood. I coated the finished piece with “wax” that I made with heavy gel matte.

In the Fields

8" × 8" (20cm × 20cm)

Materials list

Mediums

clear gesso (or acrylic ground for pastels), heavy gel matte

Paints

green, Quinacridone Gold, Sepia

Misc.

laser black-and-white print, natural wood panel, wood-burning tools

Freehand

Try the wood burning free-hand. This eliminates transferring the image from a laser print.

STEP 1: Transfer an Image

Select your image and print a black-and-white copy from a laser printer. Tape the laser print onto a natural wood panel, image side down. Attach the transfer tip onto your wood-burning tool and press down over the print to transfer the outline of the image.

STEP 2: Burn the Image Into the Wood

Once the general outline of the image is transferred to the wood, begin burning the image into the wood using alternating tips on the heat tool. (Take precautions with hot tools.)

STEP 3: Apply Paints

Once the design is burned in, apply diluted clear gesso over the surface (or substitute with diluted acrylic ground for pastel). Apply a layer of watered-down acrylic paints and let it dry. Continue to develop your painting with more paint, but keep the paint transparent.

STEP 4: Cover With Heavy Gel Matte

Then cover with heavy gel matte.