The Art of Leather Pyrography for Beginners: A Manual on Drawing and Lettering on Leather with Step-by-Step Techniques with Essential Tips and Projects

By Clarence A. Wolk

You can carry out the beautiful art of pyrography on leather. YES!

Simple and exquisite guide to leather pyrography for artifacts and clothing accessories

Easy to follow projects to build your confidence levels with leather burning.

Stepwise illustrated guides to ease you into the process of working with fire on leather.

In-depth explanation on leather, pyrography pens, and processes to carry out on leather before burning.

Simple hints on hand positions when burning leather, how leather reacts to the pyrography process etc.

Are you a newbie to burning on leather or you are already a wood pyrography enthusiast who is looking to working with other interesting surfaces to burn on? Then you are in the right place as “The Art of Leather Pyrography for Beginners” is your go-to guide on everything you need to know about leather pyrography.

Within the pages of this book, you will discover ways to bring to life your beautiful creations. Learn how to go about this process if you are an absolute beginner with no idea about what pyrography is all about or an experienced hand looking at relearning new and amazing things about leather burning. The designs you created can be burnt in novel ways onto leather surfaces.

 

Bring out your creative genius with helpful hints you will find in this book as you burn on leather!

 

Amaze yourself today with cool leather pyrography projects!

 

Grab a copy NOW!

• Language: English
• Publisher: NKK
• Release date: Jun 25, 2024

Book preview

Preface

This book employs rigorous and innovative pyrography techniques to teach you the foundation and basics involved in leather pyrography. Leather pyrography is an ancient form of art that has been in existence for eons. Today the society has placed much value on the combination of leather and other materials in creating fashion accessories. Leather pyrography involves using heated materials to make designs and patterns on leather surfaces. The processes of obtaining leather from hides down to the last stage of finishes after pyrography are captured in this book. This book will go a long way in helping you get familiarised with the different leather pyrography processes and know the limitation of each stage of leather production. I advise you to take your time to digest every bit of information provided.

This book will teach you how to achieve smooth leather surfaces that are best for pyrography and tricks, methods, and recommendations to obtain the best burning outcomes.

The word pyrography originates from Greek, meaning "pur graphos, translated as fire writing." The process has been practiced since people knew to use fire; the testament of using this incredible skill is on walls of caves and other edifices. Drawings, writings, and many others which communicated ancient significance were engraved on leathers, wood, gourds, walls, and any surface to pay tribute and show admiration to gods and give the environment a face-lift, or to convey messages.

When we reflect on times of the primeval Asians, Africans, and Egyptians, we will discover that several pyrography works of art are evidence of the artists' aptitude and expertise that lived in that era. The artifacts, at those times, were usually referred to as fire needle drawing or writing. The procedure provided the craftsmen with an opportunity to put their ability to use and intensify the significance, and give people an emotional viewpoint of common objects.

Pyrography, which uses hot spiky, piercing objects in writing and drawing, accompanied fire discovery. The illustration of the captivating artworks and several designs created by artisans frequently employs heated metal. Wood burning is another form of pyrography that allows the craftsmen to exhibit their expertise on several surfaces.

In the ordinary sense, pyrography is used to create and adorn musical gadgets and devices and several other apparatus and objects. The items and gadgets created like kitchen utensils, guitars, makeup boxes, and the likes were inscribed with personalized arts to make the articles distinctive and easily identify the owner. There has been a radical evolution in how the art of pyrography is used; rather than art being inscribed on apparatus and items, they are now burnt on bare, undecorated surfaces to bestow artistic values on those pieces.

The evolution has also birthed the pyrography pens, which has paved the way for developing other well-designed tools and equipment. A heated metal tool is the critical apparatus for writing and drawing in pyrography, but the artists in modern times are not restricted to the heated metal tools. There are several burning tips available that they can use to make their designs distinctive and exceptional. Apart from the information, other tools are identical to soldering iron used for drawing solid lines and those that finish soft-shaded lines to perfection. The tone achieved with the drawing is dictated by the degree of pressure used on the surface with the drawing equipment.

Introduction

Leather can simply be defined as hides and skins from animals passed through several chemical processes to retain essential properties. The leather obtained can be used for making tools, furniture, equipment, handbags, and footwear.

When we talk about hides, we imply skin gotten from large animals like cows and horses. The skin simply refers to materials acquired from smaller animals like calves and kids. To ensure that leather obtained lasts long, it is subjected to a chemical process called tanning. Tanning converts the skin obtained initially from a perishable nature to a non-decaying material. Materials used for this process include tree barks, mineral salts, fish, and animal oils. Leather can come from several animal skins like kangaroos, ostriches, lizards, and fishes. The most common leather sources include cattle, lambs, goats, mules, zebras, buffaloes, aquatic seals, alligators, pigs, and hogs.

A mammal's hides are made up of three layers: epidermis, corium, and subcutaneous fatty layer. The corium is used only when the two layers opposite each other have been removed. New hides contain about sixty to seventy percent of water by weight and thirty to thirty-five percent protein. A large amount of the protein content comes from collagen. Collagen is a fibrous protein joined together by chemical bonds. Leather production involves using bases, acids, enzymes, salts, and tannins to dissolve non-fibrous protein and fats and strengthen collagen fiber bonds.

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One

Origins of Leather Production

Leather production is an ancient practice that has been carried out for several thousands of years. It involves drying freshly extracted skins and softening them by pounding with animal fats and brains. Preservation can also be done by salting and smoking. The Egyptians