Pyrography 101: Woodburning Illustration Techniques
A course by Ash Rudolph, Freelance Artist
Discover the meditative craft of pyrography and learn to enhance wooden objects with unique illustrations inspired by the world around you
“I’m passionate about the meditative process that pyrography can give you: sitting down and carving, smelling the wood, and feeling the texture you create is just as important as the end result.”
Freelance artist Ashlyn Rudolph specializes in using pyrography techniques to create unique, wood-burned illustrations which she shares with over 15K followers on Instagram.
In this online course, she teaches you the essentials of pyrography. Learn to decorate your wooden objects using a combination of different woodburning techniques to make them truly unique. Ignite your creativity and draw amazing illustrations with heat.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 23 downloads
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know freelance artist Ashlyn Rudolph. She talks about the creative career that led her to pursue a career as an artist, along with the influences that inspire her and the work she creates.
Explore the different things to consider when choosing wood for your project. Then look at the tools and materials needed to create wood-burned illustrations. Learn techniques for sanding your work, prepare your workspace, and discover methods that can make the pyrography process easier.
Practice different ways of mark-making and shading with your woodburning pen. Then gather inspiration for your design before using it to come up with ideas and sketches for your illustration using either Procreate or a pen and paper.
Learn how to transfer your sketch onto wood before burning the essential linework of your piece. Then move on to the details and add textures and shading using the techniques from earlier in the course.
Ashlyn shares her advice for caring for and packaging your finished piece. To wrap up the course, she guides you through how to use Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and more to promote your work.
- 98% positive reviews (61)
- 3,275 students
- 17 lessons (2h 21m)
- 23 additional resources (6 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create a decorative wooden plaque using woodburning illustration techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in discovering the art of pyrography, from hobbyists to professional artists.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required for this course, but knowledge of illustration or design in woodworking would be helpful.
In terms of materials, you will need a woodburning tool, a wooden plaque, sandpaper, a pencil, and a few other materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
Ash Rudolph
A course by Ash Rudolph
Ashlyn Rudolph is a freelance artist based in Virginia, U.S. As a child, she was passionate about telling stories and making things, and realized from a young age that she wanted to pursue an artistic career. She went on to complete a BFA in communication arts at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she specialized in children’s illustration and design. Ashlyn later went on to teach herself how to illustrate with woodburning techniques.
After sharing her work online in 2020, she grew a following on TikTok and Instagram for her pyrography work and later left her job to pursue a full-time career in art. Ashlyn mainly works on personal pieces, but has collaborated with brands including Ketnipz LLC, creating illustrated backgrounds for their game, BeanKind. She also shares her work with over 15K followers on Instagram.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Wood and Workspace Preparation
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About the Wood
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Materials and Tools
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Sanding the Piece
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Setting Up the Workspace
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U3
Practicing Pyrography Techniques
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Exercises to Control the Tool: The Lines
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Exercises to Control the Tool: Texture and Shading
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Getting Inspiration
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Sketching the Design
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U4
Burning the Design onto Wood
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Transferring the Sketch
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Linework
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The Details
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Texture and Shadows 1
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Texture and Shadows 2
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U5
Useful Tips
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Packing and Protecting the Product
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Showcasing Work on Social Networks
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FP
Final project
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Pyrography 101: Woodburning Illustration Techniques
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational skills, safety, and step-by-step techniques to help you start creating your own wood burned artwork confidently.
You’ll need a wood burning tool with interchangeable tips, suitable wood (like basswood), sandpaper, safety equipment (mask, gloves, fan or air purifier), and basic drawing supplies for sketching designs.
You’ll learn safe pyrography practices, wood selection, sketch transfer, linework, shading, texturing, finishing techniques, and how to create unique designs including florals, pet portraits, and tattoo-inspired art.
Basswood is recommended for its smooth grain and ease of burning. The course explains how to select, inspect, and prepare wood, and which types to avoid for safety and art quality.
Not all woods are safe. Avoid greenwood, driftwood, or chemical-treated woods due to health risks. The course details how to identify suitable woods and avoid toxic materials.
Ensure good ventilation, use a mask and gloves, set up a smoke removal system, and avoid burning treated or resinous woods. The course provides comprehensive safety guidelines.
No prior artistic experience is required. The course includes guidance on building reference materials, sketching, and transferring designs to wood, making it accessible for complete beginners.
Maravilloso curso para comenzar un. Rubí hobby. Explicaciones claras. Recomendable.
Buen curso. Es entretenido y te aporta un montón de conocimientos. Si tienes curiosidad por el mundo del pirograbado, lo recomiendo
Buen curso, se aprende varios temas y trucos.
Bom curso, sugiro um próximo mais aprofundado.
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Un curso muy bien detallado y explicado, me encanto la instructora con su trabajo super recomendable para nosotros los principiantes sobre el pirograbado.