The Wood
In general, I prefer working with light-coloured wood with fine grain. The light color of the wood tends to produce a pleasant contrast with the color of burnt areas. The fine grain is less obtrusive (does not detract from the design of the artwork) and does not affect the performance of the tools.
I do however use darker wood and wood with contrasting grain; the dark color and the existence of visible grain can enhance the final result.
I prefer working with single pieces of solid wood so as to avoid joining planks to create wider pieces. I also avoid the use of veneer.
An important fact is that I prepare my own planks that I burn my work onto. This includes the trip to the lumber-yard to select and buy the wood stock, the processes of ripping, planing, cutting to size, routing the edges and sanding, up to the final stage of finishing the work. I do most of this work myself, in the modest woodworking workshop I created in my backyard.
I do however use darker wood and wood with contrasting grain; the dark color and the existence of visible grain can enhance the final result.
I prefer working with single pieces of solid wood so as to avoid joining planks to create wider pieces. I also avoid the use of veneer.
An important fact is that I prepare my own planks that I burn my work onto. This includes the trip to the lumber-yard to select and buy the wood stock, the processes of ripping, planing, cutting to size, routing the edges and sanding, up to the final stage of finishing the work. I do most of this work myself, in the modest woodworking workshop I created in my backyard.
Here are the species of wood I most frequently work with. The images depict the wood in its sanded form, before finishing.
Basswood (Φλαμουριά):
Its colour is pale white to cream, and is mostly uniform throughout the surface of the wood. It has a fine and even texture. It is my preferred wood for the 'Uniform Shading' technique.
Its colour is pale white to cream, and is mostly uniform throughout the surface of the wood. It has a fine and even texture. It is my preferred wood for the 'Uniform Shading' technique.
Maple (Σφένδαμνος):
Its colour ranges from nearly white, to an off-white cream colour, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue.
Its fine and even texture, with the distinct lines, which can sometimes be wavy, running through the grain, enhance the aesthetic result of the work.
Its colour ranges from nearly white, to an off-white cream colour, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue.
Its fine and even texture, with the distinct lines, which can sometimes be wavy, running through the grain, enhance the aesthetic result of the work.
Poplar (Λέυκα):
It has a light cream to yellowish brown colour, with occasional streaks of grey or green. Its colours tend to darken upon exposure to light. It typically has a straight, uniform grain, with a medium texture.
It has a light cream to yellowish brown colour, with occasional streaks of grey or green. Its colours tend to darken upon exposure to light. It typically has a straight, uniform grain, with a medium texture.
Beech (Οξυά):
It has a pale cream colour, sometimes with a pink or brown hue, its grain is straight and has a uniform, fine to medium, texture.
It has a pale cream colour, sometimes with a pink or brown hue, its grain is straight and has a uniform, fine to medium, texture.
Mansonia:
It has a yellowish to grayish brown colour, with a uniform, fine to medium, texture and straight grain. The colour tends to lighten when exposed to light. I use this wood because of its more 'exotic' appearance.
It has a yellowish to grayish brown colour, with a uniform, fine to medium, texture and straight grain. The colour tends to lighten when exposed to light. I use this wood because of its more 'exotic' appearance.
Cherry (Κερασιά):
It has a light pinkish brown colour which darkens to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light.
Has a fine texture with close grain which is usually straight. There are however situations when one encounters some curly grain patterns which can make the final result quite interesting.
It has a light pinkish brown colour which darkens to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light.
Has a fine texture with close grain which is usually straight. There are however situations when one encounters some curly grain patterns which can make the final result quite interesting.
