Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-14
Art of wood purr,,1

When II first came into general voe,,e N
was prophesled that the fascinating art Of
typography. or wood burning, would soon
ran from favor; IL was too easily done. an
amateur being able to give an effect almost
equal In casual glance to more exneri-
enced work. But. contrary to all expecta-
tons, II has stood the test and SO far as
going out OF fashion Is concerned IL is but
necessary to stand for a while at the shon
counter to prove that the demand for i'm
PIGMENTS and objects ito burn is greater
than the supply Every year some new
trick is added to improve the art. relates
the Philadelphia Ledger, and since some
clever brain conceived the good effect from
combining the hot needle painting with
color the possibilities are endless.
1t takes skilled worker to turn out n
well executed piece in black and white
done SOLELY with a needle. MS Il IL NOT so
easy as 1t looks to bring out the white
strong and clear and free from scorchine
The latter is hidden somewhat by the an
plication of color but here again some
knowledge OF color work is essential Az
first water colors were deemed the best
for painting the wood but Il was found
that this process was not only expensive
but often unsatisfactory, as the moist
colors sink rapidly into the wood and dry
so dull that not even a coat Of varnish
brings them out strong and bright When
knowledge OF color mixing Is not pos-
sessed by the aspirant IN typography the
aniline dyes are more satisfactory, as in
this case the shading Is done by fine lines
drawn with the needle and the color then
applied solid with an ordinary camels-hair
brush. The dyes are rich and clear and for
less delicate work are very effective.
Where much shading Is necessary oil
colors are now found most satisfactory.
when the artist knows how 20 man'pu-
late them. The dry wood takes them hot
ter and strong contrasts in light and dark
are possible.
The varnish should ALWAYS he apnl,ed
with the grain Of TIE wood and The first
coat should be verv thin When this Is dry
II should be sandpapered. again rubbing
with the grain OF the wood The second coat
should then give the reuu'site polished an
pearance: II II does not the sandparer fol-
lowed by coat ~ varn'sh should be re-
heated. In itself the process OF WOOD burn
ing Is comparatively sirnnle and Is nv this
time familiar TO everyone The nlatirun,
needle Is kent red hot by an infusion OF a
snecial grade OF benzine bv humping the
latter bv a bulb and tube into the needle
The outline Is done first and then the back
ground Is filed IN n So desired When the
pvroRraphic artist Is advanced 10 the point
Of creating original designs the work 4
stili more interesting and varied and many
beautiful things result
There are always plenty OF slammed ar.
| ticles for sale. however, both sirnle and
intricate In design. and after little prac
| tice II Is possible to turn out very urett,
| work. II Is not exactly cheap fad a.
| the wooden models are not very reason
able collectively II one goes into the thins
extensively, but for Christmas pifts
bazaars and for home decoration nothing
is more delightful and acceptable.
More than one artist has decorated
quaint mission style furniture for den
hail or studio, more than one girl studen
has decorated her trousseah chest herself
the lever OF renealogy burns her coat-of
arms on shields panels for the dining
room ana freniace. while another takA
IN the fad OF the moment and works cut
buttons for a mans Christmas gift On
and ALL young and old have taken up tn
craze more or less seriously. and NOR
than one has In the desuitory fashion dis
covered the latent talents OF a true artist
There are but few women or men eithe
for that matter who did not count a
least one burnt wood article among thei
gifts last week. For mans presen
pyrogranhic articles are sinRuiarlv appro
pirate, burnt leather pillows. burnt won
boxes, pine racks clock cases and the Tx
give ample opportunity for a woman
fingers TO decorate.
4 Another new application for the plat
mum needle is for designing on velvet TIL
result is very good. the outline drawn b
the needle toning IN verv wen with IN
nap Of the velvet and giving the effect
a stamped material.