Sunday, September 7, 2014

So many ways to burn...

This is one of those slightly odd posts, where you get to see some of the strange things that go on in the studio.

I have been experimenting with burning. I can almost hear one or two bloggy friends sighing in ecstasy or squealing with delight!

I have been trying to work out how to burn some very fine paper. As you can imagine very fine paper (about 18gsm) has a habit of taking off very quickly once one lights it!  From previous experience, I have learned to do it near a sink of water so I can dunk the flaming paper straight away if it starts to get away from me.

Here are some shots of the different outcomes.

I started out with one of those wood-burning tools which people use to burn lines and marks into timber-ware. I got mighty bored with this - it took forever to have an impact on the paper, and still only gave this warm brown mark - no real burning. I made a hole in the paper and tried to scorch the edges and thought really, life is too short.


So back to flames. I lit a match and touched the edges. It ran and carved out quite nice curves before needing to be dunked.

This is the 18gsm tengucho/tengujo paper.


This is the 50 gsm goyu paper.



And then I went back to my old favourite - incense sticks.  I expected they would also burn quite quickly so set up near an open door and some water; but to my delight I discovered it was the most gentle of burns, and easily controlled.

I think I have found my preferred style, for now.

I had no intention of burning patterns of small holes; but just wanted to see if it was possible!



Here'a shot with the three approaches in one - left hand side wood tool, top edge incense, bottom edge flame.


 Oh and some random walnut ink blobs in between.

Having worked out how to burn, I then wanted to test another type of paper - the 9 gsm Tengucho paper, and then to see how my preferred papers took dye - tea and walnut ink.

The 9 gsm is on the left and the 18 gsm on the right. I was experimenting with holding the incense stick on for different lengths of times and moving it in different directions as well.


Here they are after I dyed them with tea - a bit pale and anaemic for me. The other thing about the 9 gsm is that it doesn't actually look burnt. It looks more moth-eaten instead - in my view anyway!


So then I dyed another piece of the 18gsm with different strengths of walnut ink. It looked so pale on the paper I kept strengthening it, but clearly the lightest one would have done all I needed.


A bit of a weird and random experimental couple of days, but well worth it I think. I often amazes me how many hours I spend in advance of actually doing anything for some pieces of work.  Sometimes I dive in and make it straightaway; other times it takes days for me to get to work on the real thing.
I'm sure I'm not alone...

12 comments:

  1. Love, love, love....the process AND the results.

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    1. Thanks Jo - the process has been highly entertaining at times, and somewhat tedious at others - a fascinating mix. Now, the outcomes, I'm getting happy with!

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  2. I see you are coming over to the dark side (insert evil cackle here) --- yes I KNOW you were talking about me as one of those who like to burn baby burn! xxxx

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    1. Yep - it was you for sure Ronnie! Burning is fun and mesmerising don't you think?

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  3. how do I love burning .... let me count the ways!! Looking very exciting ..... have all my own experiments happening too so it will be great fun to see where our pages end up. Think it will be a beautiful book, or two.

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    1. It is certainly a whole new dimension to throw into the mix Susan! I have enjoyed playing with the different papers and effects; now to make some decent pages!

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  4. Add me to the closet pyromaniac list. I love the effect achieved when burning paper or cloth. Haven't done much of it myself, but there are plans to...one day. Until then, I'm happy to enjoy your experiments.

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    1. I expect there could be more Jennifer, so stay tuned. It can be a little bit addictive- watching the paper disappear, the smell of incense or just paper burning....

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  5. one of the wildest burning experiments I ever did was antiqueing the pages of a grimoire with Derivan Matisse Water Based Aniqueing patina mixed with acrylic yellow oxide and burnt umber and then burning the edges, the fumes were more than intoxicating...
    the other was burning a red leather book with a pyrography tool, the fumes from the chrome tanning process were diabolical & dangerous!

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    1. very good reminders and warnings Mo! They sound pretty scary and definitely on the toxic side. So far I haven't gotten ill; but it could happen easily I'm sure. There must be a motto for burners somewhere - caveat pyro perhaps? beware of you burn...

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  6. Lots of permutations here Fiona to get my head around. I still don't think you can beat the repetitive holes made by the incense stick. There's something about it that really appeals to my sense of order and uniformity. All these experiments will inform and lead somewhere exciting I know!

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  7. mmm.... love where these are going, ooh the possibilities. I wonder whether sand rather than water would allow a bit more smoulder?
    Happy playing x

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.