Weekend Workshop
Nature designs such as leaves, flowers, trees and animals suit wood burning because organic shapes forgive small irregularities. Use pale untreated wood, start with simple outlines, add texture with short directional strokes and light shading, and practise on scrap. Wood slices, boards and plaques all work well for natural subjects.
In this article
What you need
- Smooth, untreated wood, such as boards, plaques or dried wood slices, plus scrap
- A pyrography pen with a pointed tip and a shader tip, and its manual
- A heat-proof stand and surface, safety glasses and good ventilation
- Pencil, graphite transfer paper, a soft eraser and fine sandpaper
- Reference images that you have the right to use, such as your own photographs
- A clear finish suited to decorative pieces
Why nature is perfect for beginners
Natural subjects are among the most forgiving to burn. A leaf, a flower or a tree does not need to be perfectly symmetrical, so a wobbly line often looks like natural variation, not a mistake. The shapes are also easy to simplify: a leaf is two curves and a vein, a tree is a trunk and a few triangles and a mountain is a zigzag.
Nature designs also let you practise a wide range of techniques in a single piece, from outlining and texture to light shading. For the basics of those techniques, see wood burning techniques.
Choosing wood for nature designs
Pale, smooth wood shows detail best. Basswood and birch boards and plaques are ideal for leaves and flowers. Natural wood slices, with their rings and bark edges, give a rustic look that suits animals and trees, but they are less flat and may crack as they dry. Choose slices that are fully dried, sand the burning area smooth and keep the design inside the prepared area.
As always, use only wood that you know is untreated, unpainted and unsealed. See the best wood for wood burning guide.
Leaves and flowers
Leaves and flowers are the classic starting point.
- Leaves: draw an outline, a central vein and a few side veins. Vary the leaf shapes, such as oak, maple and fern, to keep the design interesting.
- Flowers: simple five-petal flowers, daisies and tulips are easy to outline. Add a small circle for the centre and a few short strokes on the petals.
- Sprigs and wreaths: repeat one leaf shape along a curve to make a vine or a wreath.
Leave space between stems so that each shape reads clearly, and add shading only on one side of each leaf for depth.
Trees and bark texture
Trees are good for practising texture and repetition.
- Pine trees: stacked triangles or a zigzag outline with short, downward-sloping strokes.
- Bare trees: a trunk with branching lines that become thinner.
- Bark: irregular, vertical, broken lines of different lengths, with gaps between them.
- Forests: rows of simple trees in front of a ridge line, with the farthest trees lighter.
Vary line length and spacing slightly so that the texture does not look mechanical.
Burning animals
Animals are rewarding but demand patience. Start with a simple outline and add detail in layers.
- Use reference images that you have the right to use, such as your own photographs, or draw from simplified shapes.
- Fur: short, overlapping strokes that follow the direction of growth. Change direction where the body curves.
- Eyes: leave a small bare highlight, and darken the rest of the eye with careful shading.
- Choose a simple animal to begin with, such as a deer, a fox or a bird, and leave the background mostly bare.
Build tone slowly, because you cannot lighten a burn.
Simple landscapes
A landscape combines several skills. A mountain range with a sun or moon and a few trees is an ideal beginner scene.
- Draw the horizon and ridge lines in pencil first.
- Burn the outlines, then add light shading to one side of each peak.
- Use stippling or short strokes for trees and grass.
- Leave the sky mostly bare, with perhaps a few light lines for clouds.
See wood burned signs for how to turn a landscape into a sign.
Techniques to use
Most nature designs are built from a few techniques: outlining for shapes, short directional strokes for fur and bark, stippling for texture and light shading for depth. Practise each on a scrap before you commit to a finished piece, and review the wood burning techniques guide. If your lines look uneven or too dark, see common wood burning mistakes.
Finishing
A clear finish protects the piece and deepens the burn. Test it on a burned scrap first, since finishes can darken fine detail, and apply thin coats according to the label. For wood slices, check that the piece is dry and stable before finishing, and expect natural variation. See how to seal wood burning projects.
Composition tips for nature designs
A few simple composition ideas make nature designs look intentional. Place the main subject slightly off-centre, rather than exactly in the middle, and leave empty space around it. Use odd numbers of elements, such as three leaves or five stems, since they feel natural. Vary scale and height, and let a vine or a branch lead the eye around the piece. Leave areas bare, since the wood itself is part of the design.
A first project: a simple fern
- Choose a smooth blank, such as a basswood plaque, and sand it lightly.
- Draw a gently curved central stem in pencil.
- Draw leaflets along both sides of the stem, getting smaller toward the tip.
- Practise a few short, curved strokes on scrap to find the right speed.
- Burn the stem first, then the leaflets, working from the tip to the base so you do not smudge your pencil lines.
- Add light shading to one side of each leaflet for depth.
- Let the pen cool, erase pencil marks and finish the piece.
Troubleshooting nature designs
- Lines look stiff. Use slightly curved strokes and vary their length.
- Texture looks mechanical. Change the direction and spacing of strokes slightly.
- Shading looks blotchy. Use lighter, faster, overlapping passes and build up the tone.
- The design looks crowded. Remove some elements and add space.
See wood burning techniques for the underlying skills.
Next steps
Choose a single leaf or sprig as your first nature design, then try a small landscape. The free printable pattern pack includes leaf and flower patterns to trace, and the easy wood burning ideas list has more simple motifs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I burn realistic fur?
Use short, overlapping strokes that follow the direction in which the fur grows, and change direction on curves. Build the tone in layers with a light touch, and leave small bare highlights. Practise on scrap first.
What is the easiest animal to start with?
A simple deer, bird or fox with a clear outline is a good start. Keep the background bare and the detail modest, and add texture only to the main areas.
Can I use photos as a reference?
Yes, but use your own photographs or images that you have the right to use, and draw your own version instead of copying someone else’s artwork.
What wood suits nature designs?
Pale, smooth wood such as basswood or birch suits detailed leaves and flowers, while dried wood slices suit rustic animals and trees. Always use untreated wood.
How do I avoid cracks in wood slices?
Use slices that are fully dried and stable, store them flat in a dry place and avoid sudden changes in temperature or humidity. Some cracking is natural, so choose designs that can work with it.
Your next small step
Choose one technique to practise before starting a finished piece. Read the linked guides for the material, transfer and finishing questions that apply to your project.
