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High Voltage Pyrography

I have coined the term High Voltage Pyrography to describe my work. Another term for this pattern is Lichtenberg figures. Named after the German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, they are natural patterns that form from electrical discharges of high voltage. Lichtenberg figures are formed by the breakdown of an insulating material such as wood or glass, which forms a carbon trail; carbon is a conductor rather than an insulator, so it acts like wire allowing current to break down further material. The hardness of the wood and grain pattern define the patterns which form. For example, poplar generally produces broad detailed patterns, while purpleheart generally produces more narrow and defined patterns.

 

Please explore the pieces below; if you are interested in any, contact me.

Commissions and custom work inquiries are also welcome. 

Woods that I work with include Ash, Bloodwook, Bubinga, Cherry, Leopardwood, Maple, Oak, Padauk, Poplar, Purpleheart, and Wenge.

 

 Long Exposure Photography By Kyle Hounsell. http://www.system-failure.net/

High Voltage Pyrography Demonstration
 

This video shows how electric discharge patterns are created in High Voltage Pyrography. 

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Lichtenberg Figure on Padauk

Lichtenberg Figure on Padauk

01:35
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Lichtenberg Figure

Lichtenberg Figure

00:57
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Bubinga

Bubinga

Bonsai Style on Cherry

Bonsai Style on Cherry

Sold.

Maple Coffee Table

Maple Coffee Table

Purpleheart

Purpleheart

Curupay

Curupay

Sold.

Two-sided pattern on Poplar

Two-sided pattern on Poplar

Sold.

Roman Style Vase in Ash

Roman Style Vase in Ash

Sold.

Figured Birch

Figured Birch

Sold.

Figured Ambrosia Maple

Figured Ambrosia Maple

Sold.

Glow in the Dark on Poplar

Glow in the Dark on Poplar

Glow in the Dark on Poplar

Glow in the Dark on Poplar

Sold.

Purpleheart Cup

Purpleheart Cup

Sold.

Padauk with Gold Leaf Inlay

Padauk with Gold Leaf Inlay

1911 Grips on Walnut

1911 Grips on Walnut

Sold.

1911 Grips on Cherry

1911 Grips on Cherry

Sold.

Purpleahrt with Gold Leaf Inlay

Purpleahrt with Gold Leaf Inlay

Sold.

Padauk with Gold Leaf Inlay

Padauk with Gold Leaf Inlay

Curupay with Copper Leaf Inlay

Curupay with Copper Leaf Inlay

Sold.

Live Edge Padauk with Gold Leaf Leaf

Live Edge Padauk with Gold Leaf Leaf

Ambrosia Maple Disc Slab

Ambrosia Maple Disc Slab

Small Maple Burl

Small Maple Burl

Sold.

Big Leaf Maple Burl

Big Leaf Maple Burl

Sold.

Sycamore Slab

Sycamore Slab

Live Edge Cherry Dyed Empire Red

Live Edge Cherry Dyed Empire Red

Sold.

Live Edge Maple

Live Edge Maple

Cherry

Cherry

Live Edge Cherry Slab

Live Edge Cherry Slab

Black Guitar with Silver Inlay

Black Guitar with Silver Inlay

Guitar body burned with high voltage pyrography, then painted black. Pattern inlaid with silver leaf.

Cherry Bonsai

Cherry Bonsai

Bubinga

Bubinga

Sold.

Leopardwood fractals

Leopardwood fractals

Sold.

Live Edge Maple Slab

Live Edge Maple Slab

Sold.

Padauk

Padauk

Wenge with Gold Leaf

Wenge with Gold Leaf

Sold.

Maple Disc

Maple Disc

Bloodwood

Bloodwood

Sold.

Live Edge Big Leaf Maple

Live Edge Big Leaf Maple

Sold.

Leopardwood Bonsai

Leopardwood Bonsai

Sold.

Walnut Slice

Walnut Slice

Sold.

Bloodwood End Table Top

Bloodwood End Table Top

Sold.

Purpleheart

Purpleheart

Leopardwood Bonsai Pattern

Leopardwood Bonsai Pattern

Sold.

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

Sold.

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

Sold.

Ruger 10/22 Stock

Ruger 10/22 Stock

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Sold.

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Sold.

Poplar Glow in the Dark Frame

Poplar Glow in the Dark Frame

Sold.

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Colt 1911 Grips in Walnut

Colt 1911 Grips in Walnut

Sold.

Shotgun Pattern

Shotgun Pattern

Sold.

Shotgun Pattern

Shotgun Pattern

Sold.

Shotgun Pattern

Shotgun Pattern

Sold.

Wenge with Silver Inlay

Wenge with Silver Inlay

26x9

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

48x16

Maple Tree Pattern

Maple Tree Pattern

49x15 Sold.

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

Ambrosia Maple Glow in the Dark

48x16

Twin Tendrils on Poplar

Twin Tendrils on Poplar

30x12 Sold.

Hickory Slice

Hickory Slice

12" Sold.

Walnut Bonsai

Walnut Bonsai

24x9

Bubinga Mirror Image Wings

Bubinga Mirror Image Wings

26x20

Purpleheart with Silver Inlay

Purpleheart with Silver Inlay

12x8 Sold.

Purpleheart with Gold Leaf Inlay

Purpleheart with Gold Leaf Inlay

26x9 Sold.

Lightenberg Figures Cast in Pewter

Lightenberg Figures Cast in Pewter

Bubinga Mirror Image Pattern

Bubinga Mirror Image Pattern

Bloodwood Heart

Bloodwood Heart

Oak Heart

Oak Heart

Purpleheart Heart

Purpleheart Heart

Bloodwood Heart

Bloodwood Heart

Padauk Heart

Padauk Heart

Beech Slice

Beech Slice

Padauk Tree

Padauk Tree

Sold.

Padauk Heart with Gold Leaf Inlay

Padauk Heart with Gold Leaf Inlay

Sold.

Padauk with Gold Leaf Inlay

Padauk with Gold Leaf Inlay

26x10 Sold.

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

14x11

Maple Mirror Image Pattern

Maple Mirror Image Pattern

Walnut with Silver Inlay

Walnut with Silver Inlay

26x20 Sold.

Oak

Oak

10x6

Purple Mountain on Poplar

Purple Mountain on Poplar

10 x 8 Sold.

Oak

Oak

24x9

Bubinga

Bubinga

12x9 Sold.

Bonsai Pattern on Leopardwood

Bonsai Pattern on Leopardwood

9x5 Sold.

Padauk

Padauk

12 x 8

Willow on Ash

Willow on Ash

16x40

Padauk

Padauk

Sold

Poplar

Poplar

9x15

Heat Trails on Purpleheart

Heat Trails on Purpleheart

9x15 Sold.

Padauk

Padauk

9x24 Sold.

Poplar

Poplar

9x24 Sold.

Purpleheart Twin Branches

Purpleheart Twin Branches

9x24 Sold.

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

14x11 Sold.

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Poplar Glow in the Dark

Purpleheart Glow in the Dark

Purpleheart Glow in the Dark

Against the Grain Padauk

Against the Grain Padauk

8.5x13 Sold.

Oak Tendrils

Oak Tendrils

Sold.

Long Exposure Lichtenberg Figure

Long Exposure Lichtenberg Figure

This is a Long Exposure photo of the process of burning in the lichtenburg figures into wood using a very dark filter. Photography by Kyle Hounsell and Victoria Gunning

Long Exposure Lichtenberg Figure

Long Exposure Lichtenberg Figure

This is a Long Exposure photo of the process of burning in the lichtenburg figures into wood using a very dark filter. Photography by Kyle Hounsell and Victoria Gunning http://www.system-failure.net/lichtenburg-ss

Purpleheart

Purpleheart

9x24 Sold.

Poplar Mirror Pattern

Poplar Mirror Pattern

Sold.

Leopardwood Bonsai

Leopardwood Bonsai

9x24 Sold.

Bubinga

Bubinga

12x10 Sold.

Padauk

Padauk

24x9

Padauk Slab

Padauk Slab

16x32

High Voltage Pyrography Art
 

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