Burned into wood, one at a time

I draw it first, then burn it by hand. Every piece is made for the person who asked for it. Nothing is printed and I keep nothing in stock.

Jamaal Russell at the bench working on a burned lion panel

The work so far

Eight finished pyrography panels arranged in a grid — The collectionEight panels

A detailed owl on an oak branch before a full moon — Owl and MoonFull tone

A roaring lion on rock beneath a full moon — Lion and MoonFull tone

A horse in a halter against a deep burned background — Horse in a HalterHigh contrast

Two horses resting their heads together, burned in fine line — Two HorsesLine only

A hand-tinted portrait with hibiscus and palm, lettered Angel — AngelPortrait & lettering

A portrait with butterflies and purple hibiscus, lettered Celebrating You — Celebrating YouCommission

A seated portrait with hibiscus, lettered Walk in Love and Kysha — Walk in LoveCommission

A smiling portrait with palm fronds and red hibiscus — Hibiscus PortraitHand tinted

How a commission works

The panel

12 by 12 inches, basswood, sealed and lacquered. Other woods and sizes as I go.

What goes on it

A portrait, a crest, a name, a set of dates, a line worth keeping. Colour by hand if you want it.

How long

Four to six weeks once we agree the drawing. I send you a photo partway through.

Shipping

In the price. Tracked and insured, anywhere.

What it costs

$425

Lettering or a single emblem

A crest, a name and dates, a line worth keeping.

Six to eight hours at the bench

$595

A portrait or one detailed subject

One face, one animal, one building. Most commissions land here.

Ten to twelve hours at the bench

$850

Several subjects or a full scene

Priced once we agree the drawing, because the drawing decides the work.

Sixteen hours and up

Shipping is in the price. Nothing gets added at the end.

In Puerto Plata, take $100 off. If I can hand it to you, that is a courier I am not paying.

More than one piece ships together for free. Two panels cost me the same to send as one.

The first five are $100 off. Early work, early price. After that the prices above stand.

How it works

Tell me what you want burned. The subject, any wording, and a photo if you have one.
I send back a drawing and a price. If it is not right we fix it here. This is the only stage where changing it is free.
Half now, half before it ships. The deposit is what puts the panel on the bench.
I burn it. You get a photo partway through, so nothing at the end is a surprise.
It ships from Puerto Plata. Tracked, and I send you the number the day it leaves.

Once I start burning, the drawing is fixed. Wood does not take an eraser, so every change happens before the first mark.

Custom work is not returnable. It is made for one person and I cannot sell it to anyone else. That is why we agree the drawing first.

Import duties and taxes are yours, and they vary by country.

Start one

Tell me what you have in mind. I will come back with a drawing and a price before anything is agreed.