Portrait by Paul Stebner
“We think of fire as something that’s out of control generally, but my art form — pyrography — translates to ‘drawing with fire,’ and on the contrary, requires an incredibly high level of control and precision,” says Bee Locke, who creates dramatic, high-contrast, burned-wood art for a living. One look at her intricately rendered wooden boxes, necklaces, kitchen spoons, frames, and fine-art prints proves that mastering this medium takes significant time and loads of patience.
The talented Michigan native has been in WNC for six years, and works out of her home studio on 21 acres of land in rural Madison County. The birth of her now four-and-a-half-year-old daughter prompted the birth of the business. “I needed to care for my daughter and always dreamed of being a working artist. It was time to dive in to see if I could make it work,” she says.
As Locke tells it, a chance encounter with woodburning led first to an obsession, then to a career. “I was introduced to pyrography in 2009 when I created a woodburning-image lesson plan for my illustration students at a kids’ art camp. I started with an old soldering iron, took an immediate liking to it, and taught myself how to do it,” says Locke.
The gingko leaves, ferns, and oak leaves that grace her work come straight from her own land. “The beauty and peace of where [I live] inspires me,” Locke shares. That peace no doubt also informs her frequent use of mandala patterns and lotus motifs. Her other passion, not surprisingly, is the wood itself. “I love [the material’s] versatility, its unique grain, and the wonderful smells different types make when I work with them,” she says.
Locke’s tools of the trade are two professional pyrography machines, corded electrical units that connect to a pen with a metal tip. “I use several differently shaped tips for my work; I can control the tip heat by adjusting a dial. I get the desired result by finely balancing the heat and pressure that I apply to the wood,” she explains. She navigated a learning curve in the beginning, but now she declares that “holding my pyrography pen is second nature, and most of my work is done freehand.” As for occupational hazards, Locke says that while burns haven’t been a concern, smoke inhalation is. She routinely wears a mask to protect herself, and keeps her studio space well ventilated.
The outlets for her work include her Etsy shop and seasonal arts festivals in Asheville, Marshall, and Johnson City. She also enjoys doing commissioned work, with requests peaking at the holidays. “The art shows and commissions let me interact with customers and hear stories about who will receive my piece as a gift and why, which connect me to customers. Maybe they love to cook, or they’re getting an essential-oils storage box for their bottles,” she says.
Besides the inherent excitement of playing with fire, Locke enjoys testing out new products. “I love experimenting with unconventional materials, like leather,” she enthuses. “There’s just never enough time to explore them all.”
the most popular products. But the artist also makes jewelry and fine-art prints.
Bee Locke, Marshall, Bee Symmetry Custom Pyrography, “Bee Symmetry” on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook. For more information, contact the artist through her website, beesymmetry.com.