Choosing your Wood Canvas

For a woodburning artist, wood is a precious commodity. The wood canvas you choose becomes part of your artistic expression. Each wood canvas has its distinctive features that can influence your design: wood colour variations, grain patterns and knots.

Every wood canvas has its own story. Where the tree grew and how it was harvested can become a source of inspiration, weaving its own history into your artwork.

Hardwoods versus softwoods

Wood is often classified into two categories: hardwoods and softwoods. Most hardwoods come from deciduous trees that shed their leaves annually such as birch, maple, aspen and basswood. Softwoods come from evergreen trees such as pine, cedar, fir and spruce.

Some hardwoods are “softer” than others. It’s easier to woodburn on a softer hardwood such as basswood, aspen, willow and poplar than on a hardwood like oak, walnut, maple or beech.

You can refer to The Wood Database to compare the hardness of hardwoods. Softwoods can be just as “hard” as hardwoods. The terms “hardwood” and “softwood” are therefore misleading when it comes to wood that is appropriate for woodburning. 

The wood grain reveals the tree’s growth rings, making every wood canvas unique. Some species have bold, dramatic grain patterns, while others (like poplar) have a much more subtle appearance.

The first wood canvas I woodburned on was pine (a softwood) that was left over from a woodworking project. I didn’t realize it at the time that pine is not the best wood to woodburn on. Even when sanded, a pine wood canvas will have variations in the grain texture that can result in uneven woodburned marks. As I was woodburning on pine, my wire tip came across pockets of resin that bubbled up and dampened the wood. I now avoid pine and other softwoods because woodburning on tree resin can be toxic and damage your wire tips.

After I had used up all the scrap lumber on hand, I turned to my local lumber store where I bought maple and poplar lumber (both hardwoods), with poplar being softer than maple.

Although my local lumber store carried maple and poplar, I still found myself searching for basswood—a favourite among pyrography artists because of its light colour and subtle grain.

Kiln-dried wood and sustainability

I always purchase wood that has been kiln-dried to prevent my pyrography art from cracking, splitting or warping over time. Kiln-drying removes moisture from the wood and kills insects, larvae and mold. 

I also like knowing that the companies I buy from are committed to responsible forestry. Caring for the wood begins long before it reaches my workshop. 

Choosing your wood canvas

When choosing a wood canvas, I consider its colour, grain pattern, softness, and natural character. Knots, colour variations, and distinctive grain patterns often become part of the design itself, reminding us that every canvas is created by nature before we ever begin woodburning. These can be worked into your design and add character to your pyrography art. After all, your canvas is made by nature with all its beautiful imperfections. The aspen rounds that I woodburn on have interesting wood grain patterns, knots, and colour variations. 

There are many kiln-dried hardwoods to choose from, each with its own unique characteristics. Light-coloured wood will provide better contrast than a dark-coloured wood for your woodburned marks. Having said that, you may prefer to woodburn on darker woods. The wood you choose for your woodburning art will depend on your artistic and woodburning style.

If you intend to frame your pyrography art, you may want to select a wood canvas without bark. If you prefer a more natural or rustic look, you may opt for a wood canvas with bark (often referred to as a “live-edge”).

I’ve seen many lists of the “best” woods for pyrography, and they rarely agree. As you experiment with different species, you’ll likely discover your own favourites. Those choices eventually become part of your artistic style—and perhaps even your brand.

Where to find or buy your wood canvases

Every pyrography artist eventually discovers their favourite sources for wood. Where you find your wood canvases will depend on the wood that’s available locally or that can be shipped to your location.

My source for basswood is my local Lee Valley store, where I can select among the wood canvases that are available onsite. Each basswood plank or round has its own unique grain patterns. I’ve also purchased basswood online, such as a basswood clock face and basswood picture frames. All the basswood that I’ve purchased at Lee Valley or online is made by Walnut Hollow.

If you have access to a local lumber yard or sawmill and have the right tools, you can saw the lumber yourself to the wood canvas size of your choice.

I purchased my birch and aspen rounds from Spirit of the Woods, in Maine. Both Spirit of the Woods and Walnut Hollow produce kiln-dried wood. I find aspen is somewhat “softer” to woodburn on than birch.

Choose the wood canvas that resonates with your woodburning style and personal values.

What not to woodburn on

In my blog on woodburning safety, I briefly mention that it’s unsafe to woodburn on sealed or treated wood. Avoid burning on pallet wood, pressure-treated lumber, MDF, plywood, varnished wood, or any manufactured wood containing adhesives. Burning these materials can release harmful fumes. Driftwood is also unsafe to woodburn on especially if it was drifting in a body of salt water.

I also avoid evergreen species such as pine, spruce, fir, and cedar because they contain resin, which can release harmful fumes and damage wire tips. Unlike evergreens, deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves annually) don’t produce resin and most are safe to woodburn on. Tree resin is different from sap, which both evergreen and deciduous trees produce.

Just to be safe, I only woodburn on unfinished and kiln-dried hardwood that I’ve purchased from a reliable and reputable source. It goes without saying that I don’t woodburn over any colour or finish that I’ve added to my pyrography artwork. It’s worth repeating that woodburning over pigments or finishes can be toxic. 

Woodburn on wood that inspires you

While I don’t have a single favourite wood species, I especially enjoy woodburning on basswood, birch, aspen, maple, and cherry. Each offers its own unique colours, grain patterns, and personality.

Choose the wood that inspires you—and let nature become part of your artwork.