Melissa Napier
My blogs
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arts |
| Location | United States |
| Introduction | I use woodburning to create permanent impressions using heat to scar the wood’s surface. Just like in life, some scars tell stories of memorable childhood experiences while others are deeper and far more painful. Good or bad, no matter the degree, they all leave a mark. Woodburning creates a permanent visual impression like a memory leaves a psychological one. No other medium can match the range of emotion of up to 900 degree heat and the resulting smoke from prolonged contact between the heated metal and the wooden canvas. Even the lightest touch can turn into something more than intended. Wouldn't it be nice to forget all of our painful memories and scars, and dream of a time and place where things are simple and beautiful? Such is the inspiration for my work. My old family photographs show moments when people appeared happy with the simple things in life, like a beautiful garden or smoking a pipe on the porch; being on a farm, or daydreaming on a tree swing. Blissful happiness…or are they disguising their own deep secrets? |