Orsolya Heim is a pyrography (wood and leather burning) artist who was born and raised in Hungary and currently lives in Switzerland. She is mainly a self-taught artist, especially in the technique she is mostly focused on, pyrography.

Orsolya first saw how woodburning is done as a teenager when her father burnt a name on a wooden cross for a relative’s grave with a soldering iron. She fell in love with this technique at first sight and she decided to focus her art carrier entirely on woodburning and took this technique to the next level, creating portraits and deeply detailed pieces.

To improve her technique and skill, she often experiments with different burning techniques and ways to create unique looking burnt surface. This includes using a tiny, heated ball-tip pen, a sharp razor blade or even an open fire from a furnace or a torch. By simply modifying the angle and movement of the heated pen, unique textures and depth can be created on a piece. Through these and other methods, she works to turn simple sketches or ideas into something that flows with character and life. No color or paint is added to her pieces, she simply uses heat to create the desired shades and tones on the wood.

Orsolya has been a member of several art organizations and has been a regular participant at local arts markets, and has participated in various juried events and exhibitions. After showcasing her work in several places in the USA, including New Orleans, she moved to Switzerland and is excited to become part of the local art scene with her unique technique and style.

Whenever Orsolya travels she looks for different kinds of wood that she can use, so most of the wood she works with comes from different countries. She also tries to use reclaimed and recycled wood as often as possible to bring life back into them as a woodburnt piece of art.

Orsolya feels that she is still learning about this beautiful art each time she burns. Every new piece of wood is an exciting adventure full of possibilities.