Amelia Maurer

I am Amelia Maurer, the artist of Wild Pyrography. I grew up in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, California, where I was introduced to the natural world at a very early age. I also spent much of my childhood drawing and painting, and art quickly became my main hobby and passion. I continued to expand my skills as an artist and a naturalist throughout my youth and into college, where I received a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

During my time as an undergraduate student, I had several opportunities that allowed me to travel throughout California on field research trips, where I studied the interactions between organisms and their role in their ecosystem. I drew inspiration from these experiences and began to illustrate my observations, starting with simple sketches in my field journal. Over the last few years, I have portrayed my continuous wonder and amazement of the natural world through pyrography, or wood burning.

I first discovered pyrography in 2016 and quickly fell in love with the medium. Wood burning, I discovered, is very similar to drawing with pen — it allows for the creation of fine detail and textures, but there is no room for error. Through my pyrography, I also developed an appreciation for beautiful wood, such as fir, birch, and walnut, which I regularly use as canvases for my pieces. I recognize the importance having sustainable, environmentally friendly practices, which is why I am transitioning into using only reclaimed or locally-sourced wood for my work. I am currently based in New Haven, Connecticut.

If you are interested in purchasing one of my pieces, I encourage you to visit my Etsy Shop and take a gander at what I have available. If you have a specific creation in mind or an image that is personal to you or a loved one, I create many custom pieces. Contact me by filling out the message form or by sending me a message via Instagram, and I will reply as soon as I can.