Paul Chojnowski

I have been burning images into wood and paper as a means of drawing since 1993. During that time I have continued refining and experimenting with the process. Using propane torches I burn, scorch, re-burn, sand and scratch the surface of paper or wood to create my drawings. It’s become a methodology ripe with possibilities that I have continued to mine, develop, and alter to realize my ideas. Over the last decade I’ve explored landscapes and personal narratives primarily on birch panels.

More recently I sought to reimagine my earlier Nocturne Series that was inspired by walking after dark under the streetlights and neon of American cities. These NeoNocturnes begin with the same visual experience of the city at night and I employ the same process I had developed then. On heavy watercolor paper I carefully place droplets and pools of water; then burning the paper edge to edge with a larger roofer’s torch, the water acts as a resist to the flame and a softly focused image results. By introducing the element of chance and uncertainty in the process I end up with both surprising results and dramatic failures.