About Me
About the Artist
Pyrography Artist
I'm Chandler Dudley,
I am a self taught pyrography artist with a foundation in illustration, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute. Working primarily in pyrography, I explore the tension between realism and abstraction, grounding my imagery in nature and the human form while allowing imagination to reshape what is seen.
I create woodburned artwork that is inspired by the beauty and textures in nature. Each piece is burned by hand with patience, intention, and deep respect for the wood and the craft.
I currently reside in Savannah, GA and work from my home studio.
How it Started
So, how did I get into pyrography?
It all began in high school, when I took a General Woodworking Shop class. During that time period, I wasn't exactly the best student and would often slack off during class. One day, my instructor handed me a pyrography pen and told me “just do something with wood.” I grabbed a cutting board and burned a simple deer head into it, which I later gifted to my stepfather. I never realized how significant that small project would become.
After that, I thought very little about woodburning and eventually forgot about it altogether.
Down the road, I went on to pursue my degree in Illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute. During my senior year of art school, I unexpectedly found my way back to pyrography. Although I was studying illustration at the time, a friend of mine mentioned that he owned a pyrography pen and suggested I try using it for an assignment. I did, and immediately remembered why I had enjoyed the craft in the first place. My instructor praised the work and encouraged me to continue exploring pyrography as an artistic medium.
After college, I struggled with whether I should continue pursuing art or choose a different path. For the next seven years, I lacked direction. I took on various art gigs, worked as a waitress, and other means of income to get by. I felt bound by the limited options I believed I had in life.
Through it all, I kept to pyrography during my free time during those late nights to maintain my sanity. Woodburning became something I could return to when everything else felt uncertain. Over time, I came to understand that life rarely provides us with a clear map. The choices we make, the way we see ourselves, and the meaning we give to our experiences all shape the reality we create.
For me, pyrography became part of that realization.
What began with a simple piece of burned wood eventually became a way of seeing the world. Pyrography has taught me patience, observation, and intention, while giving me a way to explore detail, nature, and form. Each piece is an opportunity to shape my surroundings into something that reflects the world I want to create.
Today, I live in Savannah GA and share my life and home with my husband, a fellow woodworker, and our two dogs. Together, we spend our days surrounded by the materials, tools, and creative projects that make our home feel like exactly where we belong.