Celestial Collector

Celestial Collector

Pyrography with 18K Gold Leaf Pen

18 in Birch Panel Wood

Created February 2024

This original 18-inch circular woodburning features an octopus rendered in intricate hand-burned detail, created using traditional pyrography techniques on a birch wood panel. Each line is permanently burned into the surface, allowing the natural wood grain to become part of the final composition.

Accents of 18k gold leaf pen have been carefully applied to enhance select details, adding a subtle luminous contrast against the organic wood tones and deep burn marks. The combination of natural texture and metallic highlights gives the piece a quiet sense of depth and movement.

The concept behind this artwork is inspired by the octopus as both an earthly and otherworldly creature. In nature, octopuses are known to collect and arrange shells and objects, creating small curated spaces within their environment, like a hidden “garden” beneath the sea. This behavior became the foundation for the piece, reflecting ideas of memory, instinct, and quiet creation.

The circular format frames the octopus like a celestial body, reinforcing its surreal, almost planetary presence. It exists somewhere between ocean and orbit. Both organic and cosmic at once.

Finished with a protective seal to preserve detail and ensure longevity, this is a one-of-a-kind original artwork designed for collectors of symbolic, ocean-inspired, and story-driven pieces.