She Just Does It: Pyrography, Photography, Twenty20

A dear friend of ours from Bad-homurg, Germany visited us over the holidays.  Irene Krenn recalls arriving in the United States on Dec. 28, 1994.  She has lived in Delaware ever since that day.  

Irene likes arts and crafts and is not afraid to try new and different mediums.  She has worked with Drawing, Painting, Wood Carving, Photography and Pyrography.

She introduced me to Christstollen; a fruit bread eaten during the Christmas season in Germany.  We enjoyed it with coffee while she shared photos of her creations and talked about the different art and craft mediums she has used.

Irene learned how to knit before she went to school.  
​"My mom taught me.  Mom also showed me how to crochet. I started Drawing pictures of people with any pencils I could find." 

Then Irene discovered Photography.  She recalled picking up a point and shoot camera and capturing images in different lights.  She began working in a camera shop and photography studio in Germany to learn more about various aspects of the craft.  

When she moved to the United States, Irene continued working in a photo lab and camera shop.  She used 35mm cameras and started collecting vintage cameras.
 "I collected Leica, Retina, and medium format cameras."

Irene would get inspired to pick up drawing again and again.   
"I get an idea in my head that won't go away.  It keeps growing and developing details until I do something with it."  

That is how Irene got started with Pyrography.  
"For months I had an idea I wanted to burn a drawing on wood.  I bought pine and made a drawing of an elephant on it.  Then I purchased  a cheap burning tool from Michaels.  Here is a photo of My first Pyrography.  The Tree of Life."

"For my first attempt at wood burning, I used pine.  That is the worst wood to use for pyrography.  Poplar and Bass are much easier to use and available at craft stores.  I also started burning on rice paper.  Here is the Angel I made."

"The next thing I want to do is try burning on leather.  I also started carving with a dremel tool and want to get more deeply in carving with different tools."
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​Irene had never heard of needle felting until she received a needle felting kit for Christmas.  She completed a Teddy Bear and created a few other felted animals.     

Irene tells me that she gets ideas and inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram. She does not have a website or sell her creations online.  She takes special orders from friends and acquaintances.  

Irene recently discovered Twenty20 a mobile photography marketplace and community for photographers.  She posts her photos as @Enerry27 in open competitions. She is also able to sell her photos on this app.  I'm currently checking out this mobile app because I also work with photography and want to learn more about how it works.    

Next week Irene is going to show us step by step how she made these Book Marks for Valentines Day.  It's a great project for getting started with Pyrography.

I realized through our time together that Irene just does it.  She takes the idea and fearlessly uses different mediums as she creates.  She's learning how to do it as part of the creative process.