"Art, in its various forms, serves as a venue for the artists to express themselves. For the disabled, often times, their artistic abilities are enhanced"

About Dale and pyrography

Dale uses a variety of mediums to create art. Though wood burning is his preference, he also uses Oils, Pastels, Acrylics and Water Color. "I love the reaction from clients when they see their loved one or pet recreated into a memory to cherish for many years.

Dale Bradley was born with Cerebral Palsy and have been in wheelchair since retiring in 2006. 'Creativity seems to have been a God given gift. Despite my physical limitations, whether through music, songwriting, or art, I have always had a deep passion for creating something.' 

A couple years ago, after remembering having a cheap wood burning kit as a child, He found that there are better ones, with variable temperature to allow for shading and more realistic results. Bradley says ' I still have a lot to learn, but find with practice, patience and time..it can be done. Pyrography is my drug..allowing me to escape, while bringing a smile to the faces of those who see my work.' 

Pyrography also known as woodburning, is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object, in this case, an electric heated tool about the size of an ink pen. 

Pyrography means 'writing with fire', from the Greek 'pur' (fire) and 'graphos' (writing).[1] It can be practiced using specialised modern pyrography tools, or using a metal implement heated in a fire, or even sunlight concentrated with a magnifying lens. 
A large range of range of tones and shades can be achieved. Varying the type of tip used, the temperature, or the way the iron is applied to the material all create different effects. Light-coloured hardwoods such as sycamore, basswood, beech and birch are most commonly used, as their fine grain is not obtrusive. However, other woods, such as pine or oak, and even paper, leather and cork can be used. 

Pyrography is also applied to leather items, using the same hot-iron technique. Leather lends itself to bold designs, and also allows very subtle shading to be achieved. Specialist vegetable-tanned leather must be used for pyrography, (as modern tanning methods leave chemicals in the leather which are toxic when burned) typically in light colours for good contrast. 
Pyrography is also popular among gourd crafters and artists, where designs are burned onto the exterior of a dried hard-shell gourd, usually with dramatic results