Artist’s work is hot and happening

R. Vignesh uses sunlight to create his pyrography portraits

A clear sky and a ray of sunshine are enough for R. Vignesh, 30, to get started on his artwork. Though the self-taught artist from Mayiladuthurai is talented in 3-D hyperrealist imagery and oil painting, it is pyrography that has caught his attention of late.

Pyrography is the freehand art of decorating wooden and other surfaces with burn marks from the controlled application of a heat source. In Mr. Vignesh’s case, the heat comes from the sun. On any given day, he ventures out at 9 a.m. into the broad daylight with his art supplies - wooden plaque, magnifying glasses, protective gloves and a broad-rimmed hat – and literally burns out designs by focusing the sun’s rays on specific parts of the plaque.