So I learned something a while back that I鈥檓 surprised I didn鈥檛 learn earlier:
Pyrography fades considerably in even bright indoor lighting: specifically, gallery lighting. Doesn鈥檛 even need to be sunlight, I guess any intense sunlight within the span of a year will drastically lighten the burned in marks.
So this piece suffered after its time on display, and it was only today that I set about trying to remedy it by going back in and darkening the tones and deepening the outlines. The final resting place of this piece will have to be a more dimly lit wall or corner until I can think of some good archival method that won鈥檛 crack or discolor over time.
The top of the piece has yet to be touched; you can see the contrast with where I鈥檝e been working in the middle/bottom.
I was inspired by @domesticgoddesswriter and her fanfic Legends where Thorin carves Bilbo a walking stick with the company in geometric shapes. I wanted to do their full bodies originally but I decided to just go with their heads to make it easier on myself and have more space. I'm still working on the burning process but it will be a part of my Bilbo costume for the Renaissance festival this year. I'm still considering how to draw the journey on the other side 鉂わ笍鉂わ笍