Fire art

Fire Art is a term used to describe a piece of art that uses active flames as an essential part of the piece.

Why Use Fire

Many aspects of fire draw people to work in the medium.
* It has a direct impact on its surrounding by consuming materials and by throwing off heat and light.
* It is an active medium, constantly moving and appearing to be alive.
* There is an inherent perceived danger to fire.

Fuels

Modern fire art is practiced with many different fuels. The choice of fuel is largely dependent on the effects desired.

In large stationary pieces, propane gas is a popular fuel. The gas escaping from its container can be set alight. Different plumbing, pressures, nozzles alter the nature of the flames. Controlling how the propane mixes with the oxygen in the air is important.

Liquid fuels like alcohol, methanol, kerosene, mixes of kerosene and diesel etc can produce spectacular results though extra precautions must be taken with liquids because they fall and splash while gasses usually dissipate.

Colorants

Most colorants are solids ground into a powder. As the powder is heated, it begins to oxidize and burns a color particular to the chemical used. Some colorants can be dissolved in alcohol or water or other liquids to facilitate their dispersion in the fire.

Note that some colorants are toxic and shouldn't be used in proximity to people.

ee also

* Fire dancing
* Firework, Fireworks

External Links

* [http://www.leonardo.info/gallery/burningman_fire/burningman.html Fire Art of Burning Man Gallery] curated/edited by Louis M. Brill and LadyBee for Leonardo/ISAST