Meet Minisa Robinson of New Castle, CO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Minisa Robinson.

Hi Minisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up surrounded by art. I’m the daughter of a fine artist, and some of my earliest memories are of roaming the mountains of Colorado, sketchbook in hand, immersed in both nature and creativity. Art was a part of my daily life. Growing up without many resources, I learned early on to make do with what was available. I explored nearly every art medium I could get my hands on, often digging through my father’s trash bin to rescue dried oil paint and borrowing the most worn-down brushes so I wouldn’t take anything he might need. Those early years taught me resourcefulness, patience, and a deep respect for the process of making art.

Years later, during a difficult economic time, I found myself once again searching for a way to contribute financially from home while raising and homeschooling my children. I turned back to wood and nature and tried my hand at wood carving. When those efforts didn’t go very well, I picked up a simple woodburning tool in an attempt to “fix” my mistakes. The carving was still terrible, but I fell in love with woodburning.

I taught myself pyrography through constant experimentation, practice, and plenty of trial and error. I burned on scrap wood, made gifts for family and friends, and slowly pushed myself toward more complex subjects. Over time, my work naturally evolved into realistic wildlife and animal portraits, blending my lifelong love of nature with the technical challenge that keeps me engaged as an artist.

As my work progressed, I began sharing it online. When I posted photos of my realistic woodburnings, some people didn’t believe the artwork was real. To prove otherwise, I launched my YouTube channel so people could see the whole process. Those videos unexpectedly drew attention, and soon people began asking for help with their own burnings. What started as simple documentation turned into something much larger and it pulled me into the world of teaching.

That path eventually led me to leave my part-time publishing work and devote myself fully to homeschooling, creating art, and instructing others. Over the years, I’ve created four instructional DVDs, written two books, and developed countless tutorials and online classes. I also founded Wood Burning University, which has grown into a supportive and encouraging community of artists.

Today, I balance creating my own artwork with teaching and mentoring others who are walking a similar path. My journey hasn’t been traditional or easy, but it’s been deeply meaningful. I’m still learning, still growing, and still grateful for the unexpected way a single tool changed the direction of my life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges throughout my journey has been simply having a stable place to live while trying to build both a family and a creative life. Early on, we lived in a remote, off-grid cabin while raising two babies. Life was simple, demanding, and beautiful in its own way, but we were eventually forced to leave due to a difficult family situation. That uprooting marked the beginning of several very hard years.

For nearly three years, our family of four lived in a small house where we all slept in a single room. During that time, I worked as a publisher during the day, then spent my evenings woodburning in a small corner of the garage. Space, privacy, and rest were luxuries we didn’t have, but I kept creating whenever and however I could. Art was a means of healing and peace during these times.

Eventually, we moved into an old, run-down house in the country, what we jokingly called the “Bug House.” While living there, we experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage, followed later by the joy of welcoming our third child. I began filming my instructional DVDs while pregnant and continued working while raising three young children, often filming late at night after everyone was asleep. Those years required persistence, exhaustion, and a deep belief that the work mattered, even though the progress felt painfully slow.

After nearly three years in that house, we were finally able to carve out a life in the remote mountains of Colorado, where we’ve now lived off-grid for over a decade. Our home is small and my studio space is partly in the living room, partly in the basement. I continually shift and adapt as our children grow and need more room. I’ve continued burning, teaching, and homeschooling through it all, alongside the everyday realities of cooking, cleaning, coaching, summer droughts, extreme winters, and even the rogue bears that occasionally try to break into our home.

I’ve also had to work through physical limitations. A serious accident when I was younger left me with permanent neck pain, which affects how I can work. That forced me to adapt my setup, pace myself, and listen closely to my body. These are lessons that have shaped both my art and my teaching.

None of these challenges stopped my artwork, but they have definitely shaped it. They taught me perseverance, adaptability, and patience, and they gave me a deep empathy for others who are trying to create in difficult circumstances. My path hasn’t been easy, but it’s forged me into who I am today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work centers around realistic pyrography, with a strong focus on wildlife and animals. I specialize in creating highly detailed, lifelike woodburnings that rely on careful observation, subtle shading, and an understanding of form rather than heavy outlines or shortcuts. Wood is a demanding surface, and I’m drawn to the challenge of creating realism using heat alone, sometimes combined with carefully applied color to enhance depth while still honoring the natural beauty of the wood.

Alongside my personal artwork, I’m deeply committed to teaching. I’m known for breaking down complex techniques into approachable, repeatable steps that help artists truly understand why something works, not just how to copy it. Because I’m self-taught, my instruction is rooted in problem-solving, experimentation, and empathy for beginners who may feel overwhelmed or discouraged early on.

What I’m most proud of isn’t a single piece of artwork, but the body of work I’ve built while raising a family, homeschooling, and living off-grid. Founding Wood Burning University and watching it grow into a supportive community of artists has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

What sets me apart is both my approach to realism and my approach to teaching. I don’t believe in rushing the process or chasing trends. I emphasize patience, perseverance, and learning to truly see your subject. My work reflects a deep respect for nature, for craftsmanship, and for the slow, steady growth that comes from consistent practice. I strive to create artwork that challenges the perceptions of woodburning. and elevates the medium. Plus I like to encourage artists to trust themselves, embrace the learning curve, and keep creating even when the path feels difficult.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t think of myself as a natural risk-taker in the dramatic sense, but I’ve taken many meaningful risks out of necessity, faith, and conviction. For me, risk has never been about chasing adrenaline or making impulsive decisions, it’s been about choosing growth over comfort, even when the outcome was uncertain.

Some of the biggest risks I’ve taken didn’t look bold from the outside. Leaving stable publishing work to focus on homeschooling, art, and teaching was a risk, especially without guarantees that it would turn into a sustainable income. Living off-grid in remote areas, building a creative career with limited resources, and continuing to invest time into art during seasons when it would have been easier to choose something more predictable were all quiet but significant risks.

Teaching was another leap. I’m entirely self-taught, and early on I wrestled with whether I had the right to instruct others. Sharing my process publicly, especially online, meant opening myself up to scrutiny and criticism. When I began posting videos of my work, it wasn’t to build a platform, but simply to show the process. In fact, part of that decision came from people doubting that my realistic woodburnings were real. Showing the work in progress was a risk, but it became a turning point that led to my YouTube channel, instructional DVDs, books, and eventually the creation of Wood Burning University.

I’ve also learned that not taking risks can be its own form of danger. It’s easy to stay in what’s familiar and repeat what works, but over time that can quietly limit growth. I’ve found that taking thoughtful risks such as trying new ideas, teaching new formats, or allowing my work to evolve, has been essential to staying creative.

My approach to risk is rooted in listening closely, preparing as much as possible, and then taking the step anyway, even if the path isn’t fully visible. I don’t believe risk means being reckless. I believe it means being willing to move forward before you feel completely ready, trusting that you’ll adapt along the way. In my experience, the most meaningful growth has always lived just beyond what felt safe.

Pricing:

• Woodburning Realistic Animals Book: $24.99
• Woodburning Projects and Patterns for Beginners Book: $24.99
• Four DVDs for Woodburning Bundle: $99.80

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.minisapyrography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minisa_robinson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodBurningUniversity
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MinisaWoodBurningUniversity
• Other: https://www.woodburninguniversity.com