One of these things is not like the other...

Whenever I look at other artist's work in wood burning I seem to find two distinct categories.  Both are beautiful and take talent to do, but they are such polar opposites that the finished product of each looks like a different medium altogether.  I've experimented in both and both get the same amount of attention most of the time.  Here is one style - very straightforward, heavy lines, simplistic:

In this style you don't have the aggravation of shading or any kind of 3D effect, but it's bold and striking all the same.

Here is one that is a mixture of both simplistic lines and some more intricate shading:

Here you get some different tones and a more 3D effect, but with the boldness of heavy lines.

The style that takes infinitely more time but has a very appealing outcome with tons of detail and a very realistic appearance is this:

Here you have more issues with light and shadow.  To achieve a more realistic image you have to give it contour.  The roundness of the tentacles and the intricacies of the barnacles require a lot of attention to detail and correct shading to make them look 3D and realistic.  Just like in many forms of two-dimensional art, you have to pay attention to which direction your light is coming from and only highlight that which is touched by the light.  Shadows are incredibly important when attempting to do any kind of realism.  If the human eye cannot perceive the details of an object in shadow in real life, then don't try to depict those details in your art.  Sometimes what is hidden and dark, with absolutely no detail within it, is what makes a piece intriguing. 

In wood burning this can be tricky due to the grain of the wood or uneven shadowing.  When you have no intention of creating shapes or variance in tones, the wood can sometimes do it for you.  Most of the time this avoidable, but again - you have to have patience.  Damn it.