Dragon

[drhandrich]

Thats a Ten on the wow factor !

[brent]

Fantastic!

[Merle Rice]

Hi Di, the work that you do with your Problem Hands is Remarkable . Your Body may be showing your Age on the Outside but you are Definitely YOUNG on the Outside. Keep moving Kid. Merle

[Randy]

Another remarkable work of art Di. Well done!!

[DiLeon]

Merle actually the original plan was to showcase a few of my works in order so people who want a commission can see and know what I can do. The turtle was the first project.....dragon is the second. Both will be on display in my living room unless someone wants one.....at an outrageous price. But I have no plans to sell either one. If it sells then ok but people see turtle then I get the commission work. The worst thing about these works ...they are fragile and almost impossible to ship. I had a mentor in College a Doctor Plogman who told me often ...that we never know how far we can soar until we go for a masters projects, the ones you swear that you cannot do, the ones that are impossible,....until then you will never know just how good you are????. Younger I never had the patience, the time and hard work poured into a piece of work ..... Sort of figure I am getting too old to go after money,.. instead of the best I can do...so I better get on the move before it is too late. smile. I have a friend in Thailand....he told me his masterwork took him five years to complete..... yea I can see it the piece that was impossible to do. The one you just stand there and look at... So I am going for it...number two....hopefully he will work out better than turtle did, but we will see? As I do not know honestly,... if it will? Besides I am slow as turtle carving because my hands are so deformed.....so I figure it time to go for something better than making money....the work that I can not do but willing to try. It is all I have left.....of who I am. Rest of me is falling apart....

[Merle Rice]

Hi Di ,that is going to be one Great Carving , it is already on what you have done . Forgive me for asking and maybe you have stated it earlier in this ,but where is it going to go and what will happen to it ? That's a Big piece for a Big Place. Merle

[DiLeon]

Well, my new outdoor area has wasp..... so had to get the wasp spray out, I was lucky I did not get attacked while putting up the table and canopy....but have to stay out until they leave the area. Went and got the wings out, Funny how the last year and a half projects have taught me tons on how to do things a better way, The wings need tons of detail on the bones and of course major sanded down so working on them right now. It was a good choice to use the koa for the wings ....as it seems they are really solid and not so fragile. Also leaving the project for a long time, I have new ideas which are forming.....that helps out major when you are winging it....all the way in.

Arthritis is really bad ....so I have to move around alot....to keep it manageable. Darn hands want to freeze up on the joints... so they get new projects more often as I switch from tool to tool ...to sanding... to knife work. It is called livin on a prayer...smile.

[DiLeon]

Dragon has been sitting for a year and a half and other projects have been made a priority. Dragon is back on the front lines. Right now I am working on whiskers.....which I had two failed woods will not hold the fine whiskers without breaking...woods where local exotics but they were not solid enough grain.. So I was given some maple and told it would do the job. Right now cutting out tons of little blanks to make whiskers and horns, will be also trying to insert wings on him. They will ones that you can take off for transportation since he is so big.

[JJF]

good job

[DiLeon]

I am still at: "isn't it neat she is turning those Koa bowls into dragon wings!?!" And there they are! Right there on the lawn chair! I need another cup of coffee...

It was the only idea that popped into my head.....you should have seen the wood craftmans face when I told them that I was going to make dragon wings out of a turn bowl....they tried to talk me out of it. I was major worried it would not work....and amazed myself....LOL

[sappy]

I am still at: "isn't it neat she is turning those Koa bowls into dragon wings!?!" And there they are! Right there on the lawn chair! I need another cup of coffee...

[DiLeon]

they can make or break a dragon, and those are looking good.

Yea that is a major worry design wise...I am not sure how this is going to work out yet.....making the wings have been a major issue of how to do it ...and then I think that I am more worried about breaking those wings then breaking the design element...LOL It is like Please God lets not break the wings today....PLEASE!!

[DiLeon]

I would think putting the wings in plastic bags would concentrate the effect of dampness -

Actually that would depend on the wood you are using ....Koa has a very tight grain, in fact I could put it out in the rain and little effect of weather for a few months or so. The only reason I bag them...is protection from dust, mold spores in the air, salt from the ocean, cat spray.....and bugs.....my wood shop is partial open to the outside so everything needs to be protected from the outdoor elements. The only time I really have to worry about dryness of wood statue is when shipping it to another area that is dryer.....then we can get cracks as the wood drys to its environment.

[squbrigg]

This thread I am enjoying! I love dragons and all the different interpretations of them. This on is coming along famously! It is great to see how you are developing the wings, as they can make or break a dragon, and those are looking good. Staying tuned for progress, great job!
Bob

[pallin]

From what I can see at the base of the wings (attaching end), you may be planning to mortise into the dragon's body? That would make the strongest connection.

We do not have to deal with high humidity here on the mainland, but I would think putting the wings in plastic bags would concentrate the effect of dampness - unless you put some drying agent in the bags with the wings.

Your comment about "hard to turn off the mind" is a familiar experience. I find myself sorting through details of a project at all hours - especially when half asleep.