Monday, May 28, 2012

Custom order: Toy Wooden Dragon

This one was by special request from a great lady way out in Texas. She asked me to carve a toy dragon "in the style of your horses." It was an exciting prospect, so I put pencil to paper, sketching up some designs. I chose a seated position for the dragon, in order to keep the centerof gravity low and ensure a nice solid carving. The tail is carved on the right side, giving the appearance of wrapping around the flank before ending in a slight curl.
The dragon is carved from a single block of basswood, then lightly sanded in order to leave the whittle marks. A few coats of non-toxic salad bowl finish sealed the wood and left it with a natural tone. I also gave it a pass with some high-grit sandpaper after painting, which knocks the paint off of the higher grooves and gives the carving an aged look. A final coat of shelac and the dragon was done.

4 comments:

  1. Turn it into a camel, add some critters with it and you could sell creches.

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  2. Very nice. I really like how this looks, especially how the tail wraps around and on the other side there is the heart shape made by the wings and legs. Very creative!

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  3. Standardize the design, and paint them different colors. Collect all the Chromatic Dragons! Order now!

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  4. @Gorges: Great idea! I've had a Nativity Sccene on my list for as long as I've been whittlin. I'll probably start with the Holy Family, then add more when I feel confident.

    @Becky: I didn't even notice the heart shape! Very cool.

    @JP: More to come. I think the blue dragons live in sandy deserts, so keep watching the skies.

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