Tag: dragon

Draconic inspiration: the theme reveal at Art Elements!

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Here be dragons! 

When Niky posted the theme for December it was instantly inspirational!  I count myself lucky to have many visual artist friends and I shared some of my dragon favorites earlier on this blog. I love dragons versatility. They are creatures of air, earth, fire… They appear in myriad forms across all world cultures. For this month I worked with a vintage image and one of my original carvings:

First up – this archaic watery dragon pictured on the top right. I cast a vintage button – and cast these in porcelain. Infinite possibilities.

Below ( bottom right) are mu original hand carved dragons. These are cast in stoneware and I was really delighted/surprised with the intense colors! They were fired to ^10 in a gas reduction kiln – known for earthier tones, not usually such intensity. (This is one reason I love AMACO velvets. )

Last but not least I pressed a few polymer dragons. The one pictured here feels Art Nouveau – and I love the copper patina paint finishes.

cabs-pendants

Dragons are available in the Art Elements Extras destash group on FB. 

The polymer dragon I kept was treated with Swellegant paints/patinas. I used an iron base with a rust patina and color accents. It makes me think of sunken pieces of eight recovered from a deep ocean wreck. I beaded the bezel and then was stalled: tiger eye vs tiger iron? Both colors in the cab, but which to accentuate?

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The finished pendant – with pearls, citrine, goldstone, tiger iron.

The finished piece! Beaded… I added citrine and copper pearls since I had chosen the red tiger iron. I am really pleased with the results – and I love the effect of the red-orange lined yellow seed beads.

details-dragon

Details of the crusty patina and the gems.

Bonus dragon: vintage image, applied as an image transfer to a polymer cab. (Banner photo: includes red City of London dragons and the Welsh flag. )

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Bonus dragon: image transfer onto polymer

Thank you Niky for setting us of on this path! I have more dragons flying around in my head. But for now – please join us in this reveal blog hop!

Guests

Shai Williams

Kathy Lindemer

Anita Rao

Kelly Rodgers

Tammy Adams

 

AJE Team

Susan

Cathy

Jen

Niky

Diana

Laney

Caroline

Claire

Year of the Dragon

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Gong Xi Fa Ca! Wishing you prosperity! ( In Mandarin Chinese)

Yes, technically Chinese New Year was celebrated on Monday the 23rd. But it does spread over  a 15 day period ringing in the new year – so I feel I am still in a timely manner. For the beginning of January I was home recovering from surgery, so this really marks my new year as I get back to work and look forward to what 2012 will bring. 

Dragon 2012

According to Chinese astrology, people born on the year of the dragon are said to be strong, self-assured, eccentric, intellectual, and passionate, among other things.


I have been hibernating. I decided when my surgery was scheduled that I would take the month of January off. By necessity – to heal. And as that process progressed – to hibernate. I will admit – it was a major surgery,a necessary one and  a smashing success, yet a tough road, one that I am glad is behind me. The timing has been perfect – to hole up in the house, warm under a blanket, sipping tea – and reading. I have been reading like it was my job… And as January comes to a close, I am ready to get back to work. I have shows to plan, applications to mail, designs to sketch, artwork to create. Healthy and rested – 2012 I am ready for you now!

I did devote a good bit of time to 2 projects over the last two weeks. I had the pleasure of collaborating with my friend Betsy Molina Motenson for a show at the Center of Creative Arts in Yorklyn, DE… and I am participating in the 2012 Sketchbook Project sponsored by the Art House Co-op. Look for details and images on those in the coming days…

For now, I wish you long life, and prosperity…(As I hear Spock in my head…) I eagerly await the adventures and experiences that this new year will bring. Hope you will follow along with me. 

New Year Dragon