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[Asianfire]

With the opal being in its closing-state, its time to start something new.

Long delayed, I  had the Montana next to me for over a year, so its time to finally risk extending myself above and way beyond what i think I can do.


Some of you might remember that one from one of the contests on the forums.

The idea is "Dream Journey" and requires a humanoid standing on the inside of a Dragon-wing, with the dragon head accepting the caressing hand. The third object of importance is creating a staff, following the moss running up the piece. Eventually, that staff should be standing free at about 75-80%, something that is challenging on this kind of material. 

I say, "way beyond what I think I can do", simply because it will involve a face as well as a dragon head. I continue practicing faces, but have successfully shied away from Dragon-heads up to now.
I started with staff and wing on the right and wanted to proceed to the humanoid, but then realized that the Dragon-head needs to be in place to proportion and position the hand and arm. So this week, I finally found an image that I can agree with and started the head.



That thing will be incredibly difficult to photograph when done. If any light from behind comes through, it shows off the wonderful moss, but has any image carved into basically vanish.  Smoke and mirrors, doing the title just.... 

To practice dragon-heads, I took the opportunity and started two more; one in opal and another in Jade. The opal one stays hidden for now, to ensue I do not fall foul of contest rules as I might have with the Mermaid.

Australian Tamworth Nephrite 2 inches tall

And as is, roughened out shape today


In the meantime, I set up a page on FB for contests, trying to bring cabbers, carvers and facetters of any natural material together. This months theme is "Water" and I just finished up my entry today.

Quartz


Till here for now, will update this post most likely once a week as long as one of the pieces is in carving-stage. Once polishing starts, things would/will get boring as nothing really can be seen. 

Thanks for looking, remain with best regards, Kurt

[Enchantra]

Oooohhh Dragons!
I will be watching this one closely!
I like the jade dragon's head you are carving!  That piece is totally rocking!     I could so see that done into a bead embroidered piece!

It's hard to see the images in the Montana, but that's the nature of the stone, not much you can do about that. 

[ScarlettOSara]

Enter the Dragon Master....
Release the sleeping Dragon:)

[Asianfire]

Thank you ladies.
Its nice materials to work with, lets see where it goes from here.

Small mistake on naming the jade Tamworth. Its actually from Cowell.

[Asianfire]

Don't like the hiding game, but for now FB is off limits for this one.
This one bugs me. 
Just a bit over an hour today to get it started, but sand-pockets and uneven surface as well as colours give me trouble here. 

[Enchantra]

I see the dragon face emerging here.
You're coming along nicely.

So why is it bugging you?  Just the inherent problems with the material itself?

[MrsWTownsend]

Oh my gosh, that is soooooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!

I admire how well you are able to see the potential in a stone.

[Asianfire]

Thank you!

I see the dragon face emerging here.
You're coming along nicely.

So why is it bugging you?  Just the inherent problems with the material itself?

Its bugging me because I seem to have a higher than usual problem of getting close to a balance, and I strongly belief that that is something the judges will be looking for.

[Enchantra]

A balance?
So do you mean getting it perfectly symmetrical? 

[Asianfire]

Yep. Not perfect, but at least close. 

[Enchantra]

Yep. Not perfect, but at least close. 

Good to know there are people out there vastly more anal retentive than I am!   

[Asianfire]

Caught the bug. Started a few more.
Black Opal

Sodalite


Tiger-eye, Indonesian jasper and Nephrite

Just started to try texture on the nephrite, will see what sanding brings, but somehow I don't need to have it. Does not look worthwhile.

Nearly everyone broke at one time or other, so balancing is a challenge in itself.

Also starting Opalite for FB challenge of the month.


Thanks for looking, Kurt

[wampidy]

It sucks when a lot of effort is put out and you end up with nothing in return but if you back off and take another look you can see where you learned something which makes it all worth while.

I have found that dragon heads are much easier in profile instead of face on so what you are doing is a really big challenge that I will no longer attempt. You always seem to get things to work out in the end so I wish you luck on the next.
Jim

[Enchantra]

I am loving your dragon heads Kurt!  You're making me desire to sculpt a few in polymer or glass clay!   
How are the different stones working for you?  Are some more easily worked than others?

[MrsWTownsend]

I can see how the Nephrite would be a challenge for that type of carving.  Interesting that the Tiger's Eye was the same way.

I love love love the black opal- I could bathe in those colors!!!!!!!!!!!!  Do you have a good source for this material?