How To: Dragons

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DESCRIPTION

The Dragons were created due to a request to teach a papier mache dragon workshop. The Dragons were created using recycled water bottles, wire, newspaper, cardboard, pasta and several different papier mache techniques.

This project was very challenging due to the small details as well as the demanding time constraints of having only nine hours to complete the project from start to finish. The inspiration for style of this dragon came from the movie “Dragonslayer.”

The Dragon’s Nest shown in the photos was created from a small plastic swimming pool covered with expanding foam insulation and small twigs and branches.

The dragons were created by wrapping 14 gauge galvanized utility wire around an empty water bottle. Newspaper and masking tape was used to add bulk to the armature.

The head was created from a sheet of newspaper that was crumpled into a ball and wrapped with masking tape. The wings were cut from poster board, reinforced with utility wire and hot glued into place. Several different wing designs were created for use with the dragons.

The hind legs were created from more wire, newspaper and tape. A portion of a plastic fork was used to create the feet.

The upper arms were created from plastic forks. The tines were melted with a heat gun to create some curled fingers.

The Dragon faces were created from poster board and corrugated cardboard. Additional detailing such as the snout, brows and horns were formed using different shaped pasta. The eyeballs are a small wooden beads and the teeth are tines from a plastic fork.

Once the basic armature was created and posed into the desired position newspaper strips coated in papier mache paste were applied to the tail, body, neck and wings. Bathroom tissue and paste applied with a small brush was used to cover the facial armature.

Once the layers of papier mache dried, additional detailing such as fins and ridges were added to the neck and tail. Additional tissue and paste were used to cover these additions. Papier mache clay was used to fill the eye sockets and create the ribbed abdomen and neck. Paper towel was used on the inside of the wings to create a leathery appearance.

Once the second coat of papier mache thoroughly dried the entire piece was painted with flat black latex paint. White paint was dry brushed onto the entire form to highlight the various textures that had been incorporated into the dragon.

THE NEST:

The Dragon Nest was made from a small plastic swimming pool.

The curved top portion of the pool was cut off using scissors and a butane torch was used to melt the pool into a somewhat organic shape.

Expanding spray foam insulation was heavily applied to the top portion of pool and many small branches, twigs and sticks were inserted into the foam before it cured.

Once the foam had completely cured the entire next was painted with flat black latex paint. White primer was applied via dry brushing to accentuate the texture and branches.  The entire nest received a

THE EGGS:

The dragon eggs were made by covering an inflated balloon with strip mache. The balloon was cut in half to simulate the look of a cracked egg. Additional strip mache was applied to the cut edged and thinned down papier mache clay was used to coat the exterior shell of the eggs.  The exterior was painted flat black and the interior flat white. Dry brushing highlighted the shell texture and a thinned down red acrylic paint was used to tint the exterior of the shells.