Creating The Dragon’s Heart
Mornin’ Bob, whatdya want to work on today?
“The heart” he said. “The Dragon’s Heart“.
And, in a heartbeat we dropped into an important conversation. He spoke of how quickly he began tamping down his heart after arriving in Vietnam to serve his time as a medic. He described his heart as misshappen, protected, hardened, and hidden in a vault surrounded by concertina wire. He wanted his dragon’s heart to be as strong as a horses heart so it could out run it predators. But, he also wanted it to be soft and sensitive like a horses heart so it could easily know friend from foe.
“You’re on Bob. Yeah, the Dragon does need a heart.
Let’s get started.”
Dragon Heart … The First Conversation
The Dragon’s Heart started as a conversation and a question. Is coming home from war about reconnecting to your heart?
Sculpting Clay Heart – Bob, Matthew, Denny
Does our dragon want the heart of a predator or a prey animal?
Bob & Anne Creating Heart
The clay heart is delicately pressed into a wheelbarrow full of wet irrigation ditch sand to transfer its shape.
Dragon’s Heart – Bob
Bob studies the first half of the dragon’s heart laid out in steel pellets.
Dragons Heart From Clay to Steel
The heart found its shape in clay was transformed into welded metal punch-outs and will soon be gas brazed into a smooth golden surface.
Dragons Heart Still in Process
Dragon’s heart roughed out with metal punch-outs.
Dragon Heart
Adding detail with brazed surface and wire rod
Dragon Heart
The Completed Dragon’s Heart Finds Its Home In the Chest of the Dragon