Dragon Scales

[windspirit]

Can someone tell me the best way to make the scales shown on the attached photo? I can think of a couple of ways but neither one will give me consistent graduating scales?
Thanks for help.

[Thomp]

Paientence, and presistance, mostly it wont be a fast thing to do....

from viewing the attachment it looks like different sized coin, or finger nail like shaped templates were used to draw them on then cut with a knife,
"because of the inconsistent shape of the individual scales", then burned with some kind of wood burner,

if you had a full set of
extra deep verniers like on this page from ricks at little shavers., <link> (look at bottom right of page, )
you could use the tools of different size to do the work of keeping the shape of each scale exact,,, but at that cost you could have it sent out and done if you only used those tools for a few scales,...


Look close 80% of them scales is pretty consistent. its not as precise as it looks at first glance, the 3rd row gets weird with under or short sides as dose the 5th row with over burns. into the scales above.. the 8 th and 9th rows get wild but you got to end it somehow, guess its as good as any other method...

but even as great as nature is for repetition and symmetry its not always perfect... look at a ear of corn.... not all the rows of colonels are same size or placement,

its tough to do repetitive carving but just stick to the plan, and be aware of grain direction,

assuming the grain runs up and down, and your working with a knife,
keep in mind the grain, the knife will want to follow the grain when making a curve, keep it shallow,,,just using the tip of the knife at 90 degrees to the work, it keeps the blade from being drug sideways through the curve,,versus if you were holding the knife at 30 degreese to the work,

if you defign the scale shape cutting from center bottom,
as you carve up from the bottom of the curve the chips you will pull out will try to split when your carving the edge of the scale, but when carving the shadow line or lower side the knife will make a smoother cut, , so if you defign the scale with downwards cut to bottom center on each side the cut on the outside of each scale will be smooth,

sorry for being so long for a explanation,

just dont ask what time it is, ill explain how the watch works inside..
thomas.

[windspirit]

Tomas, thanks. Think I have gottten to same point,i.e., a lot of patience and care. Should have thought more about details before starting but now that I have started I will persevere (sp?).

[AlArchie]

Without going down to the dungeon and digging through back issues, I think there was an article on doing scales on a set of bookends back a ways...maybe issue 34 or 35.

Yep, I dug it out...it was issue 35. Had a pattern and instructions for carving scales that look like they could be adapted to a dragon.

Al

[mark yundt]

I read this as being a farily quick carving style,looking more detailed than it really is. This looks like it was done by first sketching in the pattern and then using nothing but # 5's and maybe a #7 as stop cuts to outline the scale,,then removing the waste. The final step is just a couple of passes across the scale for a bit of detail.Not sure of the size of this piece,,but using a just a couple of gouges this would be quick and easy.With a very slight adjustment you could just as easily have pointed scales giving it a more dramatic and dangerous look as well using only # 2+3's
.

By first sketching in the pattern you can vary the location and size ( getting smaller and closer) as you move up the neck towards the head.This is the same technique when carving birds. You don't want to end up with a symmetrical ..all in a row..all the same size scale.I personally would not use deep "V's" to do this.You might use a knife,,but that only makes the process much more difficult than simply using a couple of gouges.Seeing the telltale patterns left behind ,,this carver used gouges as well.Should you need it I could do a sample for you showing the steps involved to do either pointed or rounded scales.

[windspirit]

Mark,
Thanks for info. Would like to see sample. I need all the help I can get.
Larry

[windspirit]

Al,
I ordered Issue 35. Maybe with Marks help I can use these techniques to finish the dragon.
Larry

[squbrigg]

To me the scales look concave, and dragon scales should bulge out somewhat. Think of overlaping shields! The size of the scales can vary, but the general rule the lower in the body, the heavier the scale. You can use several shapes of scales on a body and you also can mix and match scales on a dragon to express where his strengths lie.

Look over Susan Irish;s book on Dragons and there are several other good books on drawing dragons on the market too. So there are plenty of reference books available. The best way is to get your favorite dragon to sit still for a while while you sketch him. Tempt him with sacrificial virgins tied to a stake, or a handy pot of gold. He might go for it.

Bob

[mark yundt]

You're right Bob,,I thought these scales looked a bit odd. These were a rather quick and dirty way of doing them. I too would rather see the type you are suggesting. I planned on doing a sample of them as well.This to me looks more like the neck and chest of a Pheasant rather than a Dragon. That's why I wanted to include the pointed scales as well.I personally think they should look more like the cape feathers I did on the eagle before I detailed them. Sorta' more pointed and lethal looking rather than soft and round.Though I guess it could go either way. Actually it might be really neat if around the neck area they were small and pointed and then as they progressed down the body got larger and more rounded. That is essentially what happens with many types of bird feathers. And isn't a dragon sort of a bird / lizzard only on steroids?
It'll take a bit more carving,,but I think the results will be worth it. I've never seen the books you talk about,,but I think I can pull something off that'll work. We'll see,,stay tuned Bob and you can give me pointers and a critique..

[brian-bailey]

One great thing about dragons is that no one has ever seen one.

So what is right or wrong is only in the eye of the beholder.

Imagination rules with dragons.

The picture of the scales / feathers is someone's carving of a Griffin. At least that is what the picture title alludes to.