Mayan Dragon Journal

[Irish]

I just finished a new e-Project for my site, Mayan High Priest, and found that I had created one extra project that I simply could not squeeze into the file.

Which is not good for me as I did more than I could use, but great for you because I am going to post it here ...

Around my house if its the guys that have control of the remote as we bug out in front of the idiot box the night's feature will be some "Zombie Armageddon" flick. We will all sit around watching the blood bath as my guys sharpen their glow-in-the-dark authentic reproduction zombie slaying machetes ... still don't understand how something can be both a reproduction and authentic at the same time.

Now ... If I get to the remote first it will be a Natural Disaster Apocalypse for the evening's entertainment. I do believe I long ago wore out my VHS copies of Twister, Armageddon, and, of course, 2012.

So with the Ending of the Universe coming in 2012 I have had some fun over the last couple of months exploring Mayan hieroglyphs as well as Aztec and Inca. This little, quick project is a Mayan dragon design worked on a paper mache ruled paper journal.

Paper mache burns in the medium to dark tones very well. I used my standard writing tip and spoon shader tip for the project, and am using my Colwood Detailer.

Begin by making a copy of the pattern to fit your journal cover. Rub theback ofthe pattern paper with pencil then lightly tape the pattern to the journal cover. Using an ink pen trace the outlines of each area.

Susan

[Irish]

Using my spoon shader set on a medium heat setting, about 5 for my unit, I shaded the eyes, and belly ridges of the dragon. This is a long pull stroke. In the numbers I worked a simple tightly packed dash texture along the bottom 1/4 of each number.

I used the year 2012 in a vertical layout next to my dragon but you could easily write someone's name in this area.

Susan

[Irish]

Using my standard writing tip I shaded the scales with a small grouping of fine lines. An open random doodle stroke was used to fill the body areas of the dragon. Random small dots give the numbers a little stone-like texturing.

The circles in the leaf accents, the eyes, and inside of the nostrils was filled with a solid dot pattern. Using my standard writing tip I have outlined along all of the pattern lines.

Susan

[Irish]

To finish this pattern I filled the large spaces behind the dragon and inside of the numbers with a hot temperature scrubbie stroke.

Quick and simple - about a one hour burn - that might make someone on your holiday gift list a fun present.

Susan

[Robson Valley]

Fantastic! Mayan glyphs have always fascinated me. Mulling the idea of relief carving a few (my initials, maybe).
Article a few days back in a science news reporting site = Sciencedaily.com. Scholars of Mayan text now say that the Mayan calendar does not predict the end in 2012. Bummer, I wanted to sit on my roof with a beer and watch it happen.

[Irish]

Robson, so right!

Their calendar marked the earth's transit through the Zodiac which is a 35000 (?) year journey. I am not sure of the exact number of years ... And 2012 marks the end of their measuring cycle. Since all of their paper writings were lost or destroyed when the Spanish came to the New World we may never know if they predicted the start of a new cycle.

Several ancient cultures calculated the Zodiac transit very accurately.

Now .. as for the rest of your posting ... you and I could always sit on your roof and watch it not happen, especially if you bring the beer and I bring the pretzels.

Susan

[Robson Valley]

OK, it's a deal. Not today. 20F and another bit of a blizzard thing happening again.
I do suppose, for the sake of etiquette, we'd better wait for 2012? I was reading recently that major strides in reading the glyphs have been made lately. . . . as well as in some derivative regional languages.
The dragon would make a great calendar cover. Care to toss out a couple of good sources for glyphs?

[Irish]

The best search string I found was under "Lord Bird Jaguar" at Google.

Now, doing a little shameless self-promotion here ... I have a new pattern package on my website at CarvingPatterns.com - The pattern site dedicated to the designs, themes, and ideas for your next craft project! just for Mayan, Aztec, and Inca designs that focus on Mayan faces and the faces found in the glyphs.

Oh ... if you are at your local library you might be able to borrow a copy of "1001 Designs for Whittling and Woodcarving - with Over 1800 Illustrations" by E. J. Tangerman, published by Dover Press, New York, 1994. Tangerman has a nice section on Aztec designs as well as other cultural iconic images.

Susan

[Robson Valley]

Thanks:
I have to admit that by next spring, I expect to be sort of done with the Animal Family as a design exploration. Some carvings to complete and a few woodcuts to print and I'm already thinking of what else to consider. Mayan glyphs carved in western red cedar might look quite nice. Time to start researching the images.

[AL...]

That looks realy cool
Cheers
AL