My most recent commission was a large dragons head now sited in a private garden
in Wethersfield. The head is positioned at the end of a long hedge, which has been
cut to resemble the body of the dragon. This was a very interesting piece of work
and involved some new techniques for me.
I was initially sent a photograph (top left ) and asked if this was something I could
reproduce. The head was first hand-carved from a block of polystyrene and then sanded.
Then it was transported (very carefully) to a workshop in Sible Hedingham, Essex,
where it was sprayed with a special resin to harden it. The resin is so effective
I would have been happy to drop the head from a height of about 10 feet and even
the most fragile parts would not have suffered any damage. Finally, it was sprayed
to resemble stone.
Although polystyrene might not seem the first choice for a carving it has the advantage
of being light-weight and easily moved around and transported (even after hardening
and having the stone effect applied), compared to the engineering and logistics of
putting heavier materials, such as stone, in place.
It is also cheaper to produce and therefore more affordable. Once it has been treated
it is extremely strong, weatherproof and virtually maintenance free. Any moss or
lichen growing on it can be simply hosed or washed away. It is so long lasting it
would probably outlive timber.
The whole process was enjoyed by the guys who treated and sprayed the head as it
provided quite a change from their usual work. The man who does the spraying wears
boots that gradually get bigger and heavier with each job he does - eventually ending
up like huge stone blobs, or moon boots, on his feet.
The head is held in place by a metal ‘spike’ which extends from the back of the head
into the hedge and then into the ground. It is only the lightness of the materials
that allows this. Had the head been much heavier it would have needed more obvious
fixings, thereby spoiling the effect somewhat.
The tail may prove more difficult to site as it will eventually be around 6 metres
long and will need to be supported beyond the confines of the hedge itself.
If you would like to know more about carvings from polystyrene please contact me.
The Dragon
Click on the images below or click here to see a slide show of the same images.
