Dragons & Drips

[Frank Pellow]

I learned recently of the artist Fiona Kingdon and I am very much in awe of the scroll-saw art shown on her web site at:

https://www.fionakingdon.com

 Fiona has made patterns of a few (far too few) of her art works and I have purchased two of them, the first one entitled 'Dragons & Drips'.

I started work on it today and am progressing at a much faster pace than I expected.  The following photo shows my progress after two hours:

         

Just as Fiona did, I am cutting this out of Splated Maple.  The piece I am using is 23 millimetres thick.  It is surprisingly easy to cut (with a Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse #3 blade).

The little piece in the foreground is a practice piece that I cut in advance of starting on the real thing.

 

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[Scrappile]

Looking forward to following your progress.  I have several of her patterns, done one and have another que'd up, when I find the perfect piece of wood... Yes her pieces are awe inspiring.  Wish I had the talent to just cut the beautiful things like she does without having to rely on a pattern...

[Frank Pellow]

13 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Looking forward to following your progress.  I have several of her patterns, done one and have another que'd up, when I find the perfect piece of wood... Yes her pieces are awe inspiring.  Wish I had the talent to just cut the beautiful things like she does without having to rely on a pattern...

I am with you on wishing I had Fiona's artistic insight.  But, I am thankful that I do have the ability to take a stab at imitating her art.

[planeur]

Frank I am not worry about your skill to do that kind of projets, after seeing some of yours  incredibles pieces !

And thanks for the Fiona site, WOW , I am without words in front of her Incredibles pieces ! 

I have still much work to do before reaching her.... talent and skill and patient!

I will watch your progress.

planeur

Edited November 2, 2019 by planeur

[Frank Pellow]

After 4.5 hours of cutting we have:

 

I'm happy with the progress.  I think that about 3 hours of cutting remains.

                

I've pealed away most of the pattern on the right hand side in order to give me some idea how this will look.  I temporarily left the black on the dragonfly in order to see how it might look were I to stain the dragonflies black on the finished piece.  I like it, so I think that I will do just that.

 

Edited November 4, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[don watson]

Very well done piece.

I have purchased 2 of her patterns, the 'double dragonflies' I have done but the 'bee on a comb' I have still to find a proper piece of wood.

DonW

[Frank Pellow]

1 hour ago, don watson said:

Thanks Don.

I have purchased 2 of her patterns, the 'double dragonflies' I have done but the 'bee on a comb' I have still to find a proper piece of wood.

DonW

Thanks Don.  'Double Dragonflies' and 'Bee on a Comb' are the other two patterns of Fiona's that I have purchased.  Like you, I am waiting for the wood that is worthy of the pattern.

[amazingkevin]

these will eat up some time the fun way, Good job!!!

[Frank Pellow]

I have now completed the sawing (total time about 7 hours) and am considering different ways to finish the piece:

                   

 

The photo shows the mostly likely way that I will finish this, that is with staining  the dragonflies  black and installing a blue glass backing.

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[Frank Pellow]

The piece also loos good with just the wood and no backing:

    

I'm going to have to give this further thought..

[Scrappile]

It certainly does look good.  Beautiful wood.

[Frank Pellow]

It's getting even harder to decide.  Here is a photo of how it would look with a backer board made of the same wood:

     

[Scrappile]

Difficult choice, for sure.  Glad you have to make the decision.... or start on another so you can have it both ways!

[Frank Pellow]

On 11/4/2019 at 10:22 AM, Scrappile said:

Difficult choice, for sure.  Glad you have to make the decision.... or start on another so you can have it both ways!

Good suggestion.  This has helped me to stop procrastinating and make choices for this, my first effort on Dragons and Drips.  I will now proceed to cutting, at least, one more.

[Frank Pellow]

Here are two photos of the completed piece which is now hanging in one of our kitchen windows.  One of the photos shows Dragons $ Drips viewed straight on  (thus showing more glass) and the other shows it viewed from slightly below (thus showing more wood)

              

After cutting the piece, I:

1) Painted the dragonflies black:

                     

2) Sprayed two coats of clear semi-gloss (rattle can) varnish everywhere that I could reach.

3) Installed a piece of blue glass on the back.

4) Glued a piece that I had carelessly broken off back into place:

                     

5) Installed hanging hardware.

 

Edited November 6, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[planeur]

Beautyful Frank

With the blue backing , I see the dragonfly as if they were flying on top of water!

I like it very much!

Look what I took recently on my rear window , probably the same two ! They were ........making the next generation.....!

 

[Frank Pellow]

7 minutes ago, planeur said:

Beautyful Frank

With the blue backing , I see the dragonfly as if they were flying on top of water!

I like it very much!

Look what I took recently on my rear window , probably the same two ! They were ........making the next generation.....!

 

Thankyou.  That's what I see too.

I like the photo.

[Frank Pellow]

See the thread:

 

for information and photos about how I completed this piece (as well as two other versions the utilize the same pattern).

[Frank Pellow]

These are proving to be very popular.

I've made four so far and am in the process or making two more:

          

That's all that I will be able to squeeze out of the Spalted Maple board that I have been using.  So far, my attempts to find another suitable board have not been successful.

By the way, not only are these popular, but I really enjoy cutting them.  It's my personal favourite thing that I have ever cut with my scroll saw and that goes both for the cutting and the end result.

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[Frank Pellow]

Here are pictures of three more, each with different glass:

           

I have now run out of spalted maple.  I'm searching for another suitable board but have not been successful.

[Ninuninu]

Very nice indeed Frank. You really nailed it. Well done

Tony

[Scrappile]

Those really look great, Frank!

[Dragonkort]

Those are awesome!!!! I like all of them you did a fantastic job!!