Unique pen holder for dragon pen

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plantman

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The pen holder was made to look like an old tree stump and hold my dragon pen. It is made from Polymer Clay in the old Japanese method called Mokume Gane. This takes materials of different colores and stacks them to blend the colors together. The bottom view shows the stacked layers and resembles the growth rings of a tree. It also shows how the clay was moulded around the brass pen well. Process is a little more complex, but that is the general idea. The dragon pen is a cast resin, finished in acrylic paints, and 2 coats of matte varnish. As odd as the shape may look, it fits nicely in the hand. Jim S
 

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SDB777

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Did you reverse engineer the mold? Or just make it from scratch?
By chance do you know what the entire pen weighs? Looks like a lot of resin....


Regardless, nicely done. Some really good imagination you have going on there!



Scott (more coffee - more coffee) B
 

plantman

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Jan 2, 2012
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Green Bay, Wi
Did you reverse engineer the mold? Or just make it from scratch?
By chance do you know what the entire pen weighs? Looks like a lot of resin....


Regardless, nicely done. Some really good imagination you have going on there!



Scott (more coffee - more coffee) B

Thanks Scott: Pen weight is 120 grams. The dragon is drilled out to hold the ink refill or cartrage, and a threaded insert installed in the end for the nib to be screwed into it. I had the unfinished dragon cast by a craftsman in China at the time I had the 50th anniversary pens made last year. I think you could easily reverse engineer this or any object in plaster or silicone, but it is for my personal collection and I have no reason to reproduce it. It took almost 3 months to receive the dragon, I assume it was cast, but it could have been done by hand, as I see no mold marks in it. I never asked how it was done. There is a fantastic set of videos (11) on youtube called full dragon sculptures by a Polymer Clay artist that takes you from wire armature to final painting. This method could be used on any object you choose to make. Jim S
 
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SDB777

Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2010
Messages
6,620
Location
Cabot, Arkansas USA
Did you reverse engineer the mold? Or just make it from scratch?
By chance do you know what the entire pen weighs? Looks like a lot of resin....


Regardless, nicely done. Some really good imagination you have going on there!



Scott (more coffee - more coffee) B

Thanks Scott: Pen weight is 120 grams. The dragon is drilled out to hold the ink refill or cartrage, and a threaded insert installed in the end for the nib to be screwed into it. I had the unfinished dragon cast by a craftsman in China at the time I had the 50th anniversary pens made last year. I think you could easily reverse engineer this or any object in plaster or silicone, but it is for my personal collection and I have no reason to reproduce it. It took almost 3 months to receive the dragon, I assume it was cast, but it could have been done by hand, as I see no mold marks in it. I never asked how it was done. There is a fantastic set of videos (11) on youtube called full dragon sculptures by a Polymer Clay artist that takes you from wire armature to final painting. This method could be used on any object you choose to make. Jim S



Very cool! Year of the Dragon and all was last year(I remember making a ton of on-tube castings of the stamps).

So all of these castings your making are for you and friends, or are you selling them also(ie... personal collection).

120gr isn't as heavy as I was thinking...



Scott (very awesome) B
 

plantman

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Scott; I make pens for myself or to give as gifts. I have over 600 in my collection at any given time. I show then once a year at our Guilds woodworking show, and may sell a few if someone is realy interested. If someone I know wants something special made I will make it for the cost of materials. If someone wanted more than 2 of the same kind, I would feel that it is a job and, that's what I retired to get away from!! I tend to work on a new project or idea until I feel I have achieved satisfactory results, and than I move on to something else. I find that having many interests keep you from burning out on any one item. At 120 grams the pen gives you a very ferm feel without being heavy as opposed to the golden anniversary pens I had made, but than again they were made for display not to be carried around. Jim S
 
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