Do you take commissions?

Unfortunately, No, I don't do commissions. There was a time I did take requests, but it became a little stressful and quite demanding. It left no time for me to just sculpt for myself, any ideas I had was pushed to the side because I had to get the orders made. It stopped being fun, and when you stop loving what is essentially a hobby, and art therapy. It becomes a chore... So I had to stop.

What are the sculptures made from?

The dragons are made from a medium called Polymer Clay, which is a type of synthetic modelling clay, it is baked in the oven to cure it. Polymer clay is workable until baked in the oven, it is brilliant as it doesn't dry out before curing. There are quite a few different brands of polymer clay, and variations with different consistencies and textures, and the colours that are available are amazing. You can make a variety of things with polymer clay, jewellery, beads, charms, figurines, and lots of other handmade creations.

What is your favourite clay?

My favourite brand of clay is Sculpey. I love the texture, and the colours, it's strong when cured, not brittle like some other clays, It's one of the best there is, but, that's just my opinion. Sculpey has variations of polymer clay that I use. Sculpey Premo, Souffle, Accents, Super Sculpey Living Doll... All are amazing to work with. I also like using clay by Cernit, it's a really nice texture and strong when cured like Sculpey, but it can be a little too soft and sticky at first. I have tried plenty of other brands, but Sculpey is my go-to clay.

What are the eyes made from?

The eyes are made from flatback, 12/14mm glass cabochons glued onto a design I have made with Photoshop (FYI - Gem tac is the only glue that works). Over the years I have tried various ways of creating the eyes...Beads, painting them on, painting the glass cabochons... Nothing ever seemed to work right as I don't have a steady hand and certain beads melted, which was not good. So I bought some premade eyes, but even they wasn't quite what I wanted, so I thought to myself, I am going to give it a go and design and make my own... So I did, and now I am happy with how they look... I just have to keep making bigger ones as the Dragons grow in size too!!

What are the care instructions for the sculptures?

The sculptures are quite strong when baked, but can be fragile if not handled properly. So like anything fragile, handle it with care! Polymer clay is slightly flexible when cured, especially in the thinner parts, but can snap if intentionally bent.

If the sculptures become dusty you can gently brush them with a soft paintbrush or a clean, soft make-up brush. Or if they are dirty, you can gently wipe them with a baby wipe, or wash them carefully with warm water and mild soap.

Although polymer clay is waterproof when cured, don't submerge it in water for a long time.

Avoid any harsh chemicals or aerosol products, like furniture polish, as this can weaken them and fade the colouring.

Keep away from direct sunlight.

When the sculptures are cured by baking in the oven they are still quite soft when they are hot, they harden as they cool. If placed in extreme heat it can cause the clay to soften and be easily broken, or misshaped.

Lastly...

Keep away from children and pets

They are not meant to be played with because they are fragile and some of the sculptures have very delicate bits, like the horns or flowers, even the wings, so they are not ideal for little fingers... And also pets like to chew. I have two cats and one likes to test-bite everything.

So place them high on a shelf away from nibblers and small hands.