Air brakes is one of my limited edition representational wall sculptures captured in steel, patinated copper and artisan glass. Capturing the gestural, curvilinea form of animals in suspended dynamic motion. They reflect totemic archetypes, ideals and aspirations. With roots in ancient animistic depictions and the fantastical beasts of the medieval bestiary and heraldic device.
The craft
Air brakes is a limited edition dragon wall sculpture crafted in mild steel and chemically patinated copper (strictly speaking it’s a wyvern as it has two legs rather than four).
Pictured below are two weights of dragon wall sculptures. Firstly, 6mm (1/4″) water tank plate salvaged for its deeply pitted surface. And secondly, 3mm mild steel, zinc thermo-sprayed for corrosion resistance. However, I would suggest CORTEN weathering steel as a more durable and visually appealing option for outdoor settings.
Setting the scene
A slams on its ‘air brakes’, its wings and feet outstretched to grab maximum drag, tail whipping round under rapid deceleration. Heart pounding, muscles screaming, it its displeasure. But, the cause of the outburst remains implied, rapidly exiting at stage right perhaps.
Dragon wall sculpture design
Dynamism of forms reduced to gestures caught in the blink of an eye are at the heart of the dragon wall sculpture design. Forms amalgamated from large raptors preparing to land and the hiss of a big cats; ears flat, eyes zeroed, intent and ready to strike.
Considering dragons
The design intentionally incorporates Chinese dragon whiskers as I don’t viewed dragons through the lens of Christian mythology. Instead I see dragons as the luck bringers of East Asia and the poetry loving hero of Kenneth Grahame‘s The Reluctant Dragon, a favourite of my grandfather, Loughnan W Pendred.
Loughnan was a talented sculptor, woodcarver and draughtsman, who drew beautiful serpentine dragons. Which might go some way to explain my childhood imaginary dragon friends. They lived on my roof and messed up my room while my back was turned!
