This was one of those pieces that I thought was really going to just be a learning experience.  I had an idea of different things that I wanted to do, and no idea how to go about it.  I can’t tell you how many times along the way I second guessed myself.  Countless times I thought, “There’s no way this will work out.”  But you know what?  That’s what art journals are for.  They are a place where you can lay out your ideas right or wrong.  If it works, GREAT!  If not, you spent a couple hours learning a few things.  You still win.

It started with me recording Puff The Magic Dragon.  Girl2 and my lovely wife were singing along.  It was one of those moments you knew you just never would want to forget.  I thought that a dragon would be the perfect thing to guard my treasured memories.  I knew that I would want an envelope to place the memories in so I treated and folded some paper.  I added a snap so that nothing could fall out.

I also knew that the dragon would have to breathe fire.  Without the fire, it’s not a dragon, it’s just a big lizard or whatever.  So when I made the flap for the envelope, I also made a flap up top to “animate” the dragon.  Flap down shows the dragon peacefully eyeing a crab on the beach, and flap up shows the dragon breathing fire at the oncoming pirates!

I cut most of these pieces out of  newspaper that I spray painted and treated to “collage” in my journal.  I have a severe aversion to using anyone else’s creations in my work, so much to the point that I don’t even want to use letters and stamps that can be bought just for this.  So if I can make it I will.  If I can’t, I will go find it and take the picture myself.  Others do it differently and that’s great.  This is just what works best for me.

Anyway, here is the video for your enjoyment!