FAQ
What are the dragons made of?
All of them are handmade from polymer clay, a manmade PVC compound that becomes a hard plastic when baked. Polymer clay comes in a wide variety colors, so apart from a dot of black acrylic paint for their eyes, I don't paint the dragons. Sometimes I coat them with mica powders to give them a metallic finish, then paint them with a clear varnish so that the powders won't rub off with time and handling.
How did you learn to make them?
Mostly through lots of practice. I learned by experimenting, listening to suggestions, looking at pictures, and reading books. But most of all I learned by doing, and I'm continuing to learn even now.
What tools do you use?
Although I have a fair collection of tools, I've found that most of the time I get by with a needle tool, a colour shaper, a T blade, a crochet hook, and my hands. For some things I also use toothpicks, a pasta machine, a caliper, paintbrushes, and a leather hole punch. My work surface is a smooth marble chess board.
Do you make anything other than dragons?
I'd like to introduce other fantasy creatures in the future, but for now, dragons are what I do. Over time I've devised ways to make them as efficiently as I can, with fairly consistent results. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for other types of sculptures. If you'd prefer something else in a style similar to the dragons, please email me at vneely@dragonwhimsy.com with the details and I'll see if I can make it for you.
What if my dragon gets damaged in the mail?
I sincerely hope that doesn't happen! However, if your dragon does get damaged by the gorillas at the post office, contact me so that we can work out a solution. The dragon may be fixable. If it can't be repaired, we can negotiate on an exchange or refund. Please note that if we agree on an exchange, I won't be able to exactly duplicate the damaged dragon, but I can make one very similar.
What do I get if I join the mailing list?
You'll receive emails periodically (no more than once a week) that will let you know when there's anything new, be it new dragons for sale, stories about dragons, articles about polymer clay, or new content altogether. Special events and contests will also be announced in these emails. I hate spam as much as anyone, and I will not sell or distribute your email to anyone else. You can opt out any time by emailing me and requesting to be removed from the mailing list.
What is an Etsy shop?
Etsy is a website where you can buy and sell handmade items, and where I have some dragons listed for sale. Signing up with Etsy is free and easy. You can find out more in Etsy's FAQs. If you want to learn out more about Etsy itself, there's a wikipedia article you might like to read. (There's a wiki for everything!)