Dancing with the Dragon

Occasionally, I'll receive old pieces for restoration. I've always loved old things, and restoring (or simply touching up) these works of art is truly a joy. I have to admit that I have a weakness for all things Victorian, particularly Gothic. Old creepy houses and castles most people would deem dark and depressing have always intriqued me. So when I received this great Dragon sculpture, I threatened the client that it would never be returned. Rescued from an old building in St. Joseph, Missouri, he has seen many, many years of exposure to the elements and what appears to be several repaints. He has been gilded and bronzed with touches of Verde' added over time. My job was to restore the finish on the left half of his body and his tail, areas that had been recently repaired for stabilization purposes and painted a black primer. Though I'll never recover in payment the time I spent restoring this piece, I had a hell of a good time doing it. Alas, he must return to his rightful owners in the English Pub he was destined for.

Spring--Really?

It's been a remarkably warm winter this year--hardly any snow--cool with me. Not out of the woods yet, I fear. Last March, on the first day of Spring we had several inches of heavy wet snow. The old saying "It always snows on the Daffodils" seems to never fail. Crocus in my yard never fail to bloom the first few days of February--snow or not. Happy Spring, almost.