Lion (with hidden rhino) ~ 4 Booms ~ 52″ Width x 28″ Height ~ $2,200

This piece is one of the designs I am most proud of. Designing it was a real pleasure. I loved how close to the actual proportions to a Lion I got. Interestingly, the negative spaces with the rhino were essential to making the pieces fly. If it weren’t for the odd curves and cut outs in the head, then it wouldn’t fly.

I added light washes and layers of acrylic to achieve the great effect of warmth and depth seen in the painting of its face and body. I used the natural wood grains and nine glue lines of the ten layers of birch (these lines show where the air foils are carved out) to enhance the design on the face. I sought an expression of supreme confidence, yet approachability; perhaps even a reflection of the Rhino it just tangled with?

I challenged myself to paint something I could reproduce identically. The challenges and complexity of this piece still astound me.

Before painting it, I conducted a flight test. I caught all three body pieces on their first throw and the head shape on the second. I dove and slid across the grass hoping to catch the head on it’s first throw as well, just to say I did it. Regardless, it was a very good day.