Carving 2 portals in dragonstyle. #1: The start of the first portal

As i mentioned earlyer im about to start carving the first dragonportal for my parents cabin. Il try to blog abouth it when i can, and we will se where it goes, it will take some time. I am considering making some small videos as i go, With my photographer friend as support.

I will try to answer any questions when i have time if there is any.

The material is ofc slowgrowing higland pine With a high resin content, this makes it durable, when you start counting centuries durable. The same way i pick materials for Windows and doors and other Things that will be hard tested by weather trough the years, just as they did in the old times.

Its traditionaly dried for 1,5 years outdoor, then a 6 month to a year indoor. Then we splitt the big planks and flipp the small planks so we always have the yearings standing on a edge, to achieve a better and more even carving material, and to avoid twisting in the portal in the future. Glue it together and take the Dimensions and the size Down to where it should be.

In this portal im combining 2 patterns my uncle have drawn earlyer, im also redoing everything exept the main dragons, all the smal details and dragons/animals are drawn from scratch. So i transfer the parts i want from both drawings and then start working the elements togeter. The drawing itself is complicated, its basicaly practice and eye, the lines have to harmonice bot Close and from afar, and you gather dragons and knotts in a way that make Natural focus Points for the eyes.

When drawing you have to see it in Your mind, some Places there is maybe 4-5 Levels of intertwining dragons, one braided wrong, can affect the pattern half a meter farther Down, so you have to Draw as you carve, and see the Wood Version in Your head.

Here you see im just using the old pattern and are transferring parts of it With bluepaper,What do you Call that paper in English?

A smal door in dragonstyle for a cabinet sneaked into the Picture to :)

As you see in this last pic its a bit caotic, im working a lott of lines and are basicaly just drawing the patterns together straight on the Wood, then when its finished il putt fresh paper on topp and make a copy that i can Mirror to the right side when i start on that, since its a side symetrical carving, but With a-symetrical smal snakes and details. Il take more pics as i go and blogg the Next part when i start to get the drawings in Place and i start taking out the Depth of the pattern, and are ready to start carving.

Hope you find it interesting and please ask if there is someting i have left out or Your wondering abouth.

-- Bard son of iver