Last week, I had the idea to do a Dragon Rider patch to add to our geek merit badge line. I wasn’t sure what it should look like, or even how to go about designing a dragon, so I asked Mike – who has a great deal more artistic training than I do – for help.
He sketched out a couple of designs for me, including this rough sketch of a dragon’s neck and head with a small rider perched on. The lightly sketched head didn’t come through on the scan, but it’s just a rough oval head, lacking any real detail.
Despite the lack of detail, I loved the concept Mike had gone with here, so I decided to try fleshing it out. I took the basic dragon shape he had drawn, and used that as a reference for drawing a dragon of my own. And I think he came out pretty awesome! I think he looks dragon-ish, but happy, because he and the Dragon Rider are BFFs and theirs is a mutually compatible relationship. I like his nostrils, and his little chin whiskers. I like the shape of his head. Really, I’m just stupidly pleased with my own efforts, and he makes me happy to look at.
Despite having drawn an awesome dragon, though, I simply could not get the little rider figure. No matter how many times I tried, he just looked malformed, like a little potato sack trying to have arms and legs. In the end, I scanned in both images, and then copied the Rider from Mike’s rough sketch into my own drawing. I need to add a few small details, but I’ll play with that in the embroidery software — he’ll be too small to add anything significant.
I really enjoy being able to collaborate like this. And I’m incredibly grateful that my husband is willing to not only draw for me, but to help me develop my own drawing skills.
Now, I just need to turn this into some awesome embroidery!
Just had to tell you I love the dragon!