The Evolution of the Beast
The Head & Body: In the early stage, the dragon’s head was smooth and blocky, primarily focusing on getting the silhouette right. By the bisque stage, I carved in a deep, piercing eye socket and covered the snout in fine, interlocking scales. The jagged spine plates now sharply pop off the surface of the cup, giving it a great tactile feel.
The Tail-to-Handle Transition: The handle itself is actually the dragon’s body looping out from the vessel. I transitioned the carved diamond-pattern scales of the back into a ribbed underbelly where your fingers naturally grip the cup.
The Tail Tuft: Where the tail reattaches to the cup body, it flares out into a stylized, fiery tuft. Cleaning up those deep, incised lines during the greenware stage ensures that the glaze will pool beautifully in the crevices later.