Should I paint the dragons?

[Frank Pellow]

• I recently posted a thread about my rendition of Fiona Kingdon's  'Drips and Dragons' .  I have now cut a second one and am wondering how to finish it.  I'm attaching photos of the original and the new one.

                                                     

  I like the glass that I have chosen for the new one better, but that's not my question.  What I am seeking is your opinion as to whether it is better to paint the dragonflies black or to leave them unpainted.  One minute I think it's painted is better and the next I think unpainted is better.

Edited November 28, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[Scrappile]

That is a tough one.. I like both... I see your dilemma!  Sorry no help from me.

[Phantom Scroller]

I like the painted ones 

[jollyred]

I definitely like the painted one better.

Tom

[oldhudson]

I don't think this is going to help much....but I'd try a deep red or a dark brown.

[meflick]

I voted it in the poll, but wanted to say I like the unpainted one. Both are good, but I prefer the natural wood look over just painting the dragonflies.

[fredfret]

Painted but not as dark, 

[OCtoolguy]

I prefer the painted one also but I'm not sure about black. I think that if was possible, I'd try to find some iridescent paint in the natural colors of a dragonfly. A "blue/black" type of thing. I definitely don't like the natural one as well. It seems to lose the definition of the dragons.

 

[planeur]

Frank , I would say as Ray said , you see less the dragon in your second one and less   with the bottom one dragon  and also because of the wood grain showing.

So I would color the dragons.

If you look at some  dragonfly on the web ,

you will see as you probably know, that their wings are often colored.  And they are beautyful !

 

planeur

 

[Frank Pellow]

7 hours ago, planeur said:

Frank , I would say as Ray said , you see less the dragon in your second one and less   with the bottom one dragon  and also because of the wood grain showing.

So I would color the dragons.

If you look at some  dragonfly on the web ,

you will see as you probably know, that their wings are often colored.  And they are beautyful !

 

planeur

 

There certainly are a lot of brilliantly coloured dragonflies in the world.  But, the ones that I am used to in Northern Ontario have rather dull plain black bodies with a few green spots and almost transparent wings. 

         

I want this piece to represent what I have seen many times with dragonflies hovering over Lake Pivabiska.

                         

Edited November 26, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[kywoodmaster]

I know this is not what was asked but, if you could find a nice poplar board that has a lot of blacks and greens I think that would be beautiful left natural. As for what you have now I think a black or dark brown body with pastel green wings would be nice.

[spirithorse]

Hi, Frank ,

I prefer the painted version but, as fredfret said, maybe not as dark.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[Roberta Moreton]

Painted

[Frank Pellow]

 

OK I have made a decision. and am going to close the poll early.

Counting the folks who only expressed their vote in words rather than using the poll, the results here are:

painted: 20       unpainted: 3

Adding in people who I asked in person, the results are:

painted: 27       unpainted: 5

By the way, I did vote and I voted on the loosing side. 

I did listen to folks who suggested something other than 'all black' colour.  In keeping with the dragon flies that I know well, I left the body black, but changed the wings to silver:

                                         

This is what I will do for the 5 of these that I will give to others.

But I, personally,  still like the subtle look of all wood, so will make one unpainted and with a wood backing for myself:

                                         

 

 

Edited November 28, 2019 by Frank Pellow

[NC Scroller]

Frank I love the two color version in the post above.  

[OCtoolguy]

13 hours ago, Frank Pellow said:

 

OK I have made a decision. and am going to close the poll early.

Counting the folks who only expressed their vote in words rather than using the poll, the results here are:

painted: 20       unpainted: 3

Adding in people who I asked in person, the results are:

painted: 27       unpainted: 5

By the way, I did vote and I voted on the loosing side. 

I did listen to folks who suggested something other than 'all black' colour.  In keeping with the dragon flies that I know well, I left the body black, but changed the wings to silver:

                                         

This is what I will do for the 5 of these that I will give to others.

But I, personally,  still like the subtle look of all wood, so will make one unpainted and with a wood backing for myself:

                                         

 

 

I like the painted version above.

[planeur]

Superbe !

 

planeur

[Matt B]

I like the Black and Silver the best.

[barb.j.enders]

It was a split decision in our house.  Normally I am an all natural gal, but I like the painted one.  The dragon flies stand out.  Hubby preferred the natural wood.

[LarryEA]

The natural one is my selection. Both are very good.

[Frank Pellow]

Some votes came along after I posted the final count above.

The final final vote count is:

painted: 31       unpainted: 7

Even if I get more votes,  this is the last time that I will count them.

By the way, I did not ask about whether people preferred black or silver wings but everyone who commented on this (and, in particular my wife Margaret) preferred the silver.

[scroller777]

unpainted, maybe stained a smidge darker, I realize that wasn't the question though.  Either way, I like it

Happy Scrolling

Steve