Opal Matrix

Finally finished!  This piece is something I've wanted to try to do for probably two plus years.  And now he is finally done!  He is my attempt at painting a Windstone Editions PYO sculpt to look like a piece of stone with opal inside it.  Opal is...well, its a challenge.  And while my painted 'opal' patches look a little bit like mother of pearl I'm very happy with how he turned out.

Opal Matrix was really inspired a couple years ago by a find on Etsy.  I was looking for unique 3mm cabochons or crystals to fit into the forehead of one of these little PYO dragons and I stumbled across someone selling a genuine 3mm opal cabochon.  Only one on all of Etsy at the time.  Had to buy it.  And of course, why stop at one little forehead accent?  I got lab created opal cabochons for his eyes and a fire opal triplet for his tail.

But at the time, I didn't feel confident enough to attempt painting something that would be worth the bling I bought.  So I sat on it and waited.  My original idea had been to paint a piece to be half pearl and half black.  But eventually that evolved into the Opal Matrix you see now (thank goodness!).  When I finally did feel confident enough...I was laid off from my job and had to move.  Can't paint in that horrible situation.  Then I managed to get a job but also started going back to school...no time to paint.  UGH!  FINALLY, I am on summer break and have managed to finish him!

He is all hand painted in acrylics and interference paints.  I did not use any dip methods on him.  He is cleared coated in gloss.  His forehead gem is natural opal, eyes are lab created opal and tail gem is a fire opal triplet.

Needless to say after all the time, effort and special materials, I am a bit reluctant to part with him.  I may sell him, but only if I get a worthwhile offer.  We shall see.

As always this wonderful sculpture is copyrighted to Windstone Editions and M. Peña. I only did the paint job on him.