To see the making of the “Book Dragon” on offer for the Holter Gala, go to the blog page of this website, scroll to February 11th
The Fat Happy Dragon Company (FHDC):
This isn’t the overly dramatic so often found in fantasy art. I’m usually not much of one for oriental-style or Hollywood dragons; to me, a proper dragon should be a little bit silly, most likely a bit tubby, maybe a bit lizard-like, and usually happy, often in a setting of the “middle ages as they never really were”. No fearsome fire-breathing dragons, body-building knights, and assertive supermodel damsels in distress here… Dragons that are potbellied and reasonably content seem to fit the bill… Dragons are, after all, whatever we decide they are. I mostly work in pen and ink when drawing dragons.
Christmas card boxes of 10 FHDC cards with envelopes $35/box; Valentine’s day cards with envelopes (see at bottom of page) $5 each, 4 for $15, or a box of 8 for $30. Shipping within the US included (for as long as USPS continues to exist).
The original drawings are intended for reproduction rather than sale, but if you’re interested in an original reach out to me. Use the “contact” page in either case.
Scroll down the page; enabled images will enlarge when you click on them. Much more to come! Keep checking back!
Priorities! (above, 1990)
FHDC “Happy Birthday” (above)
FHDC “From our family to yours” (2012)
FHDC “Tangled in Lights” (above, 2007)
FHDC “The Night Before Christmas” (above, 2008)
A dragon’s version of “The Night Before Christmas” (above, inside of the 2008 FHDC Christmas card)
FHDC “Carolers” (below) (2015)
FHDC “Happy New Year!” (above) (2017)
FHDC ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’ (above) (2018)
FHDC: Wizard contemplating a stream (above); 1993
Box of 10 FHDC Christmas cards with envelopes, $35
“Stay away from my Teddy!” (above) (2024)
FHDC “The Toy Corner” (above) 2024
(Above) the powerful Book Dragon…. this dragon can do more than his fire-breathing buddies, because he reads books, he drinks wine, and he knows things… (FHDC 2024)
Three views (below) of “Coffee Dragon”, ceramic sculpture, approximately 11”w x 12”d x 11 3/4”h, 2024, Galen / FHDC 2024….Armed with his coffee mug and thermos, this dragon is getting ready for a full day!
Fat Happy Dragon Co. winestoppers now for sale at Omerta Arts, or order on line. $35 each. A fun addition to your kitchen…
(below) some of the ‘dragon heads’ before being epoxied to the corks…
A “Valentine’s Day” Dragon (below). Valentine’s Day cards can be ordered for next year using the ‘contact’ page on this site; $5 for individual cards or $30 for a box of 8, all with envelopes.
This dragon (below) loves you this much!
Aren’t they cute?
The three ceramic “Valentine Dragons” below are $70 each, for pickup or delivery in Helena, MT (too delicate to ship). They all measure about H 6” x L 10” x W 5”.
T-Shirts! Fat Happy Dragon Co. T’s are available at Big Sky Printwear (bigskyprintwear.com). They’re updating their website, so you won’t be able to purchase on line for another week or two, but you can already call them and order. I’m selling through them in order to keep purchase price down; if you order through me so that you can ‘support your local starving artist’, I’ll add $10 so that I see some profit. Take your choice… See two examples below.
The “Book Dragon” ceramic sculpture is finished! - four views below. You can see the whole process (misadventure?) of making it on my blog page on this site. This piece was auctioned off at the Holter Museum of Art’s annual fundraising Gala, with 100% of the purchase price benefiting the Holter (I emphasize that I got nothing except the satisfaction of contributing to a good cause). The purchaser indicated that he may place it on exhibit in the Helena College or Helena Public library… TBD.
About the work:
This sculpture of the "Book Dragon" stands as a tribute to David—a devoted bibliophile whose love for books was nothing short of legendary. I knew David only casually; a volunteer at the Holter who was always either reading or telling others about what he had recently read, his bag of books sitting by the desk. But I felt strongly that the Holter’s decision to honor him through artworks incorporating books is an appropriate memorial.
The “Book Dragon”, perched atop its literary trove, embodies the relentless pursuit of wisdom. Like the mythical dragon guarding its treasure, David amassed a vast hoard of knowledge, cherishing every page. When I picked up the books used for this piece at the Holter’s book sale, I could clearly see that David’s breadth of interests was even far wider than I had realized. It seems that there was little that didn't interest him.
The work evolved from my original concept as I overcame a few challenges in its creation, mostly for practical reasons (see my blog page). But I feel the result is a fitting tribute to a mind that never stopped exploring through the power of books. It honors the legacy of a man who loved the Holter and understood that knowledge itself is the greatest treasure.