Asian Mythical Creatures Enamel Pins by Nina Bolen
Created by Nina Bolen
I love dragons Asian style dragon pin
Mystical creatures with an Asian flare enamel pin set by fantasy artist Nina Bolen + Commissions
Latest Updates from Our Project:
How to do add-ons and basic update
over 6 years ago
– Wed, Nov 08, 2017 at 04:08:12 PM
We're getting so close! Only $108 away and still 19 days to go!
Some basic update info: Due to popular demand at the end of the Kickstarter you'll be able to pick hard enamel or soft enamel for any of the new pins that are unlocked. Sorry all the past pins will still only be in soft enamel.
What's the difference? Hard enamel is polished flat while soft enamel has raised areas. Both are still metal with enamel on top.
I've added a few limited fantasy pin sets. Basically you get one of each of the fantasy creature pins. You save a little money with the set too!
And if more designs become unlocked I'll offer a few limited sets as well!
If you want to pick an choose your pins the best way to do that is with add-ons.
How to do add-ons:
First click the green "Manage your pledge" button, close to the top of the page.
Next you'll see a screen something like this. Click the Change your pledge.
Next you'll get a box where you can change your pledge amount. So for example you backed for one pin and are in the US it will show your total as $14, it includes the shipping amount into your total pledge.
Say you want to add 2 more pins, your new total would be $34. So $10 first pin, $10 for the 2nd pin, and $10 for the 3rd pin and $4 for shipping. Shipping doesn't go up no matter how many pins or other add-ons you add, even for international shipping!
Then hit continue, and follow the basic steps from there.
Oh and check out the awesome little book from a artist friend of mine!
Phoenix Folklore & pin sneak peek
over 6 years ago
– Thu, Nov 02, 2017 at 01:03:53 PM
Fenghuang are mythological birds of East Asia that reign over all other birds. The males were originally called feng and the females huang but such a distinction of gender is often no longer made and they are blurred into a single feminine entity so that the bird can be paired with the Chinese dragon, which is traditionally deemed male.
The fenghuang is also called the "August Rooster" since it sometimes takes the place of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac. In the West, it is commonly called the Chinese phoenix or simply Phoenix, although mythological similarities with the Western phoenix are superficial. Images of an ancient bird have appeared in China for over 8000 years, as earliest as the Hongshan neolithic period,on jade and pottery motifs, then appearing decorating bronze as well as jade figurines. Some believe they may have been a good-luck totem among eastern tribes of ancient China.
The fenghuang's body symbolizes the celestial bodies: the head is the sky, the eyes are the sun, the back is the moon, the wings are the wind, the feet are the earth, and the tail is the planets.
The rough sketch so fare. The head and tail will be changing a bit but the wings and pose will be the same. Colors will be traditional oranges, reds, yellows and some green.
New pin set rewards added:
I've added a limited number of full Fantasy pin sets. This includes all of my past pins, except for the ball python. So 4 western style I love dragons in different colors, 2 unicorns one of each color, 1 Happy Dragons "Mine!" pin and 1 Asian dragon. So 8 pins totally for the price of 7!
If you would like other combinations of pin sets let me know and I can add it as a reward. Like as an example you just want all the dragons, or something like that.
Remember you can also add $10 to your pledge for added pins, without the shipping going up. That's the easiest way to pick and chose which pins you want.
As designs become unlocked I'll make more sets as rewards!
Kirin Folklore & Pin Sneak Peek
over 6 years ago
– Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 12:33:45 PM
The Kirin or Qilin is a mythical hooved chimera like creature known in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. It is a good omen thought to occasion prosperity or serenity.
The Kirin may be described or depicted in a variety of ways.
Kirin generally have Chinese dragon-like features. The body is fully or partially scaled and often shaped like an ox, deer, or horse. They are normally shown with cloven hooves. In modern times, the depictions of qilin have often fused with the Western concept of unicorns, and have even been called Asian or Oriental unicorns.
Qilin (麒麟) is often translated into English as "unicorn" as it can sometimes be depicted as having a single horn, although this is misleading as qilin may also be depicted as having two horns.
We're only $262 away from the goal!
Be sure to share with your friends & family! Right under the big green Back this Project button (or now it would say manage your pledge, if you've already backed) there is a handy share feature where you can share on FaceBook, Twitter and more!
Quick sneak peek at the Work in progress of the Kirin pin. Still working on colors but details and outline are almost done. I drew the pose to match my "I love unicorns" pin that I did before. But for this pin I'll be sticking with hard enamel to show the details of the scales. It's also going to be a little bigger I think, at abut 1.75" because of small details.
Dragon Folklore
over 6 years ago
– Mon, Oct 30, 2017 at 12:54:01 PM
Dragon folklore in Asian goes back hundreds if not thousands of years. In Asian dragons where regarded as good luck and power, unlike their European cousins that we're often depicted as fierce creatures that liked to eat young maidens.
Chinese dragons, or Lung are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and Chinese folklore. The dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it. With this, the Emperor of China usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial power and strength.
The dragon is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac
THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON:
1904 - Wood Dragon
1916 - Fire Dragon
1928 - Earth Dragon
1940 - Metal dragon
1952 - Water dragon
1964 - Wood Dragon
1976 - Fire Dragon
1988 - Earth Dragon
2000 - Metal Dragon
2012 - Water Dragon
If you're on FaceBook be sure to check out the special launch event I'm having for this Kickstarter. It runs for 2 weeks and I'll post work in progress sketches, interesting folklore information, and have giveaways!! CLICK HERE TO JOIN!!
Follow me on Instagram too for work in progress sketches of the pins
And if you like dragons as much as I do be sure to check out this wonderful art book!
welcome!
over 6 years ago
– Sun, Oct 29, 2017 at 05:55:39 PM
Hi all! We're 24 hours in and almost half way there!
This Kickstarter is a little different than my last pins. This one instead of doing 1 pin in different colors I'm doing different designs. So hopefully we can unlock more designs!
You can pledge now for the dragon pin and if more designs unlock you can always switch your reward later. For example you want the Kitsune pin, you can pick the dragon for now and if it unlocks you can switch rewards, and if it doesn't unlock you can cancel (but lets hope that doesn't happen)
As designs unlock they will be added as rewards and a few limited amounts of discounts on pin sets!
Or for now if you want more than 2 pins you can add $10 per pin to your total pledge. Then when sets become available you can switch your reward. The sets won't have a huge discount because I'm already keeping the price low (hard enamel cost more than soft enamel to make) but I will have some kind of deal ;)
