Fricka the Dragon

Our little dragon, Fricka, waits patiently for his turn to take off down the parade route at the Anaheim Halloween Parade!

Originally created to lead our Museum of Make Believe float in the Anaheim Halloween Parade in 2019, Fricka will surely be cast in many exhibits, events and stories in the future. He is 7 ft long, almost 5 ft tall and 2.5 ft wide, created with paper mâché, fabric, illustration board, bakeable clay and acrylic finish.

Enjoy some photos below of Fricka at the parade, followed by a section of images that show steps in the process of his creation.

Creating Fricka …

Concept drawing for Fricka.

Creating the shape of the dragon head.

Using styrofoam, paper mâché, illustration board and wire.

Beginning with underpainting for warmth.

Continued painting …

Adding cool tones and texture.

Completed dragon head section …

Ready to begin the body.

Sharing the progress at the Anaheim Halloween Parade Warehouse.

Beginning the body structure with tubes and a solidified rubber ball, using an actual size print of concept work as a template.

Working on the neck and tail sections beginning with paper mâché and wire …

Setting the wings into the body and beginning to place feathers.

Integrating the head with the body and adding legs, claws and front breastplates.

And many feathers …

Coating the structure with layers of fabric and white glue for strength and stability.

Shaping details …

Coating the body in gesso before painting begins.

Beginning Fricka’s final paint coat.

Continued painting …

Securing the standing position to the base.

Checking the last touches of paint and frills along the neck line …

And landscape details.

Fricka ready to deliver for the Anaheim Halloween Parade!