When I first found this guy, who I dubbed Duo the Dragon, he was in a thrift store in Burnaby and was a pretty ugly red colour all over (don’t have any “before” photos sadly!). After buying Duo I gave him a paint job. That was years ago, and this summer I finally “released” him into the Spirit Trails (local trails filled with wood sculptures). Despite walking there regularly, I haven’t seen Duo since, so I expect someone took the lil guy home with them! 🐉 🏠

I think of this process as “thrift store catch-and-release”, where I find a figurine in a thrift store, give it a fresh look, and “release it back to the wild”, which can look like giving it away or returning it to the thrift store for someone to find. It’s a really fun and playful activity to help get out of an art rut.