Bonnie Boxer

The Artists Dog

 About the Artist
David N. DeMattia
Sleeping Dragon Studios

Until a good picture of David can be found, the Boxer will have to do!

 DavDavid N. DeMattia's artistic style reflects the influence of his childhood in Southern California, where he enjoyed easy access to Disneyland. He spent as much of his time at the park as possible and the rest of it in his mother's garage, learning the secrets of animating creatures, like the ones those now famous Disney "Imagineers" had done. By age fourteen, David had brought animatronic creatures to life and his fertile imagination continues to spawn strange and wonderful animals that reveal themselves to us through his sculpture.

In 1979, David entered Wichita State University, majoring in Theater and focusing on special effects. After a move to Texas, he enrolled in the University of North Texas and changed his major to engineering (with a minor in Radio, Television and Film). Upon graduation, David took a position in Saint Paul, Minnesota as a research engineer with a major corporation. His engineering degree has given him access to the latest robotic technology and has advanced his career as a special effects artist in live theater, where he creates props that come to life on stage, competing with the actors themselves.

Throughout the years, David has remained active in theater, applying his vision to create special effects, lighting and sound for live productions. He has worked in several large venues, including the Dallas Children's Theatre, where he created animatronic prop animals as well as designed special lighting and sound effects. Most recently, he has been working with the St. Croix Festival Theatre where he brought to life Audrey II, the man-eating plant in "Little Shop of Horrors." David built four versions of Audrey II to reflect the plant character's growth as the play's story line progresses. Be sure to visit David's "Previous Projects" page, where you can see a few of his favorite animatronic projects.

In 2001, David resigned from his engineering position, although he still works as a consultant in high tech industry. These days he prefers to focus on his sculpture, making the unique creatures that live in his imagination available to us all.

Although he is known by many as "The Dragon Man," David's sculptures continue to evolve and take new forms, as if these fantastic animals refuse to be limited by narrow definitions. David combines his highly individual artistic vision and his cutting edge knowledge of engineering technology with his first love, sculpture, to create one of a kind art pieces in his lair at Sleeping Dragon Studios, which derives its name from David's first dragon, sculpted back in 1984. This "Sleeping Dragon" is a droopy-eyed, winged fellow, who has become the grandfather of all David's dragons and other mythical creatures.

You can view David's dragons and other exotic creatures in "The Gallery," but beware - you may fall under a dragon's spell and be unable to resist owning your own magical guardian. Every castle needs one or two!

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