I think the current record holder is Rose, and she lives up in the hills near the school. Over one hundred and forty years old and still strong. So if things go well for me I've got another sixty years left in me at least, heh. Never know though, but no use thinking about the negative when it hasn't happened." He'd much rather keep a positive outlook on things after all. Working on his art was always relaxing so stress certainly wouldn't be catching up with him any time soon.

It kind of surprised Icey when the dragon told her that some one was that old. She really could not picture something living for that long except for trees of coures but that was anouther story. She did not say nothing though. She was one who also tried to keep a poisitive out look herself .It was just hard to do that at times. She smiled now keeping the thought out of her mind.''Oh really.that is a good way to look at things though.'' She said with a smile.

"So anyway, what are you up to now? Feel like sitting for a bit and watching your sculpture get started or heading back to the dorms? Or, I dunno, there's lots to do around here I guess, long as you don't go out past dark." Blake rarely considered his age, preferring to think of himself as merely an adult rather than in his 80's, it was less stressful that way. She could probably at least see the first part of her sculpture formed if she hung around, if not it'd just be a nice surprise when she got the whole thing.

Icey gave the dragon a smile.She was not sure what she wanted to do just yet. She could stick around and watch the dragon work .Unless she found it to be boreing . She would not be going any place tonight though.In all truth she did not really have anyone to do things with here.''Well I could stary and watch you for a little bit if you would like.Who knows maby I might learn something new.'' She said with a smile.She did not have anything important to do for the moment anyway.

"Sure. Pull up a seat or find one, either way. Who knows, it could catch your interest or it could just be really boring. Either way doesn't hurt to give it a couple minutes to watch right?" Blake was always happy to demonstrate, especially if he was working on something for the person with him. After this little project was completed he just had one or two more that he should really get done as far as carving, then it was all back to boring stuff.

Icey smiled as she found a place to sit where she could watch the dragon work. She hoped that it would not be to boreing. She was the kind who wanted to learn how to do thing as long as they caught her attion first. After all she did not want to do anything that would make her want to fall asleep while she was tring to do it.''That is right . You never know unless you give it a try. I am the kind who likes to try to learn things anyhow.'' She said with a smile.

"Well let's see if I can get the interesting part for you. I'm not entirely sure how other carvers work with this kind of material but I take a look at the photo and draw the person's shape on the surface. Then I start marking it out for different depths, the higher the number the further I have to chisel in. So a one means barely chipping, while a ten would be say, cutting down to make a finger on the sculpture. Helps me know where I'm going when I have a lot of details." Not that he had to draw in all the numbers across the entire thing, just in general areas. Otherwise it would end up taking just as long to plan the thing as it would to carve, only to be chipping off the numbers repeatedly and re-writing them.

Icey listined to the dragon. It sounded like that this could be a lot harder to do then it sounded. Maby it would be fun though. She would just give time though.Icey could see that detail could make it a lot easyer for him to do.''Humm I see. That would be kind of helpful.''Sshe said with a smile. She did not know how others taught how to sculpt. She was sure that the dragon was good at it though.

"It's a lot easier if I have a bunch of different blocks I can work with, or if I'm using a cheaper material. Then I can have more fun with it and just go right on in to the carving and see what comes out. Sometimes it's better than this litte grid system, sometimes it's worse. Either way it's more fun for me though, heh. Just want to get yours right on the first try." The dragon smiled, taking his gouge and placing it against the stone, aiming his first cut. "Normally someone needs a hammer to whack this thing and get it to make a dent. Me, well, sometimes I can scare people with how much strength I can summon, heh." Blake simply gave the gouge a good shove and saw a small piece come out just the way he wanted it. "Gets kinda tiring on bigger projects this way though, heh."

Icey listined to the dragon.This was not quiet as boreing as she thought that it would be. She watched the dragon as he started his work. It looked like it would take a little bit of musele to be able to chip away at the stone. It did not really surprise her that he was so strong. Afterall he was a dragon and they were known for being strong and all.''Humm it looks like it could be kind of expensive to get the stones and things.That would help to have alot to pratic on no matter how good you are at it.'' she said softly . She did not really care if he messed up on her sculpture. She did not expect him to be prefect at what he did .

"Yeah, every once in a while I have a project that I think will be simple, and it just turns into a nightmare. Whether the stone doesn't want to cooperate with me or my tools break, or if I just plain mess up. It can be pretty pricy, but when I finally get it right it feels so much more rewarding. Heh, shame my confidence in myself doesn't get the job done all by itself. Can't will the stone to work for me, just have to do the best I can with it." And usually if he got a good piece it was fine. Once in a while it would have a flaw deep down right where he least needed it though.

Icey moved her feet slightly.She could see how tools breaking would be a problem for the dragon.However when it comes to finding flaws in stones she would have no idea what to even look for. She could also agree that the dragon confidence in his work was very good. She was kind of glad to find that an artist still had that kind of persona when it came to what kind of work they did.Most just did it for the money or the fame.''That would be nice.You certainly would not have to do alot of work that way.'' she said with a slght smile.

"Yeah, but sometimes it's the work that's the fun part, keeps me busy. If it only took me a few minutes to finish every project I'd end up bored with it. Just like a video game, if it's fun for five minutes great, but it's better when it's fun for hours and hours. Or a book you just can't put down being better than a single paragraph of a story." Sometimes the best things came to those who waited, or who put in their time and effort for a good job. And sometimes the best things were made with great care and then passed on, but normally only to those who deserved it.

Icey smiled as the dragon spoke. she could understand what he ment. Her parenet had taught her just to do as little as she could so that she had more time to do what she wanted. '' That is true.there really would not be a point in doing things if they only took a few seconds to get them done. '' She said with a smile.Icey was justone of the few who did not ike to do alot.She found that if she had to do alot of work she just beacme bored and quit doing it.

"I guess it goes the other way too though. Don't want to spend forever on something if it's just not working out. I can be kind of stubborn though, heh. Even if it takes me a while I'll still finish a job without rushing it. Deadlines are one of the things I hate, unless I set them myself. At least that way I can always change it for myself too, heh. Working for others, if they aren't happy getting what they want when I can make it, then sometimes I just make them wait longer and finish something for a more respectful customer."