This artist builds incredible handmade dragon sculptures out of sawdust to earn extra income.

Instead of wood or marble, sculptor Nikorn Chanjarat, 48, uses the unique medium to bring the mythical creatures to life in his workshop in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The spectacular statues showcase Nikorn's eye for detail, with each scale - formed like clay out of sawdust and latex glue - carefully shaped and attached onto the dragon's twisting bodies.

Gleaming scarlet gems for eyes lend the beasts an imposing look.

Nikorn said: 'I learned how to make dragon statues from a ranger when I was younger. I honed my skills until my sculptures caught the attention of a local politician in Surin who hired me to make dragon figures for his home.'

The artist said the commissions from his side hustle had earned him more than 100,000 THB (around 2,630 USD).

Today, the artist continues to build more sculptures, including other animals such as carp or dragonfish. A 1.4-metre-long statue takes around a week to complete, and costs around 9,000 THB (237 USD) apiece.

Nikorn said: 'Foreigners have also contacted me for my services before, but because of the pandemic, I had to stop.'

The artist said he plans to study forming other creatures to expand his repertoire in the future.