Safari Episode 1

Childhood Memories and how paper & thin clay have the same issues.

As a child, I did make cardboard animals. At that time, colored papers were not as easily found and it meant you had to paint the blank paper. An alternative was more sturdy cardboard but that was not easy to cut. 

The animals were awkward in color and shape, did not last, but I was “busy”, I had a “project” and most rewarding, they were 3D!

The ceramic safari came to life after saying yes to a group exhibit entitled “Happiness”. Exploring happy childhood memories, the above came flooding in.

For this project I designed the patterns and cut them in a sturdy, water resistant paper with my plotter. Computers make for nice clean cuts and perfect symmetry of the heads. With the original paper idea in mind, I used thin clay slabs.

Probably too thin.

The legs bent, the animals are wobbly, not stable at all, and their color is not a great success. Blotches, patches, paint strokes, or just bland, of which none was intended.

I basically end up with only a happy crocodile, he carries the blotches in style.

Safari 1.0 was a first attempt and, as first attempts go, not a great success