If you were expecting a blog post about a clay-mation adaptation of “The Good Dinosaur”, then you have come to the wrong place. If you came without expectations, then you are right where you belong.
My host dad makes bricks, but he’s not alone. In my neighborhood, there are approximately 15 brick factories, or ladrillerías. Now you might be asking, “Why are there so many brick factories in one neighborhood? Wouldn’t they just be saturating the market or something? Why don’t they spread themselves out a bit more?”. All good questions, which are quickly resolved with two words: clay deposits. The soil in my neighborhood here in Perú has a ton of clay, and I mean a TON, and it just so happens that clay is a vital ingredient to making the adobe/mud bricks that are ever so abundant here in Áncash. Coincidentally, the vast clay deposits were likely the reason some Pre-Incan societies inhabited the area: they used the clay to make pottery and other ceramics.
While this clay is of huge economic importance to my site, it can also be used to satisfy more artistic needs. One day, my host-siblings and I collected some clay and set to work making some figurines. I decided to go with an prehistoric animal theme, sculpting a long-neck first.
Second up was a sharp-tooth, followed by car and late some dinosaur eggs, made by my host-sister.
I haven’t played with clay in quite a long time (probably since middle school), but all of the little tricks/tips I learned in art class slowly came back to me as I worked on my dinosaur friends. I’m hoping to improve my clay-sculpting abilities over the next 2 years, but we’ll see how that goes.
Until next time,
MGB
PSU 2 Peru 