Nikki e-mailed me her comments on the last few paper models I built.
She wrote that:
She wrote that:
1. The paper models were "satisfactory" (Bumblebee was "nice", the Cottages were "whimsical", Nice Bunny looked "evil", etc...) and,
2. They were too simple to construct that even her arthritic grandma could build it.
So I searched the ‘net for something that would be very nice to look at and quite challenging for her grandma to construct.
I found an excellent website that features various paper models. I downloaded a Shigaraki Tanuki (Japanese for “Raccoon Dog”) who looks absolutely ADORABLE. Shigaraki is a place in Japan. A raccoon dog is an animal resembling, of course, a dog, with raccoon-like markings. Tanuki is a very popular character in Japan, and were made into pottery statues. It is said to represent a number of positive traits and widely believed by Japanese as a bearer of commercial prosperity.
I found an excellent website that features various paper models. I downloaded a Shigaraki Tanuki (Japanese for “Raccoon Dog”) who looks absolutely ADORABLE. Shigaraki is a place in Japan. A raccoon dog is an animal resembling, of course, a dog, with raccoon-like markings. Tanuki is a very popular character in Japan, and were made into pottery statues. It is said to represent a number of positive traits and widely believed by Japanese as a bearer of commercial prosperity.
Mr. Tetsuzo Fujiwara was an ingenious ceramic sculptor who started the craze of making figurines with different expressions, which became a tradition. Hats off to Mr. Fujiwara for the inspiration!
A standard tanuki bears a hat (for protection from the weather; symbolizing caution and awareness), wide eyes (for careful attention to details), a smiling good-natured face turned upwards (for friendliness and sincerity), a big round belly (for bold decisiveness), a traditional Tokkuri (a Japanese sake flask, for personal grace), a promissory note / money bag (for trust / economic fortune), and a tail (Japanese believed that true fortune comes to those who stand firm and proud).
Surprisingly, the model took me only an hour to build.
Surprisingly, the model took me only an hour to build.
And the final result is:
I’m planning to build a paper case to house this one soon.
To download this paper model, just click on the link below:
LINK:
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