Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 Brazilian Zebra

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign (Brazilian Zebra)

This is the design for one of the Zebras (Brazilian Zebra) I will be creating for the 'Zany Zebras' campaign, which will feature a large number of full size Zebras sculptures occupying the City of Southampton, in the UK. It has been masterminded by Marwell Zoo, located outside of the city with the aim of creating awareness and the need for protection of Zebra. Each Zebra sculpture will be painted by local artists and sponsored by local or national companies. They are in place on the streets for the summer term after which a glamorous auction is held for their sale, the proceeds of which go toward the protection of the animal.

I will be creating two Zebras for the campaign. The first one was sponsored by ABP (Associated British Ports) one of the largest employers in the town in people and physical area and completed in March. This second Zebra is sponsored by 'Casa Brazil', a chain of Brazilian themed restaurants to be found in Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton. This Zebra will be created during April.

It will be turned in to reality from early April at the Marlands Shopping Center, using an empty shop unit as a base where this one and others can be seen to be created. This design was created/ drawn in Photoshop. The design celebrates Brazil and its important role in the 2016 Olympics, and used the colours of their nation flag.

Martin Davey 'Brazilian Zebra' design for zany zebras

Zebra Update 05 Daily Echo 'Zany Zebra' cutting march 2016

Daily Echo 'Zany Zebra' cutting

Daily Echo newspaper cutting

Cutting about the 'Seafaring zebra' sponsored by ABP, as featured in the Daily Echo Thursday 31st march 2016.

River Test at Totton Southampton

River Test at Totton Southampton

This painting was done during February 2016 and shows a scene on the outskirts of West Southampton. The river is the Test and in this view depicting the Totton area, we see that the painting is dominated by a bridge carrying the main Southampton to Bournemouth railway line, the track on the right hand side heading for the resort. Further in to the distance the A35 Totton Bypass road bridge goes over the tracks. On the left hand side can be seen the start of Totton town. In the foreground, walking around the mud flats with the tide out at this time, can be seen a man possibly looking for a place to fish. The painting is sized at 16” x 12” and painted on thick stretched paper using acrylic paint. 
http://martin-davey.pixels.com/featured/river-test-at-totton-southampton-martin-davey.html 
#hampshire #artist #rivertest #southampton #painting

River Test at Totton, Hampshire

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 05

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 05

The miniature version of the 'Seafaring Zebra'

 On Saturday I worked on this small version of my 1st sculpture, that had been finished as far as painting went a few days previously. The original one was a full size 1:1 model that was painted. This one is about 220mm long and 150mm high and appears to be made of clay. It was painted in the same paint as used on the full size one and now awaits to be varnished as does its full sized friend.

The model will be sold at auction as per the the full size one to raise funds for the protection of Zebras. The initiative is run by Marwell Zoo and is called 'Zany Zebras' and will see 47 full size sculptures on the streets of Southampton during the summer making up a free 'trail' through the city.

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 04

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 04

The Seafaring Zany Zebra with painting complete

On Saturday I completed the painting of the 'Seafaring Zebra', my contribution to the 'Zany Zebra' campaign, run by Marwell Zoo, Hampshire. The photos show some of the details not shown previously, including the plimsoll line, as featured on ships around the world used to indicate water density. Also the finishing touch., after completing all the ships was to paint small zebras standing on the decks of some of them. The intention was to paint them in a light colour which would not draw away from the black and white stripes. The remaining job to do on it now is to apply a coat of varnish.

The ears with the plimsoll ship markings

One of the small blue Zebras

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 03

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 03

The other side of the Zebra

This update shows work continuing on the  'Seafaring Zebra', my contribution to the Zany Zebra campaign/ trail to be in the streets of Southampton during the Summer and early autumn. During Wednesday and Thursday work was placing more ships of different designs on to the zebra and gradually the gaps are now getting filled as per the original plan. The smallest new addition is a fishing boat on the cheek, placed on both sides. Although the design looks the same on both sides there are minor differences. Some ship shapes which cross over from one side to another on the Zebra, may have a bow at one end on one side and end with the stern on the other, so as to represent a whole ship, which in turn creates a difference on each side. Some boat/ ship shapes may start as a bow on one side but end with a bow on the other. A similar pattern happens with shapes that begin with a stern. Also the zebra sculpture itself is not a mirror image each side. The legs are in a different position each side which then dictates what the body does, in this case the torso is compressed on one side and stretched on the other, again affecting the design subtly.

Further pictures of the Zany Zebra under construction

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 02

Marwell Zoo Zany Zebra campaign 2016 update 02

Seafaring zebra progress on Tuesday

This update on the 'Seafaring Zebra' covers the Monday and Tuesday on the project of painting a full size Zebra for the Marwell Zoo 'Zany Zebra' trail of street art. This Zebra's design and painting is being sponsored by Associated British Ports, in the city of Southampton. As can be seen in the pictures more ships have been added/ painted to the full size plaster cast since the last update. The ships are painted at various positions across the body rather than work left to right. The reason being it is better to space a few key ones around the body to act as guides, as I am working to my own plan, and am trying to keep as close as possible to it. By establishing key positions I am then able to drop the 'in between' ships, as per plan, easily. 

Front view by end of Tuesday

The ships themselves, and also the small floating vessels, are not based on actual ships but just taking popular design elements from different eras of shipping, for instance Edwardian and mid 20th century passenger ones and modern container ships. There is one ship that bears some resemblance to the Titanic. The smallest vessel are some sailing boats. A few other designs will appear over the course of production.