No complaints from concrete critters' creators

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 550, 23 August 1994, Page 9

No complaints from concrete critters' creators

A menagerie of racoons, skunks, mice, donkeys, pigs and other animals have taken over Priscilla and Robert Stout' s Ohura Road, Raetihi, property, but no one's complaining. The reason is that these animals are constructed from concrete and steel, hence no smell, noise or feeding problems, and come under the collective name of 'Stouty's Critters'. Priscilla' s new-found talent as an artisan is making a name for her in her immediate neighbourhood. Motorists get an inkling of what lies beyond the Stout' s front gates when they see the brightly coloured cartoon character bird crafted of concrete, perched atop an equally concrete fence. The idea to craft animals from concrete came from a Canadian friend, although Priscilla' s production methods vary somewhat due to fundamental climatic differences between the two countries.

The process of fashioning Stouty ' s Critters is fairly long-winded, with an aver-age-sized animal taking approximately four weeks to complete. Priscilla makes each mold by hand, with customers able to choose an animal from her already growing collection, or alternately, having a 'critter' made to order. Once the mold is decided, concrete is poured in, then reinforced with steel rods for added strength. Once set it is removed and washed in an acid solution. The final

steps in the process involve painting the entire surface with house paint, then painstakingly painting on the fea-

tures by hand. The fine detailing work belongs to Priscilla. The Stout' s own garden

is already overrun with a hoarde of whimsical birds and animals, including a family of pigs, hound dogs,

donkeys and dairy cows, all lovingly finished in bright colours and looking for other gardens to grace.