I’ve always wanted a rhinoceros. I mean, who hasn’t? I also have wanted to try making a driftwood sculpture, so I had the happy idea of making a driftwood rhinoceros back in the Fall. Initially, I prepared for the project by watching a youtube video of a guy who made his mother a driftwood horse for her birthday – in only two days! I started collecting four pieces of driftwood every time I took Teddy for a walk down by the river. Then, when I had amassed what I thought was a huge pile, and armed with my youtube knowledge, I started the project. I made a rough sketch and a plan for a sort of armature (see below). I had some used pressure treated 2x4s lying around so I used them for the armature by screwing some pieces together. When the proportions didn’t seem quite right, I sawed a little off of each leg, then did it again. Once the proportions were right, driftwood was added piece by piece, with 2 screws going in each piece. I soon found out that my huge stash of driftwood was inadequate, since I had been collecting big pieces and more smaller pieces were really what was needed, after just a few big pieces were in place. I kept taking this as far as I could go with the pieces of driftwood that I had on hand, then going for more walks to increase the collection. That became a very pleasant hobby and I loved finding pieces that looked like a rhinoceros horn or foot or ear. My sole cost outlay was for about 4 lbs of screws in different sizes, from 2 inches to 3 ½. I used a Ryobi Power Screwdriver to do most of the work. Instead of two days, it took me around six months.
I call him Huey. Just as I was writing this it occurred to me that I should help out his species, since they are critically endangered so I gave a contribution to the International Rhino Foundation at Rhinos.org
