4th Day of Winter 516AV
The young Elephant had not yet found his footing in this town, and he had not yet scored a job with a potter. These things were not currently a concern: Jabari would meet people here, and get to know the city in due time. He always managed everywhere he went, here shouldn’t be an exception. And the job would come too. He had more than enough experience, he just needed time to figure out where or how to apply and start earning money. Today he was to work on both of his problems. He’d spent the morning trying to memorise the streets of Sylirus. He was wearing a pale green tunic and a pair of beige baggy pants. He was also wearing a confident smile, which he offered to all passers by as greeting. He carried with him a backpack, which contained some work he’d prepared earlier. He’d asked the resident potter to let him use his kiln to fire the clay, now all he had to do was paint them.
Where better to sit and paint than the lively Sylirus theatre square! He had layed out a matt from his house on the ground and in front of him sat 5 items: A large gardening pot, two small mugs, 1 small flowerpot and a medium sized vase. All of these items were very different in size and shape but they had one thing in common with each other: They were all blank clay.
Jabari gingerly took some paints he’d bought earlier today out of his bad, as well as a few brushes and a mixer pallet. He drew in a long breath of air, ignoring the crowd around him and focusing on design prospects. What did he want for all of these items? Maybe he could take requests from passers by? It would be an opportunity to gain an idea of just how well received his work would be, and also to talk to people.
So with a smile he stood up and called to the crowd “Hello all, gather round! If you’d like a pot or a mug, a vase or a planter painted in your favourite colours and patterns, please come and give me requests!” He called out the same things many times, trying to hail passers by. A young boy was the first to approach. “Hello young lad, what are you looking for?” Jabari asked with a big beaming smile. The boy looked to be about eight years old. He was blonde and skinny and he stammered when he spoke “I want a gift for my mothers birthday… but I don’t have much money.”
Jabari smiled. Sometimes more rewarding than money, was charity. “Does your mother like growing things? Does she drink tea? Perhaps she keeps flowers?” The boy livened up a little “She really likes tea!” He said and looked at the mugs “Good, good, so do I.” Jabari replied and moved everything bar one hearty mug and his art supplies out of his way. “Now, what is her favourite colour? What’s her name? Do you have any requests?”
The kid thought about it and then said “Daisy…” Jabari waited for him to continue “Her name is Daisy… She liked yellow.” He then looked down at his feet as if he felt stupid. It was clear Jabari wouldn’t get much more out of him. “Okay, thats great. I can work with that. Please come back in a few bells and It’ll be ready!”
Jabari began mixing a bright canary yellow colour. When it was too dark he’d add white paint, too light he’d add red paint. Eventually he came to a beautiful sunshine yellow. He covered the mug in yellow, layering three even coats. He had a plan for this one. But he needed the coat to dry enough for him to paint over it. So he stood up once more and called out for more volunteers.
The young Elephant had not yet found his footing in this town, and he had not yet scored a job with a potter. These things were not currently a concern: Jabari would meet people here, and get to know the city in due time. He always managed everywhere he went, here shouldn’t be an exception. And the job would come too. He had more than enough experience, he just needed time to figure out where or how to apply and start earning money. Today he was to work on both of his problems. He’d spent the morning trying to memorise the streets of Sylirus. He was wearing a pale green tunic and a pair of beige baggy pants. He was also wearing a confident smile, which he offered to all passers by as greeting. He carried with him a backpack, which contained some work he’d prepared earlier. He’d asked the resident potter to let him use his kiln to fire the clay, now all he had to do was paint them.
Where better to sit and paint than the lively Sylirus theatre square! He had layed out a matt from his house on the ground and in front of him sat 5 items: A large gardening pot, two small mugs, 1 small flowerpot and a medium sized vase. All of these items were very different in size and shape but they had one thing in common with each other: They were all blank clay.
Jabari gingerly took some paints he’d bought earlier today out of his bad, as well as a few brushes and a mixer pallet. He drew in a long breath of air, ignoring the crowd around him and focusing on design prospects. What did he want for all of these items? Maybe he could take requests from passers by? It would be an opportunity to gain an idea of just how well received his work would be, and also to talk to people.
So with a smile he stood up and called to the crowd “Hello all, gather round! If you’d like a pot or a mug, a vase or a planter painted in your favourite colours and patterns, please come and give me requests!” He called out the same things many times, trying to hail passers by. A young boy was the first to approach. “Hello young lad, what are you looking for?” Jabari asked with a big beaming smile. The boy looked to be about eight years old. He was blonde and skinny and he stammered when he spoke “I want a gift for my mothers birthday… but I don’t have much money.”
Jabari smiled. Sometimes more rewarding than money, was charity. “Does your mother like growing things? Does she drink tea? Perhaps she keeps flowers?” The boy livened up a little “She really likes tea!” He said and looked at the mugs “Good, good, so do I.” Jabari replied and moved everything bar one hearty mug and his art supplies out of his way. “Now, what is her favourite colour? What’s her name? Do you have any requests?”
The kid thought about it and then said “Daisy…” Jabari waited for him to continue “Her name is Daisy… She liked yellow.” He then looked down at his feet as if he felt stupid. It was clear Jabari wouldn’t get much more out of him. “Okay, thats great. I can work with that. Please come back in a few bells and It’ll be ready!”
Jabari began mixing a bright canary yellow colour. When it was too dark he’d add white paint, too light he’d add red paint. Eventually he came to a beautiful sunshine yellow. He covered the mug in yellow, layering three even coats. He had a plan for this one. But he needed the coat to dry enough for him to paint over it. So he stood up once more and called out for more volunteers.
