Is It Over Already?

Wow, this winter went by really fast! I can't believe it's already the new year. Hope everyone has a great and safe New Year's Eve!

Here is the finished Valdemar. He might have some white specks on the points, I kept brushing them off but he seemed to be a magnet for them today.

I haven't had much time to work on these little foals. They will both be pintos. I plan on selling them as a pair.

This is the Apple Techie that is going to be a buckskin blanket appaloosa. I haven't worked on him much, either, but he's almost next in line to get more attention.

I have a couple of other things I can post, but I think I'll wait until next week. I've been prepping a couple of models and putting finishing touches on another, and some more body painting that I won't bore you with. I thought I was ready to finish up the Bitty Bosco, but I ended up putting another layer of paint on his body, so pictures of him will have to wait.

Since it's the start of a new year, I've been thinking over goals or things I'd like to accomplish in 2010. I'm setting small goals for myself this time, just to focus more (not distract myself by petting the cats, changing the radio station, etc. -- all those little minutes add up!) and I'd like to improve small things like hooves, eyes, all the little details, etc. I would also like to paint more appys and dapple greys if I can do it.

Weekly Update

I've given Swaps a couple more layers of paint. I will probably need to do a couple more layers on the body before I can proceed with the rest of him.

This Fenwick is going to be a chestnut sabino (rabicano?) with flaxen mane and tail, almost a dark palomino. I'm not sure how sabino and rabicano actually interact, but that's my guess based on the reference photo I'm using for the pattern. I almost made him a dapple grey, but changed my mind. Now that I'm saying "him", I think this is a female lol! I didn't even notice and I was painting the underside today...sometimes I can be a total space...

I haven't done any customizing in a while, so for this Jezebel I decided to play with her tail a little. I wanted to keep the same style that Sarah Rose used in her sculpture, but make the tail a little shorter. I'm not done with it yet, that's why it looks so rough.

And that's it for this week! The Valdemar is pretty much done, but I forgot to take his picture with this batch, so maybe next week. I've worked quite a bit on Rosita, but unfortunately her photo didn't look much different from last week's, so I didn't include her here. And of course there are several other things that weren't deemed photo-worthy this week.

I hope everybody has a great Christmas and New Year (or whatever other holiday you may celebrate at this time)!

Weekly Update

This commission piece is coming along pretty well. As you can see she's no longer a chestnut. I'd say she's about half-finished right now.

This Swaps has had a couple of layers of airbrushed paint, and one layer of oils. I was hoping I'd get to work on him again today, but I still felt a wet spot so I have to wait. I got a couple of spatters of paint on him but I will get rid of that as I progress.

Here is that Huck Bey that I finished. I have posted him on Blab already so some of you may have seen him already. He's on eBay until Sunday, Dec. 13th.

With the holiday season upon us, time is kind of tight for me in the studio, so I might not have anything to post next week or the week after. I will still be working but not as many hours. Hope you all have a great holiday and I hope you're staying warm, seems like it's going to be an extra-stormy season all across the states :-0

Group Shot

I'm lazy today and didn't feel like setting up my photo table, so I just took this group shot. These are some of the pieces that I'm actively working on. The Huck Bey is almost finished, and the Valdemar is close. I know that a lot of people work in batches of colors, or do all their customizing at once, but I do everything in a certain order. I keep a file of each horse, and start with commissions, then work down my list. It probably slows me down a lot, but it also keeps me interested because I usually have a variety of different things I can work on. Plus I like each piece to be unique and don't usually use the same base colors for each piece, I always like to mix it up!

Thanksgiving Week Update

Here is the mini Caprice I've been working on, finally finished. Bay is one of my favorite colors on horses. This one was kind of challenging because there was a lot of contrast between the light and dark areas.

I haven't worked much on the two SM foals I've got, but I'm getting close to the point where I'll be putting a lot of time into them. I think this is the second layer of color on this one.

Rosita already looks very different. She is going to be a challenge for me because of her longer hair. I'm sure she is going to go through some really strange transformations before she is finished.

I'm also finishing up the Huck Bey in liver chestnut, and the Bitty Bosco is nearing completion also.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Thanksgiving! I usually try to watch my weight, but this is one day where I really like to pig out.

I usually airbrush the first few coats of my finishwork, but I discovered that there's a part missing from my airbrush. I don't know if it fell out while I was cleaning it; I don't remember ever seeing it before but the airbrush is out of commission for a few days. So this is hand-painted. I'm just adding a warm tone here, this model is not going to be chestnut, or even bay.

They braids on this very cute Swaps were sculpted by Tiffany Purdy. She did a really good job, he is just the cutest thing! He came to me already prepped, but I still had to fiddle around with him and do a little extra sanding, etc. because, well, I can't leave things alone ;-)  I should be able to put a base coat on him very soon.

I don't think I've shown this Bitty Bosco in a while. He's one that I work on when I have down time between other projects. He's finally getting there! I gave him very subtle primitive markings (not done yet). I plan on making a base for him, but I will probably make it so that it's removable because he does stand on his own (he's pretty tippy, though).

I have a couple more pieces that I'm putting finishing touches on, and I have been working more on that dapple grey Dinky Duke, but the changes I've made don't show up well on the photo, so I'll wait 'til he's more finished before showing him again. I also have a special model that I'm going to be working on, I'm itching to get started on it, and I'm prepping a Jezebel and a Fenwick, also. I'm not sure what color I'm going to paint either of those, so if anyone has suggestions, I'm open to hearing them!

Update

 I am super-duper busy this week, preparing for the yearly art fair that my artists' group puts on, so I've only spent one day in the studio actually painting. I did manage to get a few photos shot of these recent pieces. I thought this Shire was as finished as I was going to get it, but I did see two little tiny area I want to touch up. I was going to paint shoes on him, but then decided against it. This guy will probably go up on eBay sometime next week or so. Here's a close up of some of the dappling. I used photo references that I took of a Percheron at a draft show a couple of years ago, and tried to simulate the graininess that this kind of dappling has.

 

Here is the adorable little CAF. She will be for sale also, I am planning on offering her at a set price to members of my Yahoo group, so if you're interested in him be sure to join that. This will probably be offered some time next week or the week after, also.

And here is the mini Maj that I recently completed as a commission. It's funny, I have found that a smooth paint job takes almost as much time as light dappling or a simple pinto pattern. The smoothness of the color gradations and overall smoothness of the actual model causes every little flaw to pop out.

I may not have an update here next week, but I will resume again the week after.

In Disarray

My studio is in complete disarray right now. I've been doing some photography for the still life paintings that I do, and everything's rearranged and moved around, it's very chaotic. I can't wait to get it back in order.

The area where I paint models isn't involved in this mess, though, so it's been business as usual with the horses. Once again I thought I would be done with at least two horses, but those little tiny touchups have proved me wrong. I'm just waiting to do a final spray on the mini-Maj, and final spraying and glossing on the CAF, too.

Meanwhile, here's a head shot of the Huck Bey I've been detailing. His eyes are not glossed yet, and I need to work on his nostrils a little bit. I was a little worried when I started on this color that I wouldn't be able to get the mane/tail color right. It's kind of an orangey-red, but I didn't want it to be too orange. I think it came out really well, though, I'm very happy with this color. He should be done in a week or two.

Running Behind

I was positive that I'd have at least a couple of finished pieces to show this week, but I'm still putting the finishing touches on them. This is due to my paranoia of getting something sticky or lifting paint by rushing the process. I just have to let things dry properly. Plus I had to take a couple of half-days off to take care of some unforeseen personal things that came up.

So hopefully by next week I'll have pictures of the mini-Maj, the mini-Caprice, and maybe the CAF. Prepping on the Rosita is now going along pretty smoothly, I've dealt with most of the pinholes and will be putting a coat of airbrushed color on soon to check for more flaws. I've got another model that's almost prepped, and will have some new in-progress things to show you in the next few weeks.

I'm entering a very busy period for myself concerning my other artwork, so things may move a little slowly in November. I hope you can all bear with me :-)

In the meantime, here's  a photo of my extremely gorgeous cat. I know she's just a garden variety tabby cat, but she's got an awesome personality and a very feminine daintiness about her, and my hubby and I joke that if she were a human, she'd be a supermodel.

Update

I've been doing some detail work on the Shire. I started the eyes, but then went back in with oils on the head.

I've only been working on this Dinky Duke in fits and starts, but he is starting to come together now. His dappling is different from the Shire. I don't have a specific technique that I use for greys, I'm still learning as I go along, and each type of dappling seems to call for a different technique.

I've also been prepping this week, and doing some final detailing on a couple of other pieces. It feels really good to have a "batch" of models almost finished. I can't wait to start my next set!

Update

I'm considering this little guy finished. He's got one blue eye and one brown eye.

Valdemar has gotten some more roaning, and I glazed some color over his neck and head, because I want him to have less roaning there.

I've been detailing the eyes and hooves on Mini-Maj; I haven't glossed the eyes yet in this picture, and I still have some more detailing and minor touchups to do.

What else? I'm still prepping a couple of pieces, and have started the eyes on the classic Shire, as well as a bay mini-Caprice. The CAF needed a couple of oil touchups, so he's drying right now. Lots of detailing! I know a lot of people like detailing, but it usually makes me apprehensive, because it means I'm almost finished. That means I'll probably be selling the piece, causing no end of anxiety 8-/  Salesmanship is definitely not my forte, that's for sure! I wish I had an agent LOL!

Weekly Update

No pictures this week. All of my active projects are either on the shelf drying, or being detailed. I'm almost finished with the buckskin overo Seabiscuit, the bay Mini Caprice, and the CAF, though I have found little areas to touch up in oils, which moves everything back while I wait for things to dry yet again.

The Eberl that I'm prepping is coming along slowly. It's amazing how many more pinholes pop out every time I spray a thin layer on it. It's almost as though the entire body has a texture of pinholes. I think there should be some kind of fundraiser to buy Brigitte a rotocaster lol! I'm half-serious ;-)

Weekly Update

I had a really productive week, and several of these models are nearing completion. Here's the Shire I've been working on. I'm planning on painting shoes on him. I got the latest RESS technical bulletin, which has an interesting article about making shoes, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet, so that will have to wait for a future model.

 

This Seabiscuit has one brown eye and one blue eye. I may need to do a couple of touchups on him.

I've been detailing this foal. I still need to do some more details and touchups on him, too.

Valdemar has gotten a couple more layers of roaning, and I did a quick layer of black points.

I also worked on the Huck Bey and have been prepping the Rosita, as well as doing some more detail work on the mini-Maj.

Holey Moley!

I thought my photo lights were looking a little dim, and today confirmed it when one of them died on me. I have another one in the basement, but I have to go dig it out, so photos will have to wait until next week.

I snapped this photo while sitting on the couch. This is the first Eberl that I've prepped, a very interesting experience. Of course I've heard the horror stories about them, but this one appeared to be fairly clean when I received it. As I started going over the seams, I noticed some pinholes and started filling them, but then I started noticing more pinholes as I went along. They're hard to see. I sprayed a thin layer of gray primer, which actually made the holes hide, so next I sprayed a thin layer of white primer over that, and voila! Pinholes magically appeared! It shouldn't be too difficult to fill most of these holes, but I think I will probably have to fill some more even after I spray the first body coat with the airbrush. The ultra-thin airbrush paint is good at picking up any little flaws I might have missed.

Next week I should have some good photos!

On My Workbench

 

Here's a shot of many of the works I've got in progress. Not everything would fit in my spraybooth (like the Huck Bey) and I've got a few others that I've just started, too. Most of these are between halfway done to almost done. I've been working mostly on the mini-Maj, the Classic Shire, and the Rosita.

I'm going to do a little more on the mini-Maj this week, then I have to let him sit to dry for a while. I'm detailing the hooves and braids on the Shire, then I'm going to go over the dapples again with oils (I think) before doing final detailing. I got impatient with the Huck Bey and ended up lifting the paint a little bit, right on his belly, so I'm definitely letting him dry off for a few days before attempting anything more with him.

I am feeling so out of it and like a hermit lately! I haven't been on Blab for so long, I don't even know what's going on. I like to take my time and go through each forum category to see what I've missed, but it takes so long for me to do that, and, well, time is in really short supply for me with all of the painting I've been doing. I do miss it, though...

Update

 

  

I'm only working part time in the studio this week, due to several meetings and appointments that all seemed to land at the same time, argh! That hardly ever happens. I don't have much to show, either. I've been prepping a model and doing some pencilwork on the Classic Shire. I should have more photos of him next week.

I've had a lot of trouble photographing this mini-Maj, but these two photos are probably the closest to the actual color so far, at least on my screen. He's kind of a silvery-gray grullo, there's not a lot of yellow in him. His mane and tail are going to look really cool, I can't wait to finish this guy. I'm dying to paint the eyes, but I still have some other things to do before I get to that point.

Update

 

Maybe I will leave this one a solid color and not make him into a pinto like I had first thought. I've got too many pintos anyway! On my website, each color gallery has space for six photos, and the pinto gallery is full, while the others still need some more photos. So I need to work on other colors once in a while. I do love pintos, though. 

 

I worked some more on the legs, face, and mane/tail on this one. 

 

I still need to work more on the overall color on this guy, especially the mane/tail, but I wanted to start adding the markings. I usually use a gesso/acrylic combination to cover the color when I start the markings, then switch to oils at the end. Not always, but that's what I usually do. 

 

I've started the roaning on this one. I did a layer of airbrush, then I'm going in with pencil, and will probably add layers of hand-painting/pencil until I get it the way I want.

That's all for this week!

Studio Visit

I had the pleasure last week of visiting Becky Turner of Soltice Art Studio in Stanwood, WA. Some of you may know I'm extremely shy, so I was a little bit nervous about meeting her, but she's really friendly, talkative, and made me feel at ease right away.

Becky lives on a gorgeous Morgan horse farm (with gorgeous horses too, I'm so jealous!) with a gigantic oak (?) tree in the front yard. She's got a really nice little studio set up in her home, with a comfortable space for sculpting and a nice area to cast. I loved the Alphonse Mucha prints she had hanging in her living room.

It was really fun to see all of her projects in various stages, she's really creative and multi-talented, from little tiny ink drawings, larger watercolors and oils, up to resin cast models and medallions, and bronzes. She showed me a large bronze bust of a horse that was really beautiful! She has a nice collection of resins also. She showed me the cutest rat sculpture she's working on, it's mouth and teeth are incredible! She has a lot of interests and is really a fascinating person with lots of stories to tell.

Becky was really helpful and showed me how she casts her resins and medallions. She's very knowledgeable about the whole process, and really broke it down for me so I could understand it, and showed me all the products that she uses. She also gave me some tips on sculpting (and some sculpting tools!), including a great tip on how to make a smooth eye, and how to heat my tools and sculpt into the clay with the heated tool, I had not known about that! So now I'm thinking that I might continue to work on my medallion.

It was a really great trip and I'm so glad I went to meet Becky. I left with lots of fresh hand-picked blueberries and apples. I meant to bring my camera in and take some candid shots, but I forgot, so all I got was this picture of her (sorry Becky, I made it small!)

  Here is a link to her website, also, to see more of her work.

More updates next week!

Weekly Update

 

I am lightening up the legs on this guy, and have started to add some of the primitive markings. I also warmed up his color slightly.

 

I spent a lot of time on this guy last week. Some of the dapples behind the elbows were really bugging me so I had to work on them, as well as the underside. I never thought this model would even near completion, it felt really daunting to paint all those dapples on, and finessing them takes even longer.

 

I worked on the legs on this one, and have started adding the leg barring. I was planning on making him a pinto, but now I'm starting to waffle a little bit.

 

I changed the pattern a little bit on this guy's neck. I'm working on the white markings now, they won't be so starkly white at the end. 

Update

 

I still have a lot of work to do on the dapples on this one. I've been working on the feathers and mane and tail, and added a little color to the hooves because they were bugging me. 

 

I'm still refining the color here. I've started adding a dorsal stripe but you can't see it in this photo. I'll be working on his legs and head next.

 

This model has required endless blending and layers to get the shading right on the legs. It's still not exactly right, but I think I'm getting close now.

 

This Apple Techie is a repaint of a repaint. Here is the old one:

 

I was never really happy with the paint job on this piece. It was one of my earlier works, done in airbrush and acrylics. I wanted her to be a buttermilk buckskin, but I didn't get the color quite right on her. She looks a little too lemon-colored to me. This is the model that I was too embarrassed to put on the table in a color class, when I saw all the other beautiful buckskins. Somebody told me that this model doesn't compete well as a straight Akhal Teke when it's up against the other resins like Khan, so I thought for this go-round I would make her a Nez Perce. I'm planning on her being a darker buckskin blanket appaloosa.

 

Here's another one that's going to be an appy, probably a semi-leopard.

 

A couple of fun SM foals. They will both be pintos.

Everything else is waiting to dry.