Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Post NaMoPaiMo!

Amidst the current craziness of a pandemic, I am thrilled to post about having completed my February NaMoPaiMo model - my CM Chips Drafter, and little Batman’s BatBabe.

Finishing models is reward in itself, but I was gifted lovely prizes - a fabulous NaMoPaiMo horse blanket (modeled on Valegro here), customized ribbon, and sticker, and mini Batman and I were awarded great little medallions!

Thank you to everyone for sharing knowledge, talent, and a great spirit in our art community!


Sunday, February 16, 2020

In Progress!



Started my NaMoPaiMo horse with a rich red brown chestnut coat (last photo), then started a pigment and scratch technique to start roaning.  I plan on high whites and sabino/facial markings, and Batman is working towards his baby black Morgan filly.  I’m trying to convince him that white markings don’t make her less of a Bathorse.


Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Minis are painting minis

Another event within NaMoPaiMo has Batman ready to paint a baby black foal...here’s hoping to get going on our projects as we’re already into February!


Happy Painting!

Monday, January 20, 2020

NaMoPaiMo planning/prepping

Almost ready and happy to be in good company this year!  I’m going smaller due to other commitments but will have SM scale Challenges just the same...

Chestnut/strawberry roan sabino Clydesdale colt

Photo variety inspirations for the little
Custom






Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Mid-January!

Prepping continues and lots of thought, little writing.  Today’s calendar:


Thursday, January 9, 2020

Salade!

I know it has been said no great story started with salad, and while I don’t have a great story here, I did have a fabulous salad!  Perfect ratio of protein to veggies, good balance of flavors from the savory cheese and vegetables to the sweetness of the dressing.  It was *satisfying*!  That in and of itself is a great story


I enjoy variety of texture and some creativity to salads.  Nuts and seeds and fruits find their place amidst flavorful greens.  I decided to sample some fast food varieties to get more ideas for types that would be more packable for lunches, and somewhat easy to recreate.  Culver’s and Wendy’s have not disappointed.  Dressing of course can make or break them in terms of calories or flavor.

Careful of the recent produce contaminations, it pained me to pitch what should have been perfectly good lettuce, but better safe than sorry.  Anyone have favorite salads to share or ideas that make a healthy option more palatable?  I’m trying to find little crunchies and treats that make them feel more worthwhile as a lunch.  The whole food stores may be the next place of investigation.

Perhaps not an exciting topic, but it really can be fun to explore food.  Cheers to better health!

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Prepping On My Mind

Well, NaMoPaiMo is coming and I’m torn between a pinto on a Traditional resin or a chestnut sabino on a SM CM.  Or one of 50+ micros.  Or a midscale foal?!?  I am seriously thinking about switching it up and doing the SM as I’ve already done resin and Traditional and midscale.  Thoughts?

Ideally, I will do more than one anyways, but the “official” model must be entered!  I also have to take into account I am prepping a Trad. Resin for another artist.

Also I have several projects going on.  So what do I do?  Start picking at medallions and pewter dogs of course, none of which count for NaMo.  Still, I will keep prepping and see who rises to the top for my committed February Friend.  I am always proud to say that this event does kickstart my creativity for the year and that I have completed more started projects because of it!

I have thought out challenges like combining brown tones and interference blues in my black color, and colored pencil techniques and use of soft baby color.  At this point it may just come down to prepping.  Or letting the dogs pick.  Or listening to reason from my fellow bloggers.

For now it’s Dremel, fill, sand, primer, sand, fill, sand, and sand, reprimer!  Also baths and drying.

Here are some pewter pups in progress...going to beg Sara to work her magic on the Dobe and Poodle when she is ready.  I’ve just been meaning to include dogs in my ridiculous counts of nekkid bodies.

What are YOU painting for NaMoPaiMo this year?!?

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

...and the Winner is:

Beth H!
Randomly selected comment was:
 I love the “kindly” look of Breyer’s Marabella mould - I know she was sculpted as a broodmare, but even without that knowledge there‘s something sweet and gentle about the look in her eyes. on Dat Face!

Beth wins a complimentary custom prop!  Thank you all for reading, commenting, and making out blog universe fun!

I couldn’t agree more, Beth

Monday, January 6, 2020

Showing Models (Overview)

Okay, this is second nature to many of you, but to help the uninitiated understand the educational
part of our hobby, I will share some description.

First off, there are various types of showing and shows, so here’s a primer on that.

Live Shows are like conventions or parties.  Hobbyists physically get together and display models entered in classes to compete.  We also gab, ogle, buy, sell, learn, teach, eat, drink, and be merry!

Photo Shows are done via mail or internet and compete images of models in various classes.

Placements, prizes, and points - why show?  To test our knowledge and share our beautiful horses.  To learn and grow as we expand our equine learning and art skills.  To show off our prized ponies and see how they compare to others’.  To earn points towards titles, qualify for larger events, to win anything from candy or a ribbon to trophies or prizes.  The social aspect is special for many.  It’s a chance to share common interests and also to continue our learning and skills or techniques.

My minis!

HALTER - models judged on horse conformation, color, collectibility, not how they are performing in an event.  Subtypes later...

PERFORMANCE - models in events like their real counterparts, a snapshot in time during an actual event - judged on gait, position, proper and well-fit tack and props (and riders when used but they are  not required), and how they are executing a movement or command.  Some are more “suitable” for particular events while others are more versatile or shown creatively.  Various divisions include English events (Pleasure, Dressage, Gymkhana Games, Trail, Hunter/Jumper, Over Fences, Saddleseat...), Western events (Pleasure, Trail, different types of Stockwork, Games likes barrels and poles, Reining, and more), and Other classes like Harness events, Costume, non-ridden performance, and so on.

Example of performance entries on table

A word about ABC’s. - Anatomy, Biomechanics, Conformation/Color...
Realism is a goal of scale models and miniatures.  Horses need to look like horses and have joints bending in the right places, proper proportions and angles as well as characteristics that define a particular breed.  Realistic colors and markings as well as bodies that “conform” to a breed standard- nothing too short or long or thin or thick, angles and planes that create believable horses are what we are judging.  As in real animals, striving for perfection is the idea.

A beautiful resin I coveted

Some flaws are corrected on customized or resculpted models, while
many factory finished models or sculptures have inherent issues.
CM - Customized or altered, used to be R/R/H - remade, repainted, haired.  Sometimes drastic involving parts of various models
And major resculpting, other times simple, like repainted only.
AR - artist resin cast from an artist’s sculpture amdnmarketednto be finished
OF - Original Finish, as they were created at the factory, commonly
Referring to molded plastic models
CHINA - “clinkies” or breakable ceramic, porcelain, or glass models, may be factory produced or custom glazed by artists.
OTHER - there are models of metal, wood, leather, and other materials

Back to divisions...
COLLECTIBILITY
Is judged on model rarity, condition, quality, and often supporting documentation

WORKMANSHIP
Looks at sculpting, prep work, ABCs and realism, and Finishwork

SUITABILITY
Judges the appropriateness of a model for a particular event or division, like a high-headed cantering model making a better jumper or games horse, or looking at a specific frame and carriage suited for dressage or trail.  These are great for new hobbyists and learning performance!

FANTASY
All equids that aren’t real animals.  Sometimes for unrealistic colors and creatures.  Beyond unicorns and Pegasi, there are sleipnirs, dragon horses, hippocampus (seahorse), and kelpies.  Half-horses and creations without human elements (per NAMHSA no centaurs), and many others.

FUN
Other animals, “anything goes”, also things like themes

COLLECTORS CLASSES
Focus on themes like a mold or color or breed or era, or can show diversity, like 8-10 models that demonstrate variety as well as rarity, condition, and collectibility.




Sunday, January 5, 2020

Sunny Snowy Sunday

A couple bright pics of my cool Polar Bear and touched up rainbow suncatcher...




Tomorrow will be #365!  Please submit comments for chance to win a custom scale prop!

I have accomplished a full year of daily blogging and feel I may need to back off to a lesser commitment.
I will continue to write and share as I am able, but don’t wish to force a daily habit in the new year.  Always a fan of quality over quantity, I hope to post meaningful things, long and short, and continue to document everything from creative journey to celebration of animals and art.


Saturday, January 4, 2020

Roar

I like model animals in general, even if I mainly collect Horses and Dogs.  Sometimes I just have to rescue a renegade Schleich or admire a realistic critter.  This leopard was no exception.

Spotted friend circa 2006

We’ve been tossing around the idea of a small live show that would include classes for other animals and even promised transportation classes (machines of land, water, or air) to appease a couple husbands/boyfriends.  Naturally, a core model horse halter class list would be approved for NAN while the dogs, cats, wild mammals, birds, fish, bugs, dinos, and trucks would be fun classes with fun prizes.  Any interest?  Let me know what you think in the comments!

Friday, January 3, 2020

Weekly Win: Glossy Charcoal LG!

This is “Retrofest Shagadelic”, my lovely volunteer model.


As a collectibility model, the glossy charcoal Lonesome Glory is fantastic.  I’ve assigned him as a Thoroughbred Akhal Teke crossbred, and he represents a lovely memory of my time serving our hobby at Breyerfest.  One of the few volunteer models that doesn’t seem to have a name, this guy hangs out with his companion Breyer Velvet Rope Event piece, the Paparazzi model.

Perhaps I will get to another event or volunteer for BF again someday.  I’ve noticed the trend in OF collecting of popular limited models like glossed prize models or rare event pieces which many of us deem “unobtainium” when it comes to having complete congas.  I love such pieces and understand their value, but the few I have generally have more sentiment attached to them as they remind me of the events, the memories with fellow hobbyists, and travel journeys involved.  

People love their models for many reasons, and this one in particular stands for a “blast from the past” and a period of time in my life.  While I may not be huge on certain colors or finishes (or even some molds!), I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  My very first Breyer was the glossy charcoal mustang*, so it was rather fitting that the 70’s theme piece reflected that.  He’s a very cool horse, and I’m proud to have him in my collection!


* those who understand the term Glossy “Sharkhole” Stallion understand it generally references the Running Stallion, not the color finish, but my mind still goes there and I laugh!

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Time For A Giveaway!

Okay, the countdown is on for a few more posts to 365!  I am offering a Custom Miniature Prop to be created for any comment randomly drawn next Monday.

Please feel free to look back at the past year of blog entries and make comments.  I work in clay, wood, and other materials and am armed to create something unique for you for your barn/models/performance setups.  This is the last slot I will have open for custom props for awhile, so I thought I’d open it to the loyal blogging community.



I’ve done obstacles, barn supplies, various objects, and decor.  When a particular color
or style was needed for a performance entry, I have delivered.  I love tiny details, uniqueness, and realism in scale.  Some things are best left to other artisans (like Sewing!) but if I can take a stab at creating your vision, I will do my best.  No theme or idea is too crazy.

This years’ goals include some particular art pieces but also completion of a few commissions and participation in challenges like NaMoPaiMo.  Planning my calendar has been interesting, but 2020 looks to offer some great opportunities.

The remainder of this week will contain some random informational posts about hobbies drafted awhile ago.  I fulfilled my goal of “PIF”fing every month of 2019 and hope to keep the momentum for this year.  Play/Pay It Forward is a very enriching part of my hobby life!

Comment On, and have a great first week of a new decade!


Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Happy New Year!

Well, I started this blog on 1/16/19. mainly to document for February’s NaMoPaiMo.  I have written about everything from animals and art to hygge and experiences.  It helped to foster creative habit, and I am close to 365 posts (couple days out).


2020 may be a bit different in terms of blogging.  I will continue on a smaller scale as I hope to ramp up other creative projects as well.  Writing and photography are a great way to document my various interests and life events, and I have spent some time reflecting on the past year.

I need to finish prepping for NaMoPaiMo, most likely a Traditional performance resin.
Color and pattern reference photos are in the works.  Materials are being inventoried and gathered.  Other life things are being evaluated and dealt with.  Goals are being set.  Welcome to the New Year!