Creative Juices

...always seem to come at the wrong moments.  Of course if you don't act on them, it feels like forever until they come again!  Thus today when the need to play with epoxy hit me, I knew exactly who to work on.  :)  My drastic cutom that showed up in my second posting and in the 'Guessing game.'  I have to say, I did not think anyone would guess what he started as and I was wrong.  Laura correctly guessed that he started as a Lonesome Glory (though there really is so little of the original left, I've sanded all of the original exposed plastic away!)  Darn his high tail set; I now know another thing to be fixed.  *wink*

So I guess this post will be dedicated to him.  I think it's more amusing to start at the very begining, which was probably 4 years ago.  (holy wow, I can't believe it's been that long)  The inspiration for this piece came from this photo in the Delaware Valley Horse News I believe.





And thus a LG got hacked to pieces.  These are some of the first photos after I reattached his limbs.









I lost interest in resculpting him, so I chopped up some more models.  And then lost interest in all of them as well.  About 3 months later I offered them for sale as they were;  two of the four sold.  In the process, this guy wanted to show me his wonderful jumping skills by jumping off my back deck while taking pictures.  He looked something like this after that.





So I put Humpty back together again.  (and apparently thought the bathroom would be a good place to take pictures... this is at least 3 years ago)
















I was happy with my progress, but I lost interest again for another year or so.  I pulled him out again over this summer and was appalled.  I couldn't believe I was happy with how I left him.  (Isn't that how it always goes?)  I sanded down all (and I do mean all) of his original plastic and muscle detailing, pulled off his neck and legs and started again.  This time I wanted to make sure that I got enough twist in his movement, specifically his neck which I completely forgot about last time. 













Over the past few months I've been fiddling with minor adjustments of his limbs to get them exactly where I want them.  Frequently I would detach his legs to reposition them (I guess that's not considered 'minor' then.  Lol)  I've finally managed to get all of his legs on and relatively decided where I want the hole to be for the pole that will support him.  Of course looking at the photos now I see more issuse that I want to fix with his legs. 

















There are some more pictures here if you want to see more angles.  He is such a pain to photograph with his crazy twisting action.  If anyone sees any other glaring defects, please let me know.  I really want to finalize his basic position before I move on to details of any kind (mind you, I'm just itching to add some muscling) but I just can't see what's wrong anymore.  I would rather not put him away for another year to gain fresh eyes so I hope you guys don't mind me borrowing yours! 

Merry Christmas to all!

And to all a good... wait, why am I still awake?  That's the thought that crossed my mind about 5 minutes earlier.  I figure I might as well put this "extra time" to good use and updat the blog!  Lol.  Now, as for my guessing game from the previous post, I'll have to wait a bit longer to say exactly who he started as.  Mostly becuase as I went to take new pictures, I decided that the legs were on wrong and pulled them off.  Again.  Don't let me do it again, or else I never get on to the part where I actually get to flesh him out!  Anyways, just a few updates.  One new pony in the studio, and I do mean a pony!  I was pulled in the raffle for the last 30 Chickory's from Lynn Fraley.  What a cute little bugger he is and a nearly perfect casting!  I've never had such a simple prep before.  I want to decide on a color for him soon, since I think he'll be the next one I work on (besides growling at Nitro still).  And as seems to be the story of my life, one model comes in, another one leaves.  Due to a few finacial issues, Ahzam has been sold before I could paint him.  Hopefully in due time I can get another one; he is such a beautiful resin. 

Oy, question and I hope someone has an answer.  Has anyone figured out how to get the metal peg/pole out of a Ruffian?  I am doing a donation piece for a Model Horse Annoymous and wish to remover her from her base but I can't figure out how to remove the metal short of cutting off her leg and rebuilding it.  There has to be a better way right?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Guessing game

Oh goodness, I really wish I had more time to dedicate to this blog and my models, but my current job has the strangest hours.  After working, all I want to do is nothing.  It's tough to be inspired when you're exhausted.  Anyways, I figure since I can't seem to sleep just yet, we should play a little game!  You might remember seeing this guy, well a part of him at least, from an earlier post.  He seems to have gone backwards from then (in the fact that he has more holes, again!) but hopefully this will lead to me going forward in getting my final shape!  Now, I'm going to post three (possibly alarming) photos I took recently of him and you all get to guess what he started life as!  And no guessing if you've already seen him (Christine! *insert evil eyes here*)  Lol. 

Ready?  Go!











I'll let this post sit for a few days, until I get a correct guess or I can't stand waiting anymore *wink*  He's a little bit farther than this now, I'll see if I can get updated pictures for the reveal post.

Braids!

Oh yes, they are everywhere. Needless to say it started with the AA Thoroughbred. I wasn't happy enough with his briad job, so I sanded it off and redid it.  and I worked on the face a bit, so it looks like a wreck again.  Oh well.




It came out well enough that I felt it was finally time to tackle Victrix.  Putting that epoxy on was one of the scariest things I've done recently.  Armed with this image and one sculpting tool, it began.  Two hours later...












I'm thrilled with the result!  Seriously, I couldn't be any happier with how they turned out.  She has 50 tiny braids in her mane.  I can't waitto paint her now, but in the rush of the moment, I forgot that she wasn't completely prepped!  D'oh.  So I can't do the forelock and tail until I finish prepping her.  (Somebody better yell at me if I do)

But braids!  Yay!  I'm thinking of offering them as a commisionable thing.  (is that even a word?)  Trying to figure out a good price system so that I'm getting paid for my time, but not so much that no one will buy it.  Why can't there be a cheat sheet for this type of thing?

Where does the time go?

Holy wow, I can't believe a month has nearly passed since I last posted here.  My bad.  So yeah, here's a few of the things I've got in the studio at the moment.  Well, mostly updates.  Anywho, Nitro is starting to get some color going.  He's fighting me tooth and nail about it, but I will prevail!  (I hope)  So far he's had three layers in oils, but I'm thinking of trying something else.  This will probably end up into the super experimental department and I can already imagine that I might end up stripping him.  Oh well.  The photos are pretty accurate color wise, maybe just a little bit bluer.  (I told you he's fighting me)













Next up is Ebrel's Ahzam.  He's mostly prepped at this point and has a layer of primer too. 









I'm tring to decide what color I want him.  I'm leaning towards a dark dappled liver chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, minimal white.  (of course when I'm looking for the photos all I can find is the Morgan)




Or a fleabit bloody shoulder.  (I have two ideas, this one is more pronounced.  The other is just as big but not as bright in color)





Or a super fleabit grey. 





So many choices.  :)

And now for a new face!  Michelle Platt was haveing a sale on her resins with the donations going to a horse rescue fund and I jumped at the chance!  I got the incredible Alvaro.  I knew he was a large traditional, but my goodness!  He's in the beginning stages of prepping, and I may make a few minimal changes.  I'll think about that later. 













And since I can't believe I forgot to post this, I discovered I had a stowaway when Christine and I went to Pocono Ponies Live last month. 





Looks like Wixom wanted to start her showing career already!  Too bad the judges frown upon open holes in models.   Lol.  Actually, she got quite a few postive comments on her balance and correct conformation (well, from what they could judge so far!)

I think that's about all.  Doesn't seem like much for a month.  Oh!  Right, two new ponies will be coming sometime in January!  I'm quite excited for these two.  One is over 6 years old and still unpainted (impressive for a resin)  and the other sold out fairly recently.  Spetember I think.  But yeah.  I'm thrilled.  :D  Hopefully I'll have some more updates before they come around!

Pocono Ponies Live- Part 2

Well this post comes a bit later that I expected, but here it it at least.  the second part of my Pocono Ponies recap.  First just a few models that really caught my attention.  A Victrix resin painted in a stunning chestnut yovero.  I believe painted by Jess Fry.




Next a stunning valor.  One of those times I wish no one was looking so I could have grabbed him off the table.  ;)




This horse I was very confused by at first.  I had no idea why there was a Fortissimo in the CM/AR class until I got closer.  Whoops on me.  Very nicely done though.




I'm don't know what this guy started out life as, but he is too cool.




A very handsome custom ISH.  Love the face on him.




I can't remember what breed of Donkey this was supposed to be, but I absolutly love him!




Calamity Jane painted to an eye catching flaxen chestnut.  I am in love with the face marking on this guy!







A Fraley Gammon painted in a luscious dark bay with a custom braided mane and tail. He was a real cutie.

<

Scouring the tables I cam across a Stone Max.  He's so incredibly gorgeous.  Another one I've loved forever.  And this guy is a great copy too. 




Ok, now for the few shots I got of our horses.  Christine had never shown performance before, so I dug out my western set and everything went downhill from there.  In a good way of course.  Lol.
So I spent way too much time trying to tack up her JCP zippo, but eventually he made it on the table.  And much to our suprise, he ended up placing 4th out of 13!  It was very exciting. 




I dug out some fancy chopsticks I bought at the dollar store a few years ago and used those as trot poles for arena trail.  We were totally not expecting him to place again.  Then he totally shocked us and placed again out of 10!  All those fancy trail setups and somehow our silly little bare bones setup was pinned.  It was awesome, but I forgot to take a picure.  Fail.
In a complete loss of sanity, I thought it would be amusing to put my Fly By Wire resin in the other western class for CM/AR.  He was participating in a versatiliy class.  (Long story).  There were only 6 entries on the table, but he placed 4th.  I was satisfied and amused.  Oh, and that little micro mini is mine too in the picture.  He placed last.  Whoops.  Lol




Just an amusing side trip.  Christine had a mini Mauvelous and there was a traditional one on the table.  I had to get a shot of them together.  XD




And now we have the super exciting part of the show (that I knew would happen BTW)  Her Dinky Duke, painted by the super talented Chris Jolly.  Mort de Rire was placed in the top ten and then named overall grand champion of the show!  His first time out too, it was incredible.  :)
Mort de Rire and some of his winnings.




And the happy owner and her prize winning stallion.




And that's pretty much it!  I'm already planning for the next show, and I have no idea what one or where it will be!  Not that it matters much, I have plenty of things to keep me busy in the studio.  But that's for another post. (Like once I get my stuff back in order!)