There's always.... One...

Like many model horse artists... I tend to work in "color groups". These groups consist of 2-4 horses, whose body color I intend to end up a similar hue.

As a pastel artist, I have found that it helps me immensely... to slow down, and not rush through any one model. Rushing... inevitably leads to mistakes (some more catastrophic than others).

Despite my efforts to NOT concentrate on any one model... there's generally one; one model that just insists that I shift my focus in order to complete it first.

Meet... My NaMoPaiMo... over achiever...

Nearly completed CollectA Shire foal to a Buckskin Tobiano.

She's actually a bit further along than this photo: her nose is pinked... mane a touch darker... and all but her lower legs is completely white. Given a bit of time tomorrow, she'll get her eyes... and probably the final shading on her hooves, tail and feathers. All that will be left... will be to dullcote!

Even though she isn't my "official" NaMoPaiMo model... she may well be the "instant gratification" that I needed to propel myself forward! So... I'll take it for now!

Of course, regarding my NaMoPaiMo model... I am finally making strides forward again!

Dapples! Dapples! Dapples!

I finally... FINALLY, convinced myself to rip that bandaide off... and stopped avoiding the inevitable. I started working on his dapples!

Of course,  I can only handle sitting there, erasing dapples into his pastels for so long... before I go completely insane. So, I do them in sections; spraying them in with sealer before continuing on to the next block of dapples.

Today... I only managed to work in his neck and shoulders. But hey! It's a step forward!

Blaze time!

Also... I couldn't stand him not having a roughed in blaze anymore... so... now he has one!

With any luck... I'll be able to finish blocking in the rest of his dapples tomorrow!

Mental blocks and misgivings...

Today... is the 6th day of NaMoPaiMo... and I find myself already faced with the reason that I felt it necessary to participate this year...

Granted... I don't often get (or take) the opportunity to paint over the weekend; unless my husband has something that takes him out of the house (He plays various table top games like DropZone, and Warhammer 40K etc...) But today is Tuesday... and I'm already finding any excuse to avoid making progress on my NaMoPaiMo horse.

In the last year... for reasons I can't completely explain... I've developed a tentativeness, or maybe an insecurity is more accurate, when painting one of my favorite colors... Buckskin.

Once upon a time... I could paint any shade of buckskin... almost in my sleep. While I don't keep "recipes" written down anywhere (I very much paint by feel, and intuition as to what colors a particular model needs), I do have certain colors mapped out in my head. Buckskin, has always been one of those colors.

And yet... in the last year or so... I've hit a wall. For reasons I can't quite fathom... I no longer trust that I know which color to lay down next.

More than likely... this mental "block"... probably stems from the long stint of time between today, and the last time I actually finished a buckskin model. Or even a Palomino for that matter.

In the last year or so... I've started, and stalled, on several Buckskin and Palomino models. And I've found, that when I put those models down, and walk away from them...leaving them incomplete... it can be REALLY hard to pick them back up and finish them.

And so... I've been stuck in this awful loop... for months, if not longer.

This... is why I need to participate in NaMoPaiMo. I need the impetus... to help me take a model from start to finish, in a set amount of time. I need the paintjob to end successfully... so that I can break myself out of this endless loop of doubt and insecurity... in order to carry that momentum into those other, unfinished models.

If this month ends well... I won't just finish this single Mini... I'll hopefully be able to spray the final layers on at least half a dozen other models, and clear my workbench a bit!

End of Day 3... not much change since

PS: My insecurity also extends into writing this blog! I definitely feel out of practice when it comes to writing anything of more significance than an email! Haha!

NaMoPaiMo 2018!

It's February 1st! Let NaMoPaiMo BEGIN!

I missed out on this event last year. For whatever reason, (most likely I was busy and focused in the studio), I just didn't join in the fun.

But this year... so many of my fellow model horse artists are participating... I figured I'd better join in to!

That... and really I need something to "jump start" my ability to zero in and finish a project.

I'm hoping that, given this project to focus on... it will help me power through some mental blocks I've been having... and allow me to bring a great many things... to a place of completion!

So... here we go!

Step One: Choose your Model!

My chosen "victim"... Mini Benicio: Shire Gelding sculpted by Sue Kern

Step Two: Ready your Reference!

One of the most important steps a model horse artist must take when designing any piece they intend to paint... is choosing what reference to use. Ours is a hobby based in realism... and as such, finding a suitable, real world reference will not only enhance the model... but also it's chances of winning in the show ring.

For Mini Benicio... I've chosen the only known, Buckskin Shire. 

To me... this particular horse... checks all my inspiration boxes:

• It's breed appropriate (Mini Benicio is supposed to depict a Shire Gelding)
• It's attractive (who doesn't like a good dilute!?)
• It's unique (Shires are generally painted in three colors: Bay, Grey and Black)
• It's a color I enjoy painting.

And so... armed with a my inspiration... a prepped and primed model... and my trusty pastels...

End of Day 1... the beginnings of color!

... I get to work!