More

More finishes done in the studio. This time the finishes have been produced on a Sarah Mink "Elsie" resin (in bay roan) and a Brigitte Eberl "Mulette" resin (in dappled grey.) Both pieces took much longer than normal to paint because of the haring patterns, but I believe both created a good amount of challenge for me and I'm very pleased with how both turned out.

Both pieces have been produced using a variety of mixed media including: pigments, oils, acrylics and inks. Both pieces are also commissions and will not be for sale. My commission books, however, are open. If you'd like to work with me on a piece and have something specific in mind, please don't hesitate to contact me. (jenndanza@gmail.com)

Elsie resin in bay roan








Mulette resin in dappled grey

Base for Bjalla

Gesso the base.

Bjalla has a base. Many moving horses do and painting up these bases is actually a heck of a lot of fun. It's easy too!

I decided to document the painting process of this rocky base to show you how very easy it is if you use the "dry brush" technique. This base literally took about 15 minutes to paint.

Paint the base the darkest color. In this case it was pure black.

Use the dark color as base and lighten
the color to about 50% in orderto mix the "middle color".

Load brush fully with paint then blot the brush completely on a dry paper towel. This "blotting" just removes all the "wet" paintleaving just a bit of "dry-ish" paint on the brush.



Take the 50% mixture and lighten it
further and load brush then blot completely
on paper towel. Sweep on base.

"The Chase"
Graphite and watercolor on archival bristol.

"Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great."
~ Mark Twain

Finishes and More Paper Delights

Finally, finishes on two pieces I've been working endlessly on. Both the pieces took a bit longer to produce because I found myself wanting to explore hair patterns a bit deeper, especially on the dappled grey. For the moment I'm fairly pleased. The bay roan will be headed to a show this Saturday and I'm excited and curious to see how she is received.

Sarah Mink's
"Sheeza Carnival" in bay roan








Breyer's "Weather Girl"
in dappled rose grey













Paper Bliss





LOL....the colors, the patterns, the bow and the patterned inside made me stop dead in my tracks at the store yesterday. I had to have it. I have no idea what I will use it for or why I needed it other than it made me smile and the blue is my favorite color blue. Put a bit of brown in with blue and I'm completely sold.

Unveil & Be Silly

All done and currently for sale.

What a busy week! It's still not over and there is so much more to do. First though, I am most excited to officially unveil the newest piece out of the studio, "Alborozo." Those going to the equine event in KY next week are going to LOVE this mold when you receive him. Even in OF form he is just simply amazing. Total Brigitte. Totally handsome and a blast for the repainters/customizers. Gah! I wish I had another one cause he was so pleasurable to paint. Hmm...maybe this might be a nice opportunity for a commission spot?

No,no,no! I must not do that to myself!! I have to stay focused!!! I must finish a few things that have been lingering BADLY in 08. The rattie sculpture is lingering, the "Lovebird" sculpture is lingering, and my plans to make Brianna into a full porcelain piece complete with a horsie-log is INCOMPLETE! ARR....so many fun projects to divert the mind. Life is good.

Well, Francesco and I were invited to a cabana club today. As much as I want to go I know I have a ton of work that truly needs to be completed. My mind can't wrap itself around taking time to sit, but today I take time to sit and be silly with Francesco. Maybe I'll take a few pictures too. Silly ones....with really good compositions. LOL

This Week...

Scarlett. A work in progress with some
friends in the background

Scarlett, Independence, Valentine and a Galena resin have all been getting my attention this week. I have been very focused on painting the horses and am pleased to tell owners that their horses will be coming home soon. The Valentine has been my biggest thrill. He was probably the very WORST model I have ever had to prep. It took about four prepping sessions to get him correctly fixed for painting. I have never seen so many pinholes before. Spray him and "pop" out came more pinholes fiercer than before!

The Scarlett is my next sales item. Yes, yes, have to get that sales plug in now. She looks pretty ratty at this stage. She will smooth out and soften up. She is typical of how my roans and varnishes start off. I've decided to paint her a chestnut varnish appaloosa. I mean, how could I not go wild with her? Wild is what everyone wants anyway and I sorta was curious to see how ol Barney's color (he used to be one of the old, old horses down at the barn) would look on this gal. I'm very excited to see her a little more finished.

Galena and an Independence resin

First though, Galena. She is being painted for a very good friend who is in dire need of a pick-me-up right about now. I decided I shouldn't let this resin sit on the shelves any longer. She needs finishing and is almost done. After tonight's entry I'll sit down with some green tea and continue to layer her hair and dapples and work on her hooves. I'm off the hook on her eyes this time around. The owner popped in these nifty glass eyes, so she'll get done quicker than normal. I'll be sure to show off some close up shots when she is complete. She is a stunning resin that I believe would look amazing in just about any color.

Infamous desk shot.
Its really dirty there this week.

Lastly, another infamous "desk shot" completely piled with pigment dust. I haven't even bothered to clean up yet since adding solid base colors to these pieces has been my main focus this week. Once I complete all the pastel work though I'll slowly start to clean up. Phew, gonna be a big job this time around.

Nerve Grinding

Tree Hackers

The studio and house has been plagued with an awful sound. A grinding buzz of tree being sawed. The most wretched and nerve grinding sound I can think of next to a dentist's drill. My heart actually races with panic when I hear trees being cut. I have never liked it and hate it even more now that I am living in a city that seems pretty treeless as compared to my beloved PA woods.

NYC's "Million trees" campaign is apparently alive and strong. One million is a pretty large number. Lord only knows where they put A MILLION trees! It certainly wasn't on our block. They actually chopped our trees up so terrible they are ridiculous to look at. They hit the old oak down the block today and the pretty little cherry blossom.

The Pac Man Peg tree. Ridiculous!

Perhaps I'm just in a bad mood. I can see how clipping a tree in the city would be beneficial to the cars and telephone wires. There are, however, several areas in Brooklyn that never get the buzz saw. The telephone wires and cars do just fine. Actually, the cars and houses look much better with such pretty trees about. Oh, and wires are hidden. So aesthetically pleasing.

But again, I'm sure I'm just in a bad mood. After all, my mold for the China Buffet show isn't dry yet and my deadline on that is looming. My porcelain bowls took 12 hours to fire and look wonky and rough. And the cherry on top is that I have to re shoot this JAH cover of which I have no desire since my vision was Alborozo on the beach in all his glory.

They want more "story." Not sure how to give more story. I firmly believe that gorgeous Eberl mold on the beach, the waves crashing ever so slightly was the story. I firmly believe less is more in some instances. And in this instance collectors just want to see the horse. Put him in the ultimate fantasy setting every little gal dreams of (on the beach) and you have a bombshell cover. I mean, even *I* was clamoring to get a mold of him and when he arrived I totally had to go to the beach and play with him. (Yes, I still play...you have to otherwise you will grow old!) Well, I got him, but he hasn't come without a price. Being grumpy has been the worst part of his price tag. >:(