Weekend Deadlines

Sneak peek at my RESS project

Normally, I wouldn't even think of missing a deadline. When that deadline lands on a weekend though, all bets are off on me getting the work in on time. My RESS deadline fell on a Sunday and I spent time here and there this past weekend trying to get it completed to no avail. I finally just gave up and saved all my final tweaking and editing for today. So, for a portion of the afternoon and evening I worked on RESS stuff.

Molded in earthenware clay

Early on in the year I was asked to write some newbie articles for them and I gladly accepted. It has been nice exploring favorite subjects like mold making and painting techniques, but with a beginner in mind. I honestly enjoy writing for newbies more than I do for more experienced artists. Newbies have an innocent desire to learn that is infectious. In most cases they will dive in blindly and try a technique. I have always found that to be the best way to learn. Dive in and just try everything that you can.

I guess in a way I miss my newbie days too. The days of my heart racing over a Zimmer custom or the latest pinto by Cook are long behind me now. Although I truly enjoy seeing what all the other sculptors and painters are up to and my heart does race over much of the stuff I see, it never races like it did way back when.

Now, I really enjoy seeing what our new artists are up to. Even the ones who have not really come close to gaining a solid handle on their chosen mediums. I can always see the artistic sparkle in these works and while everyone is calling it trash, I can't help but see it as art. To me it's some one's heart on a 3-D canvas. It is always most inspiring.

I hope my articles for RESS will be an inspiration to our newbies and that they will be well received. For more information regarding joining RESS or viewing the future mold making article please visit the following link: Realistic Equine Sculpture Society.

Work from my newbie days

Saturday

Bubble hearts

Saturday.

The day to clean. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. I can't work well on my art if the house is overly dirty. I let the house go for a couple of week so cleaning took longer than usual, but I did get a little reward toward the end. A little floating bubble heart appeared in the dirty water. I just looked down and there it was. I couldn't resist showing someone else.

Cookies, Sculpture & Progress

Yummy cookies!!

Don't those cookies look yummy? I was so enamored by Rebecca Turner's new medallion sculptures that I just had to order them so I could stare at them in person. I also wanted to paint them, but now that they are here I feel they will probably be more beautiful without my paws about them. I feel this way about a few Eberl pieces I own. I just can't bring myself to touch them with paint cause I feel my work will ruin the integrity of the pieces.

~My Ophelia Sculpture~
I love when sculptures inspire and excite me. I was so jazzed by these pieces that I dove right back into two sculptures of my own. I feel a renewed sense of desire to finish what I started on this little Ophelia sculpture.

She is just a little pony walking. Don't worry, I won't be flooding the MH market with her. I can hear a few saying, "OMG that is horrid!!!" Well, yes, right now it is and perhaps when she is done she will still be unsightly, but an artist must move forward with inspiration. Even if it seems to be cruddy to others.

My little pony named Ophelia

I had always envisioned a pretty little porcelain pony with this creation. A few in resin might be nice to see in person. I'd love to paint her up with cold paints. But, I'd only have a handful made. And in handful I mean how many can I physically hold in my hand? Whatever that number is then that is the number of the resin edition. The rest I can see in porcelain.

I changed her legs a bit as I kept thinking she had issues with her lower half. She looked awkward and as soon as I shifted her legs I could see some improvement. I made some adjustments with undercuts too for china production. I'm now even more excited to see her finished.

~In Progress~
Blanks waiting to get painted this week

A few other things that are developing in the studio are a "Galina" resin and an "Oberon". I have quite a few of this little guy and want to try him out in a few different colors. For now I'm feeling "roan fever" coming on. Because I'm dying to paint roan I'm truly bursting to start the Valentin that is visiting me on commission.

Hole-y Mole-y!!!

The owner wants to see him in a roan and I'm totally on board with that color choice. Unfortunately, HE isn't on board with any of this painting non sense. He is a hole-y nightmare. Old Eberls are just nasty to prep and he is living up to that reputation. In this photo he has been prepped 3xs already. THREE!!!


~The Alborozo Dilemma~
Last, but not least is the Alborozo that stands on the other side of the studio waiting for me to make a decision about him. I am terribly tempted to paint him and I believe I am the only on on the planet that has one in hand right now.

Alborozo awaiting his future

What a golden opportunity. I'm just dying to see him in dappled buckskin going grey. I'm just DYING! I am really torn about painting him though. He's the prototype and to boot, a rather nicely painted OF copy. His hooves though, suffered damage from the JAH cover photoshoot. The botched hooves alone would totally make him a painting prospect, but alas, he waits amongst the many, many vessels I've made in the past few weeks. He and the vessels are becoming kindred spirits. I can't decide what to do with any of them! Perhaps a nice cup of coffee and apple pie ala mode will help with the decision making?

Dive Bomber!

Bug suicide...never a pretty sight

Some days no matter how careful you are, accidents happen.

It's been a while since I had an annoying painting accident, but now that the warmer weather is upon us dive bombers hungry for a chemical "fix" are something to contend with while working and spraying out doors.

A fly in the gloss wouldn't be so upsetting if it happened on my resin and not on someone else's. It also wouldn't be so troublesome if the bug suicide happened on a horse OTHER than one going golden champagne. The lighter colors in pastels are, in my personal opinion, tricky and require much more time to finish than a bay or chestnut. A black fly on a lighter colored horse has only one way to go...OFF and when you pick anything out of goopy liquid its a pure mess.

Spattered legs

The bug body came out, but not without a fight. Legs remain on this horse's neck. The only action to take right now is to sit and wait for the piece to dry fully. He's been drying since last night and by late afternoon he should be ready for some sanding and scraping. I'll let you know how the repair goes.

Yep! He Loved It!

Off into the sunset

I am so happy to report that my son LOVED his pony ride! Of course, I think he looked great atop the little pony. He sat so straight and smiled the entire time. He's already asked me if he could go riding again and I am happy to oblige that request! :)

I am also happy to report that both Sucre and Rasam are coming along very well. I have about an hour left on Sucre's production and then she will be up for sale. I have taken a new photo for you all to view. You can see a bit more detail on both.

Better shot of the two Arabs

The Rasam is wooing me to stay here in my china cabinet. I am sorta getting swayed to keep him. I am still undecided about it. I will say I was very happy to be painting horses again. I guess I just need to keep juggling many different art projects in order for me to stay fresh.

Bitten by the Fleabite

Sucre and Rasam

It's a fleabite party here in the studio! I couldn't help myself last night when I was painting the little Sucre. I grabbed the Rasam resin and went to town giving him fleabites too. The blur on the right hand side of the photo is a fingerprint. No, not mine, my son's. He wanted to take some photos at the communion party and had a ball. Next time I'll check for sticky hands before handing over the equitpment. LOL

Off to another party today. This one is a birthday party down at the barn. Perhaps Francesco will be brave and hop up on the pony. It will be his first time if he does.

Typical MO? Busy, as Usual

Huge party

Every weekend I seem to mention a party or family get together of some sort. These functions completely shut down my studio. I can't even think of popping my head in after the affair either. In a way it's hard to explain how very involved our weekends can be here if you've never experienced it first hand so I took a photo this past weekend of a first holy communion party we attended. This is just one of many functions we have for the spring/summer. Yes, the never ending lights you see are not an illusion that IS how large the room was. Awesome party! Really awesome. We all had fun and after working hard all week it was just what we all needed.

Studio wise the China Buffet Show medallions are complete, packed and getting ready to be mailed tomorrow. I'm excited to see how the showholder glazes them. She chose to glaze them herself.

China Buffet show prototype

I did get to glaze the first one for the show holder to view and approve. I'm very happy with the way it came out. I love the little horse head. I'm thinking of popping it off the backing and using it for my RESS article on mold making for newbies. It's small enough and compact enough to help create a competent article.

My "Sucre" resin arrived on Saturday. Packages mailed from Lynn's arrive so fast. I have to be honest, I LOVE having these resins in my hands before the general public. Getting that little "edge" on things has been really awesome. I can't thank Lynn enough for including me in her "Painter's Program". "Sucre" is lovely. Just a beautifully feminine Arabian mare standing with the breeze blowing through her mane. Bloody shoulder IS going to be gorgeous on her. I'm bursting to start her.

Well, our cookies are baking. Time to check them. Nothing like the smell of cookies in the air with an excited toddler about! Pure happiness!!! I love it! :)