Visual Demo: A Face

As an artist I find it more helpful to see how another artist handles certain mediums and or how they paint the world around them. I decided to document the painting of an Elsie resin's face. I felt it might be of some interest to someone just learning how to paint or it might come in hand for someone trying their hands in acrylics.

All the work on Elsie's face was brought out using a mixture of acrylics and Liquitex Glazing Medium. The Glazing Medium helps keep the acrylics "open" which means it slows down the drying process enabling blending and shading to occur more easily.

"The Kite"
Graphite, Watercolor and Acrylics on Archival Bristol.

A Crafty Diversion

The new gal "Valentina"
I needed a break from working on painting and horse sculptures and the perfect diversion this week has been the addition of a new hen in the house. My beautiful Cochen "Valentina" arrived on Tuesday this week and I've been inspired not only to sketch her (doesn't she look like has pantaloons on?) but to spruce up the hen house a bit.

After seeing a fun package of wooden slats in the local art store I decided to pick them up and create some "coop art" for my gals. I always find that when Im burnt out (on any project) taking a diversion in a new and fun direction offers much inspiration in many ways. Im not only inspired to work on the horse paintings again but to pick up an old illustration project that has lingered far too long. Here's to crafty inspirations and pet adorations.

Wooden slates set the stage
for the project.
Cutting down the slats.
Paint the slats from dark to light for a "worn country" effect.
Adding color.
Bringing out the "worn" effect with paint.
Printing out the names.
Forgot to print the mirror image of them at first.
Transfer the printed names using xylene and
drill holes in the slats using a Dremel.
The finished project.
Valentina thinking about laying an egg?

"Story"
Graphite, Watercolor and Acrylic on archival bristol.

All Ears

Not one, but two broken ears on a resin.
Tomorrow I'll be at the model horse show in Leesport, PA offering my "Repair On The Spot" service to anyone at the show (or anyone who stops by really.) Ive come to enjoy repairing show horses that have gotten scratched or damaged.

This one was a piece that spilled over into overtime. The owner was going to be at the next show I was going to be attending so she asked if the horse could come into the studio and if I could just return next time wed see each other and I agreed. I documented his repair as I felt it might be helpful to someone out there.

The basic repair is as follows: 1). Add glue to the ear tip. Hold horse upside down and dip the glue droplet into baking soda. Keep doing this till the "glob" is tall. 2). Dremel down the glob till it looks like an ear. 3). Sand everything down till smooth. 4). Prime. 5). Paint.

Perhaps its easier said than done. That's why I included photos, because sometimes those help better than words.

Baking soda and glue bond to create new ears.
Slowly add the mixture.

Using a Dremel carve out the globs.
Smoothing out the globs till they
are seamless.
Carving out the inner ear.
Finished ears from the back.
Finished ears from the front.

Happy Valentine's Day

"Valentine"
Graphite and Watercolor on watercolor paper.
"Love crosses its islands, from grief to grief,
it sets its roots, watered with tears,
and no one-no one- can escape the heart's progress
as it runs, silent and carnivorous."

~Pablo Neruda

Repair: Mule

Strange light brown mark on the side of the muzzle.
At the local model horse shows I've been taking on repairs. It's been fun, not only seeing other artist's work up close, but it's been satisfying fixing show horses and watching them go on that day to continue winning for their owners. The next show I'll be at offering on the spot repair will be the Berks County show on Feb 16th in Leesport PA.

This was a repair I thought would be fun to document. It's a minor repair, but the strange light mark on the side of the muzzle was definitely taking off points in the ring for the owner so I eliminated it with some glazing.

A 50-50 mixture of acrylic paint
and Liquitex Glazing Medium is used to slowly cover this mark.

More layers added

Each layer must dry fully before
an additional layer is added.

Spot is now hidden.

"Stolen kiss"
Graphite, Watercolor and Acrylic on Archival Bristol.
"I love the handful of earth you are.
Because of its meadows, vast as a planet,
I have no other star. You are my replica
of the multiplying universe."

~Pablo Neruda

French Chic Table (Part I)

A fun find at the Salvation Army.
I love a good bargain and if I can't find anything good out on the curb on garbage day I hit the local Salvation Army. There is always something fun there to take home and repurpose. Last time I visited my need to paint something in the "French Chic" style was greatly satisfied with this little end table. It was wobbly but had much character and for $2.92 I couldn't pass up the bargain.

The process of turning a piece into a French chic gem is fairly simple. Distress haphazardly, prime, paint and then shadow distressed areas with oil washes. For this piece though I've envisioned also adding some French laser transfers which should be fun. At the moment though, I have no idea what images I'll use. Right now Im just enjoying the fact that this little table distressed so easily and nicely. Part two later in the weekend.

A bargain!

Table adornment removed and filled
with Aves Apoxie.

Aves can be sanded and painted.

Distressing the surface with a hammer.

The middle is left unmarred
because I'll add some printed words there eventually.

A few coats of white primer starts
the painting process

Finishes & Ears

Brigette Eberl's Fjord pony
in mixed media. Commission
My focus this week in the studio has been commissions and repairing horses owners wanted me to take home to fix from the last show I attended. Repair at all the shows I've gone to has been fun and very much sought after. I will be back at the show in Leesport, NY on the 16th of February taking on commissions, but mostly offering repair for both original finish and resins/customs. If you're going be sure to bring your scratched and broken stuff and I'll fix it.

The Eberl Fjord is my latest finished commission. A few spots on her are still drying (hence the shine here or there in the photo.) Looking to have for piece painted? Email me at: jenndanza@gmail.com My books are always open.


More views of the Eberl Fjord

Pieces getting repair.

Preparing to paint the fixed ears.

Ear repair on a Matriarch resin.

A Peek

An Eberl Fjord getting layers.
Ive been behind on the blog cause Ive been painting horses like crazy. I have many different pieces being painted at the same time. (If you are a owner whose horse is visiting me currently and don't see your horse here that doesn't mean they aren't being worked on.) I decided to take a few shots of what is happening in the studio horse wise.

Fun "micro minis" getting new coats!
These guys will be for sale soon!

Dante gets his dapples!

Many many layers on Mulette's face and body.

Elsie resins. One in bay roan, the other in grulla
just drying.