NaMoPaiMo 2018

Utopia resin finished with mixed media.

NaMoPaiMo

Which stands for "National Model Painting Month" and is held in the Equine Miniature Industry every February. This year was the second year and I believe well over 400 people signed up to participate.

During this event model horse enthusiasts paint one horse. During this month though, we also share the ups and the downs of painting, the painting techniques, the new and old products and we enjoy just talking "model horse" with one another without any news, politics or outside frustrations getting in the way. It's our month to be crazy model horse artists with like minded individuals.

For one solid month our Facebook newsfeeds are filled with positive and happy news about model horses. Near the end of the month it's a deluge of pictures. So many amazing photos to view of the finished pieces everyone signed up to complete in one month's time!

For me this event is about all those nakid beady little eyes on my own shelves that stare me down continually. They all ask the same question, "When will you paint us?" Many of these pieces have remained unpainted for over a decade because I just can't get to painting my own stuff. February's event helps me truly focus, with other like minded artists, on one of my own pieces.

This year I chose a Utopia resin that I must have acquired back in 2002. I had a beautiful saddle created for him by Jessica Friedman of Tack Without A Doubt in 2003 and I've had that saddle around hoping to one day get my Utopia painted so I can show off the saddle....or at least play with it in the secret of my own studio.

I have always envisioned my Utopia painted in a chestnut. A plain ol' run of the mill warmblood-like chestnut. The kind of color that is in every stable, equine lesson and show event.

Chestnut.

I felt a chestnut with nice purples would compliment Jessica's work fully. I'm thrilled today, February 28th cause I finally finished my piece. Today, I present my boy "February Persuasion" all dolled up with his J. Friedman saddle.

Oranges and browns are
complimented by lots of thin purple layers.

Detail of a Jessica Friedman saddle.
Circa 2004