It's About The Teeth

Love them choppers

I get many requests to donate my artwork and services for many shows and organizations. It is always difficult to turn people down as the causes always seem good and I completely understand how difficult it must be to solicit for an event or cause and get turned down. Heck, almost every two weeks I solicit you all to purchase something from my studio.

Choosing the cause or event that gets my services becomes difficult when they all need or want your services, but there is only one of me and not every event planner has class which is a personal annoyance to me. They forget to let you know they got the item, even after buggin you for weeks if the piece was done. They forget to send that all important thank you card after the fact. Then they forgot to tell the artist who attained the item and even more importantly how much the item sold for. And forget about trying to attain written proof of that sale for tax purposes! Trying to track this information down after all is said and done was and continues to be beyond frustrating. So, for the past two years I have been slowly whittling down my donation card and continually saying no.

Do you own me?

One show I try and support is my local regional show. Last year I went all out and donated a full stablemate sized drafter resin fully painted with all the dapply bells and whistles. I still have no idea what it went for or who owns it. After it left my studio I never heard another word till this year when donations were again needed.

As you could imagine, I was on the fence and seriously leaning toward "no" until I saw what they were asking me to paint as donation. I couldn't resist the urge to paint the "Ed" medallion and decided to close out my donation card for 07 with one more model horse-like donation as next year my services will go on to help other causes that are completely outside of the equine miniature industry. I am involved in formidable and helpful ministries (like feeding the homeless here in Brooklyn) and my heart has been leaning more and more toward helping these areas of need. But for now, I'll enjoy the final stages of production on "Ed" and hope the recipient who wins him enjoys him. Hay, I may even get an email from them telling me he is being enjoyed! I sure enjoyed having his happy mug here visiting the studio. There is something about those teeth!

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?