Cause....

A study in house paint and fur

Cause...

...it's just so much fun to look at these old photos. I still have these horses, including the study in house paint and fur. She gave up her back legs eventually for a broken Indian Pony (who refused to stay fixed) and is in my body box here in Brooklyn. I have no idea why I felt the need to let her tag along. Perhaps I will use her head for a project some day. Maybe someday soon!


San Domingo struttin'
and Black Beauty winning a rough race.
Notice the hoof prints in the sand? I remember
that scene being very labor intensive.

I was given another "How to" article to write for JAH and this article will revolve around some simple remaking of a horse head. Nothing too over the top, just a how to add markings to a head. They sent me two of my favorite molds for the project. The Yellow Mount mold and the Halla mold.

I LOVE Halla. She was a great piece to play with when I was young (I have my original mold here in my Brooklyn collection too) and I am dying to chop the head off the new one that arrived. I want to lower the neck and create a pretty cm remake. It's been a while since I made a plastic remake. It seems like it was just yesterday when that was the only type of remaking there was in our industry. Time sure flies!

Inspired by...

Inspiration is flowing. Must be the cool weather we are having. I feel rather renewed. Guess I was getting tired of all that sun and fun of summer. So, what is inspiring me?

An Oil Painting

Oil by Richard Stone Reeves

A few years ago my friend Daniella gave me a huge book of racing horses painted by Richard Stone Reeves. She was always thoughtfully looking out for good horse books for me. I have to be honest in saying that I hadn't really, REALLY looked at this book until recently. When I did sit down to study the oil paintings I was enthralled with their richness. I love the way Mr. Reeves handles the dappling effect in this particular painting. Those dapples were a jump start for me to start painting a Stone Chips model in dappled grey. I am very inspired.

Holes In The Rat

"Listen" mold getting another look

After casting my rattie sculpture "Listen" I became discouraged. There were many air holes in the silicone and a part of her ear was missing. I have been inspired to revisit these issues and get "Listen" into plaster without fail. My idea of adding small amounts of silicone to the air holes in order to hide them and make a more perfect piece to cast worked. I am very inspired.

Lastly, I am inspired to wish my best friend from home Abbi (aka: Icky Penny) a very happy birthday today! Happy Birthday chica!! I miss you!

Finishing Up

HA Arab commission in dappled grey

I haven't been too chatty this week. I'm really just busy finishing up a couple of deadlines and working on the commissions left in the studio. I know I've put them off for my pottery wheel long enough. I was always more disciplined than I have been recently. I can only say that I love how it feels to be working on the wheel. It's very mediative for me and relaxing. It's also wonderful to create art in a matter of 15 minutes or less.

This was probably my most favorite vessel from the "Mother's Day" batch. It unfortunately cracked when I pulled it out of the kiln for the horsehair process. I heard it pop twice and saw the crack running up along the edge. A most disheartening sight and sound. I've decided not to use this technique on any of the low fire clay vessels I've created. I'll use it only on the stoneware and porcelain pieces. I suspect these clays can handle the changes in temp. much better.

Horsehair vessel

But as you can see I am still working on horses. I'm scheduled to paint a Fraley "Sucre". I can see her in bloody shoulder and will most likely have her in my hands by the weekend. Lynn always ships so promptly. I love that. I also managed to snag a Scarlett. I promised myself that I would cool it on resins, but since my studio is fairly clean of unwanted resins for now and the urge to paint one of these lady's hit me recently I decided to jump on the email when it came through from Tumlinson.
I'm thinking roan perhaps?

Hopefully somewhere in all these color decisions and new pieces I'll get the urge to finish up a few pieces I started like my second Smittyn resin and, of course, the Stormwatch. Unfortunately for all resins involved I have to physically pass my wheel in order to get to my work station. LOL