~ Etched Into a Gray Dapple ~

~ The Dappled Gray ~

~~~

This is the horse that is on my work bench now.

I seem to have fallen for the etching process.

For me it's very relaxing.

But he needs the reverse side finished...

his hooves colored...

and the finishing touches of gloss on both eyes and hooves.

He will be attending the upcoming live model show...

so I have 5 weeks to complete him.

I best work faster!

~~~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful whimsical day! ~

:0)

~ Little Etched Pony ~

~ Little Bobbles ~

During this past late winter and into early spring,

I ventured into a new area of art...

etching model horses.

For the past few years the craft of re sculpting

and re painting model horses has fascinated me.

This craft allows anyone to create a model horse

in any color they desire...even farther...

change it's shape or pose. An artist can create a horse

that resembled a real one once owned

from the past or the present.

Last year I decided...it was finally time for me

to join the art of custom colored horses.

My first recolored model was worked up in 

my favorite medium...colored pencil, in layer 

upon layer of color. After which I added a few touches

of white with Golden acrylics.

The second...third...fourth...fifth...and :0)...

were using a medium completely new to me...

pan pastels, applied with a very soft brush.

The little dun filly on the left was my first re color

 with pan pastels. After her body color was complete

 I gave her hooves a bit of

realistic look with my wonderful Prismacolor pencils...

sprayed her all down with many layers

of mat sealant to protect her...

and for the finishing touches, carefully glossed the hooves,

as well as her big, beautiful eyes.

 The palomino in the back was what

she used to look like before I began work on her.

 This spring she found a new home

with a delightful mini model horse collector.

I found pan pastels such fun to work with...and may

apply them to some 2D art in the future.

But...back to 3D horses. :0)

While studying ways to re color these wonderful horse

models I began to notice a technique very similar

to scratchboard art I had created while still

in high school. This technique was working with models

already painted...but now removing the color with a

very sharp blade.

I was intrigued! Sooooo...

I carefully selected my fully painted model...

looked through my art supplies and found the sharpest

x acto blades I had...

and went to work.

The end result?

" Little Bobbles "

Fully etched from head to toe.

She began as a solid dark grey pony...

all 4 hooves dark grey as well.

Not a white marking on her anywhere.

When I completed her, she emerged as the

cutest little grey dappled pinto, with

two hooves clear and two striped party color.

She has the most delicate hairing over every bit 

of her remaining grey (so delicate the camera didn't pick it up).

And to tip her over on cuteness

I added a bit of pink to that soft muzzle.

Glossed hooves...glossed little sparkling eyes...

signed on her fuzzy tummy...

this little girl standing 2 1/4" tall at the tip of her ears,

 is now ready for her new home...

wherever that may be.

~ Little Bobbles ~

~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical day! ~

:0)

~~~~~~~

~ Memories of Our Renaissance Faire

Our renaissance faire,
the faire I co-produced and directed,

now faded into the mists of time.

The Olde World Renaissance Faire,

Twig, Minnesota.

~ The Villagers ~

~ One of the Blacksmiths ~

~ Entertainment on Parade ~

~ Homage to the Royals ~

~ The Joust ~

~ Wonderful Lute Music ~

~ Sheriff of Brikenhar ~

~ Some Dueling ~

~ A Bit of Face Painting ~

~ Merchants of Games ~

~ The Belly Dancers ~

~ Leather Merchant ~

~ The Art Merchant ~

~ The Fairy Merchant ~

~ Hobby Horse Joust ~

~ The Knighting ~

~ Merchant Lane ~

~ One of Three Stages ~

~~~~~

A small sample through the years of our faire,

the Olde World Renaissance Faire.

2004 ~ 2010

HUZZAH!

~~~~~

~ From 2D To 3D ~

~ Little Dun Foal ~

~~~~~

I have taken my art into the 3D realm.

For a little over 2 years now I have taken up the hobby

of model horse showing. Each horse I had in my show string

were models that had been factory finished. And I love it!

But there was another dimension that intrigued me...

 the art of the customized horse.

The horses that artists repaint, and possibly reform.

So not long ago I took the plunge,

bought new brushes, some pan pastels,

and went to work on little models I had 

had in my collection for years.

The Little Dun Foal above is one of my first recolors.

The little palomino foal in the background was what she

looked like before,

and the dun foal in the front is her after.

I am thoroughly enjoying the process of customizing these little horses, and am hooked!

My upper desk now is covered with a herd of

mares, foals, and stallions, 

either waiting for a new look, or are in the process.

Artwork in a new dimension!

Now...to investigate and experiment resculpting...

~~~~~~~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful whimsical day! ~

:0)