"BELL BOY" The Large Draft ~

 

~ Bell Boy ~

~ Bell Boy ~

~~~~~

Model horses still cover my work desk, 

and I'm enjoying every minute with them.

Bell Boy however was quite a change in what I'm 

used to working with. He is a traditional size draft horse

model from the Stone Horses company, 

standing a little over 10 1/2" high at the tips of his ears!

Quite a change from the three inches and smaller models

I had been working on up to this!

Bell Boy is a contest horse, one that was 

chosen for me. Not until I opened the box and

unwrapped him did I know who he was going to be.

He was a bit rough from the factory, needing rather 

large seams shaved and sanded before 

I could begin to give him any color.

But life in 2020 took over in another direction for a bit,

and with one week left to go, he sat forlorn and 

naked white...completely lifeless on my desk. 

I had almost given up hope of entering him. 

Then I made a decision.

I had made a commitment with Bell Boy, 

and I was going to honor that.

So I set to work, hours and hours and hours of

rushed rushed rushed work.

I love to add tiny details to my work, 

but there was little time for that.

So, within the hours I had left before he was to have his

contest photos taken, I did what I could.

Bell Boy is not completely where I'd like to see him

as a finished model. He was definitely a test 

as to how well I could create a nice looking horse 

in a time frame that was much shorter then I'm used too.

Over the winter I'm sure I will pick him up again, to

add those tiny details I love. But for now I'll relax,

and enjoy him as he is.

~~~~~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical day! ~

:0)

~ UNICORNS...In Teal and Purple! ~

Well...it has taken me a bit

but I was finally able to round up

a couple of those elusive Unicorns as promised.

The first is "Serendipity Sea",

named for his gorgeous coat resembling 

beautiful teal blue sea glass.

~ Serendipity Sea ~

Like many other models I have talked about, this unicorn stallion

has been etched with the tip of a very sharp exacto blade.

His entire shimmering teal blue body was worked hair by hair, including

his once solid copper mane and tail, to give him a soft

body coat, and a white mane and tail touched with copper accents.

His eyes were colored a mysterious yet gentle deep blue,

then the surrounding "skin" was deepened, along with his muzzle

in black pan pastel.

The white strip down his nose ends with a soft pink snip. And after his 

golden hooves and horn were accented, they along with

his eyes and nostrils were clear glossed,

to bring them to life.

~~~

Then there is the purple Unicorn.

Well...actually she was a Unicorn, but now has no horn.

This little "Unicorn" is 3" tall by a tick over 4" long.

She began in a deep, solid purple coat with

light purple mane and tail.

She was to be a simple, relaxing project...but...

got a little out of hand. I think I may have an issue

keeping things simple.

This "Unicorn" is still a work in progress. I think I may nearly be,

if not completely, done hair by hair etching her on this side.

The other side however remains the original, untouched

dark purple coat. Which...might be why she seems to be

looking that way. She could be noticing there's

something not quite right yet. :0)

~~~~~

I know there are more Unicorns scampering about,

but I wasn't quite able to coax them out

for a view yet.

~~~~~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical day! ~

:0)

Not a Unicorn...But He's Still Little! ~

Soooo...

My last post mentioned a possible unicorn.

Yes...there are two actually.

But...

I have been working on this guy lately.

I had started on him this past spring.

But when snow melts and outdoor warmth returns,

I set aside my indoor creating so that I can enjoy

as much of the fresh air, sunshine, and all things

outdoor that I can. Since our growing season here only lasts a

few months, I spend as much of it as I can in my gardens.

But cool weather has returned. Trees and vegetation are now

preparing for winter's sleep. And the days are getting shorter...

all meaning time to come back inside

and work once again on art.

The unicorns will come out of the forest of mini horses and unicorns that surround me, to show themselves here.

However, today I've decided to showcase this guy. 

~~~

~ Etched Mini Model Horse ~

~~~

This is quite a little horse...standing only 3 1/4" high

from desk top to the tip of his ears. He is one of Breyer's

very small models. Before sending him out for 

customers to purchase, they completely painted him, 

along with many many others like him,

in a nearly bey color, with only a small white star

on his forehead, and 3 dirty white socks.

As I love small, intricate, and (some would say) putzy

work...etching this little guy into a new color very

much pleased me.

So with a very fine tipped, very very sharp

exacto blade I set to work. Slowly etching out

hair, by hair, by hair...for hours, and hours, and hours.

After etching was complete, I added back into his mane and tail, colors of fiery red, burgundy, and gorgeous yellows

with pencil, along with some blues

 for his beautiful eyes. The tiniest amount of pan pastel

was applied with a very small detail brush, 

to darken around his eyes and muzzle.

He's still not complete, as color will be added

to his hooves. After which layers of sealer will be applied

to protect his new coat. And gloss will be added to

bring life to his eyes, his nostrils, and

his hooves, making him ready for the show ring.

I love working on these tiny horses...

and I have many many more to go!

~~~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical day! ~

:0)

Another Pinto Pony ~

~ Little Peanut ~

~~~

Oh dear! It looks like quite some time since my last post!

Well...

" Little Peanut " was next on my list of little

model horses to receive not only a

new coat color, but also reshaping of his

(at the time) very flat and unattractive head and mane.

 The exacto blade and some fine sandpaper were first to be used, giving him a cute little pony head and better flow to his mane.

 Hours later he looked so much better...and it was time to begin work on a new color.

So...exacto blade in hand again, I carefully etched away his chestnut color, transferring him into a spunky white and chestnut pinto. Then with detailing brushes, pan pastel colors were added for depth to his coat, to "map" out his white markings, and darken eyes and muzzle.

His cute white face was softly pinked between nostrils...after which layers and layers of clear matte finish were applied to protect him. Eyes and nostril insides were then glossed to add life.

And after these images were taken, his petite hooves

were colored and glossed.

Now complete, this cheery little pony happily trots across my desk, ready for his new home this fall or winter...where ever that may be.

Coming soon...a little unicorn perhaps? 

:0)

~ Little Peanut ~

~~~~~

~ Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical day! ~

:0)

~ 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!

~~~~~