Bluebird Studio

Photo credit to Jennifer Buxton Reading through my most favourite blog on the net, Jennifer Buxton's http:// braymere.blogspot.com.au/ thoroughly enjoying Jennifer's Colorado Kick-off show report, when I was ridiculously delighted to find Graylea Whisper at the end. Her name is Jasmine and she is shown as a POA. She won both sections of the American Pony class and was Resin Pony Champion in the breed division. She also went on to either win her Workmanship class or came reserve :) She has been beautifully painted by Sheryl Liesure. I am seriously chuffed! Thank you so much for sharing Jennifer!

Progress with some painted ponies this week. One Humphrey is being painted to a little spotty bum, he is a 'practice' piece for me,  and another two are commission pieces. One white/grey, a portrait of a little girls first pony, And the third is a portrait of a delightful little miniature mare. Humphrey has been changed to a girl, and had some refining done to her face as well. Whilst the paints and pastels were out I also thought is was past time for Wil'hell'mina to be repainted after her resculpting. One of the things I find with painting in acrylics is how quickly they dry on my palette (piece of aluminium foil). I think I have thrown out much much more paint then has ever touched a horse. Until recently ...a great tip from a fine artist friend Denise Krajnc  has completley changed that! As you can see in the above photo I have a flat dish (mine is a tupperware meatkeeper) I have then placed in multiple layers of paper towel which are then s...

Keeping in mind that I am self taught, and I do what works for me, what works for you might be completely different :) this is how I begin... All of my OS (original sculpts) have been portraits of real horses. All of them have been alive and I have been able to visit them to get the appropriate measurements and photos. With Mistral however, he has passed after a freak accident :( therefore I am relying solely on photos the owners already have. Luckily for me they were keen photographers and the horse widely campaigned so I have in excess of 120 photos of the boy. Most of them of him jumping. By far the most important photo though, is this one; And this is why... This is the most 'square' photo I have of Mistral and from it I was able to get a fair idea of his measurements. Once I have found the horses points, where the significant joints are, I can build an armature to scale. Bone length does not change, joints open, close, flex and turn. Muscles squish, ...

... paint brushes up. This is Morgan and he is the portrait of a Shetland that lives not to far away from me. So I was able to get some nice clear photos of all his detail.  I think he has come out OK, I will be delivering him to his owner tomorrow, I hope she likes him :) I have painted him up using Jaime Baker's YouTube video; Painting Model Horses - Roaning There is a part two of the video as well. And Jaime's Liver Chestnut DVD, which just happens to be on sale right now! BONUS! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Liver-Chestnut-DVD-CM-Breyer-Stone-Horse-resins-HOLIDAY-SALE-/290640645620?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43ab884df4 I have a few more of the little guys to paint up, then it will be back to sculpting. :)

The big character is finally finished and is jet setting off to the USA for professional casting by Mountain Veiw Studios. Very exciting stuff! Humphrey will be appox' $75US each, at this stage he will be limited to a single mould edition, he is classic scale (true 1:12th scale) Shetland Pony gelding. Simply drop me an email with your name, if you would like to reserve a copy of the little guy. Isn't he adorable?

Despite spending part of my weekend at work, I still managed to get a little done in the studio :) Humphrey. Feathering and leg detail will see this little guy finished. This one is starting to look like he is a horse, instead of a camel. Cranky FAM is taking shape. She has caught my attention again, so I may run with it and try and get her finished up this week, or at least to mane and tail stage :) After struggling with this boys 'spot/blob', I gave up and stripped him. In this photo he has his first ten or so layers of pastel base coat, and I have added his dapples, I will now begin darkening him up and blending down his pangare.

Jack is almost done. I need to tone down his whites, and tidy him up a bit more. I am dying to re-do his tail now I have used Laura's method, but I shall resist, and save my itchy fingers for the casting proof :) On a side note ...I cannot believe how much static dust/fluff sticks to a black horse when you are photographing them!

I don't recommend this at home, normally one customises, then primes, then paints the ponies. Nup, to mundane for me, lol, I like to chop my horses up after I have spent weeks painting them. I wrapped him to protect the hours of work already invested in painting him. Poor Jack looks a little horrified. Head back on, hopefully a little re sculpting and he will be as good as new. I am however thinking it may be a total neck/mane re sculpt. Funny, he still looks deeply worried! ;D

Jack has been on my bench in resin for nigh on 14 months, prepped primed and ready to go to the US for casting, but something was niggling me, I was never 100% happy with him. I have been painting an AP copy of Jack for myself, a portrait of my own Welsh stallion. I have been happy with the paint job, but trying to take photos of him has been driving me spare, he looks great in real life, but dreadful in his photos:( Why is this pony so gosh darn hard to photograph! That was when I had my light bulb moment. His neck is too long, and now I have discovered his problem, it is soooo clear to me, I am amazed I have not seen it sooner! This is Jack with a little neck lipo ... and this is him before, Up close of his ticking. Lots more to go :)