On that Note..I have been listening to the White Stripes a lot lately. And I am Smitten with both Jack White and Meg White. I think they are wonderful musicians! However..I digress...What on earth does a Squirrel have to do with it? Well..On one of thier CD's..They talk about a woman who is at the brink of Insanity, overwhelmed and ready to be defeated. However..at the depths of her depression, she is sitting inside..looking out a window, and watching squirrels forage for nuts for the winter. And she realizes, that you can accomplish your goals, if you just take it one piece (nut) at a time.
I found myself in the same Predictament. So Overwhelmed, So much to do..It just seemed insurmountable. It honestly felt like life was just too huge a mountain to even look at, much less climb and conquer. But..like the Squirrel, I am taking it one nut at a time. Simple! you pick up a nut..and you take care of it. Period. I am so happy to say, that in only 3 weeks, Things around here have gone from Despair and Defeat, to tiny, small accomplishments, and the glory of achievement! (no matter how small) And now, things are just falling into place! Miraculously so, It seems that now, that I am doing as much as possible to help myself..that somebody else (?) has stepped in and helped as well. The big Giant Squirrel from above perhaps lol?? I cannot help but realize also, that all the prayers fostered in this community of Model Horse Worshipers for my Family have made such an improvement in my life as well. So I thank You All!
Sorry these pictures are so glossy, Confetti does not look this shiney, just happened to snap pictures right after a layer of sealant. But here is a piece that DOES boil down to one hair at a time. I have been working on this horse for Ages for Shallon Sampson (founder of Fallen Leaves and the new Model Horse Auction website..woohooo Shallon) Hopefully you can enlarge these pictures and see the extensive Hair work! Confetti here, has not only been hand roaned, then several layers of pastels layered over the pencil work, but then also pencil work was applied agian! AS well as Acrlic AND oil teeny tiny Brushstrokes. Resulting in a very realistic look. I think I employed just about every Medium on this Horse. Thank Goodness for Shallons Patience, as otherwise I would have never reached this level of acheievement. This has been one of those "learning" horses. I have learned and experimented with this piece, made some mistakes of course, I even almost totally scrapped him and started over. But I forged onward and learned a very valuable lessons with pastels. That even with all their difficulty, the graininess, the sometimes garrish colors that can result from mixing colors that just dont jive..fingerprints, nacky surfaces that wont hold pigment ..on and on and on, that if you just don't give up. 9 times out of 10 you can pull a piece out of that "ick" that is horrid stage and make something magnificent. Sometimes it takes just simply shelving the piece, and waiting for an Enigma to shine a little flashlight in your brain that suggests how to get to the next level. These are such joyous little victories in my Studio. For Guilt does definiltely set in, when you have a piece that you work on for ages..and you just..can't..get the piece to realize your aspirations. So I am so pleased with this piece. I still have some more work to do. But you can guarantee when Shallon DOES Finally get this boy..he is going to be a very Lovely Piece.
Now on to Uranus..Whoa..this Mule..took sooooo many layers to get him to such a deep, Red Dun. Not just Red..this boy is loaded with beautiful highlights, nice contrasting Grey underskin coloring, and Primitive markings. I still am adding some umber tones to him now. And I cannot decide if I want to do Reverse dappling or not. His hooves are still in progress, they will be a Darker color, but I have laid the foundation for the under colors. His Eyes are still unfinished in this picture as well. I am very pleased with him, He was a Monster to do! For in my experience, Getting those super deep tones is fun, but also very time consuming..and much more prone to errors taking in consideration all the layers involved. I can imagine this Guy will Kick "Ass" out there lol! (I couldnt help that : P )
And Check out this Mythos! Horsing Arounds Traditional Resin Unicorn..Mythos. I dont have a picture of him with his horn yet..lol. But check out those cloven hooves. He is such a neat piece. I wanted to go for an Authentic Grey, but add just touch of fantasy with some wild striped shell toneed beastie hooves..and a creamy white mane and tail, that are of course..dirty and a bit soiled like a true Beast woud be! He is heading to Europe soon..I will miss this beast!
Well..these are all the pictures I have for now, I have some more neat pictures coming..so I will check back in soon!
