In the Studio #10: Springtime Hummingbirds (and a Bonus!)

This year's Blab Spring Swap was done a little differently. This time we knew who our victims were, as we were also their victim! It was actually a fun experience, though I do love a surprise. 

My partner is a fan of bays, appaloosas, hummingbirds, and Tennessee Walking Horses. So I combined them!

Meet Kolibri! (koh-lee-bree, with a rolled 'r') I wasn't able to incorporate many hummingbird elements this time around, hence his nickname, the Swedish word meaning 'hummingbird'. (I'm taking Swedish lessons.) I was inspired by an old custom of mine, who was a cherry bay blanket appy. I redid a similar pattern on Kolibri, only better. His spots and whites came out much nicer, and for the first time, I did a gradient tail!

It was time-consuming to get it just right, but it was fun, and the result was beautiful. I did it in the same way I did Orlando's dapples, by blending two wet paints together with a stippling motion from a harder-bristled brush.

Wanting to add a hummingbird element to him, I painted his ribbons metallic green (Folk Art's 'Christmas Green', which I bought long ago for Crispy Bacon.

(Sorry about my feet)

He's such a handsome boy, and his owner loves him.

But he wasn't alone in the sealing box!

As you can see, Taskin has been finished. He's now hanging out on my shelf, plotting the destruction of Lego Moria.

More horses to come!

Customs for a Cause #2: Our Mims Retirement Haven

It's been more than six months since I blogged. I apologize for that. I've been so busy with commissions and other things, I just keep forgetting. I have a ton of updates though, so I will be writing this week. And I will be writing a lot.

Back in April, a friend was holding a live show. The proceeds from the show benefitted a charity that hits very close to home for me - Our Mims.

In the year 1974, a beautiful bay thoroughbred was born by the name of Our Mims. She went on to become the Eclipse champion of '77, and won four more races out of a total of eighteen. In 1990, she was sold, and bought by a woman by the name of Jeanne Mirabito, who was her loving owner for thirteen years. 

Our Mims died in late 2003. Shortly after, in May 2004, Jeanne created a Our Mims Retirement Haven - a safe place where retired thoroughbred broodmares and retired racehorses could live out their lives peacefully and happily. 

My first horse was a racehorse. She had broken her leg during a race and was being sold. My parents and their friend purchased her and nursed her back to health. We gave her the name "Jessariah". My parents tried racing her when she had recovered, but she lost. Not wanting to push her, she became a Western pleasure horse. She taught me how to love horses. She was a beautiful, gentle horse (until one of the boarder's mares got too close with ill intent for me - then there was some violence). We were forced to sell her when I was only a few years old, and she died tragically not long after.

Having had a racehorse mare, I really love what Our Mims does. So when Leeann of Misty Star Studios was looking for show donations, I piped up. I decided to do a portrait of one of their horses. The beautiful Ms. Royal Flagship stuck out for me.

(Photo not mine)

As she is the descendant of Native Dancer, I chose that mold.

I almost wish I had taken more photos, but I was in a hurry to finish her in time for the show.

I was extremely happy with the result (and so was Leeann!).

She's not as dark or grainy in person. My camera did not want to cooperate that day.

She has the most gentle, sweet face, and I adore her. 

She was raffled off at Pocono Ponies Live (not sure who won her, but whoever you are, congratulations!). Every dollar spent on raffle tickets went to Our Mims, and I'm proud of that. If my work can help real horses or people, it fills me with joy. Giving them as gifts or doing commissions is one thing, but knowing I made a difference, no matter how small, fills me with proud. 

I do plan on working on more charity ponies. (Remember Na3na3? She had to be stripped. Glitter in the paint.) Stay tuned to see who else I've worked on in the past few months!

Busy, busy, busy...

I can't recall the last time I blogged...

Okay. It's been three months. Life gets in the way, as we all know, and I haven't had any work I've needed to do, custom-wise. This winter has been brutally cold, and I don't remember the last time it was warm enough for me to even prime a horse or go outside to strip one. Most of this season's been spent inside, sometimes writing, sometimes sculpting things for friends, sometimes lying in bed with yet ANOTHER sinus infection. I've been painting and drawing. There are days I'm in a complete rut and I lie in bed watching cooking competitions or cartoons from my youth.But does that mean I haven't been active in the hobby? It most certainly does not!

November and December were mostly dedicated to Christmas. Blab held their annual Secret Santa, and I had the most fun in the world working on my victim's gifts. I didn't do a custom this year, but I was still working.

Shopping, crafting, baking, writing letters... I was busy as a little bee. I made over 100 cookies for Christmastime for various people - my mom's work was having an anniversary, we had a charity dinner, and of course, Secret Santa. I also wound up making bread, and, as you can see in the photo above, several bows. And, on top of that, this new year has been spent working on a little surprise...

Hmm... what could it be? You'll have to wait and see! On top of all of that, I've been looking to dip my toes into the waters of the showing world, so I've been working hard on documentation, breed assignment... you name it. 

 I'm going to write a Christmas related post today, with some tutorials. I'm also going to be working on the MHB Spring Swap, which begins tomorrow, so stay tuned!