Post-BreyerFest Inspiration (of sorts)

I know I haven't posted much here, but I have nonetheless been slowly chugging away at my commission backlog, and I am happy that even more models are done, out of my studio, and home with their owners. There are still plenty of models to go, but I feel like the weight is starting to lift at last. I'm getting closer!

As usual, the bug to be productive kicked in hard right before I traveled to BreyerFest, and it helped motivate me to finish up and mail out a couple of models that had been lingering nearly done for far too long.

Now that I'm home again, I have a lot I would like to get done before the summer is over. I am inspired to get to work in the studio and on the studio itself. The first order of business is going to be to sort through my six body boxes and cull a bunch of the models. They take up too much space, and the reality of my ever actually getting to them all isn't high. Better to pass them along to other artists with more time on their hands. I then need to replace the decrepit desk my painting booth sits on and buy something sturdier with better storage capacity. I have a shelving unit picked out that should be ideal; I just need to sell a bunch of stuff so I can afford it.

With that in mind, in addition to the plastic body cull, I will probably be selling most of the rest of my resin collection and a number of miscellaneous Peter Stone and Breyer models. At the moment, I'm listing stuff on eBay---my seller name is kwkelt. One of the model currently listed is my 2018 NaMoPaiMo model who is now NAN qualified.

Stay tuned for more goodies!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Here's hoping for health and prosperity for all of my readers in 2015! I rang in the New Year relatively quietly with some cleaning and organizing in preparation for serious downsizing of my collection in the coming months. The number of horses, especially in the body box (now a body shelf), has gotten completely out of hand. I've been meaning to do this for quite a while, but finding the time has always been a challenge.

Happily, I closed out 2014 with a flurry of activity in my studio. I finished up and mailed out a number of commissions (pix of those soon!), and in between, I worked on a small herd of stocking stuffer models to sell. I had a great time painting these guys, and now that they all have gone off to new homes, I have room for more. Although that would defeat the point of emptying the body shelf.  But they're all roughly Pebbles scale or a bit smaller, so they won't take up much space. Right?

Seriously though, working in this scale was hugely fun for me. The models are just big enough to not strain my eyes, but small enough to be able to paint easily while working on batches of larger scale models. All of them were sculpted by artists familiar to hobbyists, too, so they have a great deal of detail packed into a tiny package while also having excellent ABCs.

CollectA Hanoverian (sculpted by Deb McDermott) in flaxen chestnut

Safari Percheron (sculpted by Jane Lunger of G3 and G4 SM fame) in bay roan

CollectA Fjord (sculpted by Deb McDermott) in bay dun skjevet (tobiano)

CollectA Fjord in grullo

G1 SM ASB (Maureen Love mold) in flaxen chestnut

Safari Icelandic (sculpted by Jane Lunger) in bay minimal tobiano

 I can't wait to paint more of these guys! Stay tuned!

Now taking offers on the CM Appy ISH!

This is the Stone Ideal Stock Horse customized by me with a swishy tail and new windblown mane.  He has been painted to a black leopard appaloosa using a combination of airbrushed acrylics and and hand-applied pastels. He is has all the bells and whistles---striped hooves, a multi-toned mane and tail, chestnuts, detailed eyes, glossed hooves, eyes, and nostrils, etc. He is brand new and ready to hit the showring! I'm starting offers at $250 with no reserve, so he is guaranteed to sell. (Shipping is postage paid in the USA; overseas will be an additional $45.) I will consider time payments, but please let me know your terms up front. Sorry, no trades. I'm accepting offers until Wed, Oct 2nd, 10pm CST. Thanks for looking!

http://www.modelhorsesalespages.com/view_details.asp?id=1030902 

 

Sneak peek!

An in progress shot of a Stone ISH with a CMized mane and tail in black leopard appaloosa. He'll likely be for sale this weekend!

A wintery Wintersong CM

This handsome Shire is a repainted Breyer Wintersong inspired by all the snow we've had this winter. As you can see, he's been out for a stroll in it and has gotten his feathers a little dirty. This gentle giant is available on ebay this week along with his stablemate, a lovely wild dunskin sabino Wintersong.



You can see them here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170594717299

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170594721730

Thanks for looking! Stay warm! :-)

CM Esprit is now on ebay!

Two posts in as many days! Must be a new record for me. :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170450243075

Trick or treat!

Treat yourself to a pretty PAM this Halloween! This lovely gal is on ebay through Saturday night (10/31):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170398788805

Pirate ponies

As it's "Talk Like A Pirate Day," I thought it fitting to post a picture of a recently finished commission on his improvised base, heehee.

Also, I have a cute leopard appaloosa CM Flash on ebay at the moment. He ought to be a fun halter and performance horse: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170384756369

I have had a busy summer, but I have been working steadily on custom orders and will have a few more to ship out this week. Pictures coming soon!

Lots of little horses heading out!

So how about that Derby? Calvin Borel's antics still have me giggling. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! And how cool is it that Mine That Bird is a gelding? Hopefully, he'll have a nice long career.

For me, the Kentucky Oaks was even more exciting than the Derby this year. For those of you who didn't see it, here's the race on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRGvbUmqv-s

I don't know how to embed the video, but do watch it, and watch jockey Calvin Borel as they hit the turn. He looks back, but never once does he need to ask his filly, Rachel Alexandra, to run. She just draws off of her own accord and nearly breaks the stakes record in an easy gallop. Scary to think what she could do if she turned on the afterburners! I had an inkling that she would win and was working on a portrait already, but no one could have anticipated how she would win. Amazing! The portrait model is up on ebay at the moment:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170327943560

In addition to finishing up my Rachel portrait, I have been working hard on commissions, and I have 9 horses finished, boxed, and ready to ship today and tomorrow. Hooray for progress! One of those horses was an Enviado that I am particularly fond of. Such a lovely sculpture to work on, and I think he turned out exceptionally well. I love contrasting colors!

Eight Belles model on ebay to benefit ReRun

100% of the proceeds of this model will go to ReRun, a wonderful TB rescue.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170218267868

Mini stocking stuffers

What better to do on a snowy weekend than listen to Frank Delaney read "Ireland" to me while I paint. It really makes the hours fly by. :-)

When I was in GA for Thanksgiving, I splurged on a bunch of the new G3 SMs at Hobby Town, and I couldn't resist painting a few of them right away. The appy Friesian cross is on ebay as is a bay roan drafter cohort of his. I will be adding a few more minis this week as well to earn a little mad money for the holiday, so please check out my auctions. I'm starting all the minis at $24.99 with no reserve.

G3 Appy Friesian:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170176013996

G3 Bay Roan Drafter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170176012216

Another PS Chips custom to ebay

I am having a great deal of fun of with these PS Chips. They have superior detailing to all but the G1 Stablemates, and just like potato chips, you can't eat...er...paint...just one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170163395431

Finally! A model horse related post!

"And at the top of the stretch, a filly is in front at the Belmont! But Curlin is right there with her! These two, in a battle of the sexes in the Belmont Stakes! It's Curlin on the inside; Rags to Riches on the outside. A desperate finish! Rags to Riches and Curlin! They're coming down to the wire. It's gonna be very close! And it's gonna be.... a filly in the Belmont! Rags to Riches has beaten Curlin and a hundred years of Belmont history! The first filly to win it in over a century!"

This little gal is available on ebay from October 15-20.