CM Jumping Pony

More pics of my WIP jumping pony, Secret Weapon. He's a drastic custom with portions contributed by a Marigold, a Classic Arabian Mare, and two Classic Arabian Stallions. I initially put this guy together a couple years ago, but it's taken me a while to get the courage to finish him.

I'm really glad I waited because his customizing work ended up much more elaborate than I originally planned. I intended him to be a light grey Connemara I would use strictly for performance. I had tack made in anticipation.

I'm now pondering how those red boots, breastcollar and saddle pad are going to look on an orange chestnut. Ouch. Yeah, I may be buying new tack--or not putting tack on him at all.

In progress photos (finished photos below):









Color reference:

Volunteer Models

I've been helping out with the NAN auction this year and this is one of my contributions. I'll be painting 20-something color changing customs for our party volunteers! The patterns and molds will vary, but they will all be painted in color changing "pearl" paint.

WIP: Apollo

It's a Friesian! What, you don't see it?



Now, before anyone announces that the head is too small--yes--it is. Most of the detail has been dremelled off, with the intent to replace it in a more breed appropriate form.

WIP: G4 Stablemates

I got my mitts on a few of the new G4 stablemates.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship:

WIP: Alborozo

I hate prepping. I really, really do.

Shiny Ponies

I have a real horse related errand to run today.

SCWGA is holding a gaming show on the 13th and 14th of March. The horse I'm running is green as grass, so please keep me in your prayers. I will be wearing a helmet.

Since I know I don't have a snowball's chance in Tuscon of running well, I figure I might as well look good. On today's shopping list are a turquoise tie down and glitter spray. The tie down is just another sign that my real horse tack is slowly shifting to match my model horse tack. Oy.

The glitter spray is part of an ongoing project to recreate a real life metallic, glossy horse.

As Breyer has added more metallic paint to their mixes, a vocal minority has sprung up in protest. Now, I fully understand collectors who don't find these new colors aesthetically pleasing. If you don't like the look, I don't blame you for being upset when another horse comes out with a metallic paint job. That's how I feel everytime Breyer releases another Silver.

However, I take issue with the collectors that get upset about these colors because they are "unrealistic." They argue that metallic colors are limited to Akhal Tekes:



I can't scream this loudly enough:

That's not true.

"Sheen" is found throughout the horse world in many different breeds. It's most common on palominos and buckskins, but I've even seen it on a grey Arabian. And even if you aren't lucky enough to own a naturally shiny horse, it comes in a bottle.

For naturally metallic horses, the effect shows through even the dirtiest coats. At the moment, my horse is in desperate need of a proper bath, but her coat still shines like a freshly minted coin. This is what she looks like clean:



No conditioner, no show sheen, no products whatsoever were used in the above photo. That's just her...clean. Now imagine what she'll look like in glitter. (Yes, despite appearances, I'm still a 14 year old girl dressing up her pretty pony.)

My personal experiences with sheen have greatly influenced how I paint. I started integrating metallic elements into my paint formulas a few years ago. I will cover the how-to of this topic in an upcoming tutorial.

WIP: Goat (Part 2)

Okay, just a little tease for Jennifer (Braymere):