Back at it Again: Hoofbeats by the Beach 2024 Recap

Long time no see, eh? It's definitely been a minute. But, hey, it's not like I could stay away from the hobby too long... So, I went to a show on Saturday! Sea to Bay has been my go-to show for awhile, and when I saw they were doing an offshoot minis-only show that fit my schedule, I had to hop on it. 

The day started bright and early, leaving the house before sunrise (04:46, to be exact). I managed to snap this picture of what actually turned out to be a really pretty sunrise, which I got to watch unfold as I approached [show hall at random Methodist church I've never heard of]. 

#nofilter, as the kids say

At the show, I didn't actually show many models and, unfortunately, had to head out early, but I figured I'd go through some of what I did get to put on the table: 

First up were ARs/customs, and a few of my etchies made appearances, like this gal: 

And this guy might or might not have been pulled out because I didn't otherwise have anyone in Other/Mixed 

Mostly a test piece of mine

As you can kind of see in the above background, there were some serious paint jobs (and some drastics) making appearances last Saturday!

Unfinished, so very much a "why not, we ball" entry 

And, actually, she NAN'd in her previous show!

I think I might have a bit of an affinity for that pattern (maybe because it's easier LOL). 

Even brought out a few pieces I've acquired over the years from other artists, like this cutie: 

No placings from that division, but the competition was tough. That said, Original Finish - where I focused most of my attention, anyways - is my sweet spot. 

Moving on to OF, we first had Light Breed Foals - seven entries, two of which mine: 

I think one of the funniest parts of this show was how few of my models had

names going into it.  Case in point, the bay filly - her name? Spur of Zee Moment. 

Then Stock Breed Foals, where I had two of the nine entries (noticing a pattern?): 

Of course, I've (almost) always got documentation. Even when it's pretty unnecessary. That's really just a "me" thing, though, and totally not the norm.

A couple quick notes on my use of documentation in this class: 

1. You probably don't need it for models that follow the breed norms of common breeds, like the Appaloosa or Paint. 
2. If you're going to use it, make sure it matches the breed on your toe tag (cough cough, self - Paint Pony ≠ Paint Horse!)

Also, can we just take a second to think about how weird it is that we have to give models an age? I, personally, don't quite get that one, especially with foals. I'm not very familiar with equine development, so these foal ages were complete shots in the dark. 

I believe I only had one entry in the 15-model Arabian class: 

Let's just ignore the focus here... whoops - again 

Moving right along to Part Arab/NSH, where I had two models of the 13: 

Another model of mine got sixth, but the focus on the pic I got was suboptimal at best

Closing out with Other Light, a class of 15, in which I had two entries: 

(I also showed my mini All Glory, who got 3rd as a Morgan, but the camera
was, yet again, focused on the ribbon in front of the model... facepalm)

Pretty sure I showed him as a Barb, which was definitely a choice. Interestingly enough, I was tied between using him and a black Silky Sullivan but opted for him because my SS was toe tagless and I didn't have a pen - so I guess the decision was made for me. 

Also, for the Barb documentation, I've got to plug this awesome pocket-sized reference book. 

It's a great resource, and, in my opinion, you can probably get away with just plopping it on the show table as documentation (of course, it probably looks more professional to have dedicated documentation, but this works in a pinch, in my humble opinion - and I definitely use it)! 

Ultimately, I ended up heading out out earlier than I planned because I had to work that afternoon, but I wanted to make sure I at least got through light breeds. 

Quick side-note - mini performance is legit! I haven't tried it, but here are a few shots I got of some entries: 

The attention to detail is just nuts. And see the cool beach scene in the background? Yeah, here's a closeup, and it's even cooler than pictures do justice: 

There are even other models forlicking in the background behind this beautiful buckskin!

So, it goes without saying that the scene class was intense. Here's another super detailed entry: 

Also, bonus points for my rather ineffective angle choice here: 

Anyway, tangent over. All in all, here're my results from the half-day: 

So, as it turns out, I really missed showing and the hobby! I also realized that I didn't end up posting a Sea to Bay 2023 wrap-up (guess what? I tried my hand at performance!) - would y'all be interested in that? 

See 'ya on the flip! 

Okay, So Maybe I'm Procrastinating

I'm not really one for sports, so I got up to the halftime show yesterday and pretty much called it quits and moved into more important things, like painting plastic (duh) Senioritis is probably ready for pastels now, but I don't want to go through the trouble of putting on my respirator to work with pastels, sealing, and doing that whole number all over again. I probably did that at least 20 times on LabRat, after all. All that said, this is what I signed up for, and I'm not trying to complain. That aside, here's last night's progress: 

I've started another project (but it's a small one, so that's fine, right? 😅) 

 

Aaaaand I decided to try and pull out an older test piece I've been fiddling around with. Only now did I remember I forgot to thin my oils! No wonder they weren't working like I thought I remembered... Maybe later (if the oils ever dry), I'll show you guys my next coat! 

Plus, I'm nearly ready to start filling in those ugly lines on WC! 

Also, and I don't seem to have a video of it, but I finally decided to start adding color to Sir/Madam Unnamed Medallion! It's faint, but I'm trusting the process. 

Now that that 20-page paper is in, I should (hopefully) be able to spend a bit more time working on Senioritis! Anyways, how's your NaMoPaiMo project going, if you're doing one this year? 

Totally not Procrastinating

This is me taking a break from writing a 20-page paper I have due tonight. Sounds like a blast, right?  I bring that up because I didn't post a Day Whateveritwas update yesterday. Oh well :/ Anyways, I still painted yesterday, which is what matters! 

It was a very shading-focused session, painting the darker points on my currently chestnut NaMoPaiMo model and experimenting with subtle, very dark shading on my medallion. Also, I continued blocking work on yet another side project: a cow! Once I'm done with the cow, I'll explain why I've branched out from Equinelandia to Bovinelandia! 

Here's my progress on Senioritis, who, admittedly, isn't looking incredible right now, but I'm trusting the process. 

Three coats of chestnut, onto shading darker points

Admittedly, I'm a bit skeptical to actually shade the medallion, since I really don't want to mess up. That's the thing, though. That's what experimentation is all about, so, I think a lot of the progress to be made with Unnamed Medallion is mental. 

 

When I signed up, I said I was going to work in pastels and acrylics, so I'll get to pastels... eventually. It seems kind of like I'm focusing on everything but the task at hand! 

 Aaaaand here's the beginning of the ugly stage of who will be known for now as "WC" 

As always, pieces of constructive criticism/tips are always appreciated! 

My First Medallion

Wayyyyy back in 2020, in a NaMoPaiMo prize I got a few medallions. I haven't touched them... until now! I've finally decided to give it a shot, starting with a Kylee Parks TJS "Ruffle" medallion. I've made the executive decision to start with black (which I know restricts my decisions). I'm considering experimenting with trying to lighten it with pastels. We'll see! 

Here's my day two of Currently Unnamed Ruffle: 

'Till morrow! 

Senioritis, Day 1

Hey! Long time no see, eh? I'm really excited to (finally) start working on this body I've had laying around for 4(??) years! The reason I'm going with a stablemate and not something bigger is because, as you might or might not expect, the typical high school workload is intense, even for a second semester senior. That's why I'm probably going to call him "Senioritis," because I'm already into college (whoo!). Y'all probably remember the feeling in your senior year. Anyways, I'm taking a fairly relaxed approach to this guy, since I just want to have fun with this. 

Not necessarily poised for the camera, but I wanted to document my first coat! 

Interestingly enough, I haven't really completed any models since my latest (and first) NaMoPaiMo (2020), which I pin mostly on the tedium involved in pastelling. That's why I've decided to take a smarter approach and start with acrylics. All that aside, I can't wait to start on my second NaMoPaiMo model (my first was LabRat). And, if I like him enough at the end, I might bring him to my dorm as a fun tchotchke :) 

Also, how's your NaMoPaiMo going, if you're taking part? I'd love to hear! See you guys in a bit! 

NaMoPaiMo 2020: Lessons Learned

As many of you know, this was my first NaMoPaiMo, and I'm thrilled with the result! Meet my newest herd addition, LabRat! He's a bay Morgan stallion in 1:12th scale, painted in pastels and acrylics. Although this isn't a progress post, I'll certainly put one up here in a bit!

LabRat (I mean, that's basically what he was, right?)

1. Prep, and Prep, and Prep... Prime, and Prime, and Prime!
Although I prepped well, it was still not as adequate as it could've been. That being said, something is better than nothing! I think  my piece definitely suffered, at least a tad, from subpar priming and prepping; oh well, it's something to keep in mind and improve upon! 

2. Patience is Key 

Admittedly, pastelling layer upon layer upon layer is not only tedious, but also time-consuming. It's especially discouraging when only minimal progress appears visually. However, I've learned that despite the lack of perceived progress, I'm still progressing.  

3. Mistakes are Okay; Fix Them and Move on 

Probably my biggest downfall was my sense of urgency, which I'll cover momentarily. On numerous occasions, I accidentally flawed LabRat, whether it be touching the DullCote before it's dry or accidentally scratching the pastel with a fingernail. Mistakes were made, setbacks happened. Such is the point of NaMoPaiMo. I believe that NaMoPaiMo encompasses everything the hobby should be: encouraging, uplifting, and helpful. I experienced just that. 

4. Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help 

Whether it be from my mentors, responses to a post, or tutorials posted to not only the FaceBook group, but others' blogs and sites as well, I found support and help to tackle any question I came across. Also, in the process, I made some amazing friends and met some incredible people. It was reassuring to see how others fixed their similar issues, and it was also a bonding point. First-timers, such as myself, bonded over mistakes made and triumphs achieved, while ogling at the professionals' pieces. My absolute favorite part, though, was that the professionals didn't hold some "greater-then-thou" attitude; they were willing to help anyone with their painting/customizing troubles. 

Uh oh, I scratched the finish! 

5. You'll Never Know Until You Try 

For a few years now, I have been watching NaMoPaiMo from afar. Of course, I assumed that it was more of an exclusive, top-notch event, and beginners such as myself would have no place in such a, what I thought was a, competition. This year, I pushed through that and decided to take NaMoPaiMo head-on. With horse in-hand and literally nothing else, I began my customizing journey. I mean it when I said I didn't have anything else to use. First of all, I didn't know what medium to work with (for awhile, it was airbrushing, but then I decided on pastels), what color to do, or how to do it. This is where my incredible mentors and the rest of the NaMoPaiMo community came into play. With their help, I decided on a medium, color, and what supplies to use. Before I knew it, I was sanding, priming, and then pastelling away! So, to anyone who's scared to give NaMoPaiMo a try: go for it! This isn't just an event for the pros; it's for everyone. Heck, that's why it exists! Trust me, you won't regret it. 

So, in conclusion, my NaMoPaiMo was filled with a plethora of up's and down's, but it was so worth it. In the end, I even finished my first actual project, a bay Morgan stallion, LabRat: 

My NaMoPaiMo 2020 Project, LabRat!

How was your NaMoPaiMo? What did you learn? I can't wait to see what y'all got out of it too!  

And so it Begins!

Huzzah! All my supplies that I ordered have arrived! Pastels? Check! Sealer? Check! Primer? Check! I could go on... however, because I've been in contact with such absolutely amazing three mentors, such as Karen Zorn  and Lydia Auten-Ernst of A.L.E. Ranch (note: I only included the two with studio pages, seeing as I'd like to preserve the privacy of my lovely mentors), I've managed to learn what to get: PanPastels (and what colors), primer/sealer (and how to), brushes (makeup brushes mostly), and a respirator. Obviously, I needed their help, seeing as I thought the respirator came with filters, however, it didn't. Wow, I'm like an infant; I seem to need everything spoon-fed to me, I guess! Anyway, I'm in the process of ordering some filters for my respirator and more PanPastel shades to better shade my bay. Sooner or later, NaMoPaiMo, here I come! Oh, also, when my supplies form Blick arrived, they even gave me a free glue stick (why??) for some reason!

So, who's my reference? Well, I don't have a Morgan reference, however, I do have a color reference: Furyofthewind, a bay American Quarter Horse Stallion.

Furyofthewind, Picture Credit Copper Spring Ranch

Side note: Now that I've done some thinking, I think the glue stick wasn't a accident. I mean, yes, it was a mixup, but still... I realized that instead of my Dullcote, Blick sent me a stick of glue :) Hopefully, I can still manage to get those other PanPastel shades in time, but, more importantly, I kind of need that Dullcote. Oh well, we'll figure this out somehow. In the meantime, I'll try to get primed soon.

Last night, I had a nightmare. For context, no, I have not prepped. I don't plan on it (only because the last time I tried, it totally ruined the model *facepalm*), except for maybe sanding. In said nightmare, the seam, which seemed much more pronounced in this dream, on my Morgan's back shot up like a mohawk. Fingers crossed that isn't the case when I begin work on him! 

I have half-ish of what I need, now, I only have maybe five more things to get. Regardless, this is definitely a learning experience. 

Well, that's more than enough pessimism for today; I can't wait to get my models primed, let them dry over the weekend, then maybe start pastelling on either Monday or Tuesday! 

How's your NaMoPaiMo going? 

My First NaMoPaiMo: the Prelude

Eek! I just signed up for, what will, at this point, be in less than a week,  my first ever NaMoPaiMo!

Yayyyy!

Do I have my model prepped? No. Have I gathered my supplies? No. Do I have a reference Picture? No... Whoops!

Anyway, if y'all are wondering who I'm using, here he is:

Classic Scale Morgan Stallion

Here's Jennifer's collage (as of 1/28/2020), can you spot me?

I have a few ideas for my reference photos, which one do y'all like best:

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Final question: my medium is PanPastels, what shades should I use? 

Can't wait to hear from y'all!