When Making a Something When Is It Done?

Much of the month of February for hundreds of model horse hobbyists has been been taken up by NaMoPaiMo - or National Model Painting Month.

We were invited to join Jennifer Bray Buxton to join her in finishing a customized model horse sometime during the month. She'd hoped for one hundred painters to join in the adventure. Instead over six hundred brave souls from all over the world have signed up - either by the official deadline (eligible for prizes) or later - as inspiration to start, keep going, and/or finish work on a particular model equine.

Instead of working on pastel or acrylic or other kinds of bears I have been"treating" myself to re-living a life I lived many years ago. Painting in oil over acrylic I created the most basic of customized model horses - the simple "repaint." No parts moved, sculpted, or changed in any way. Because I used to use Breyer horses as the base for more customized models - living in a world of grinding bits, epoxies, primers, paints, and mohair, working on my little guy these past weeks seemed both easy and hard. Easy, because I did nothing to prep him but a little sanding; hard because I know how far the the best artists in the hobby have come.

Nevertheless, I started in, kept going, felt emotions I've not felt in many years, and finally have a little Appaloosa colt that, although may never win a ribbon in a show ring - does have a place in my heart.

Welcome to the herd, Sunshine's Phillip Under the Influence!

Because I was once a model horse judge - at national level - I do look at this little lad with critical eyes. But I won't for long - because now I prefer to try doing a few things just for the fun of doing them. THIS IS SO HARD!

And because my judge's eye and artist's heart are never satisfied I know little Phillip will have to be a different kind of model horse for me. I have not figured out what this is yet. He is less than a job but more than a hobby.

And I still don't know if he is done. His eyes are glossed, but he is not signed - silent LOL. Sue the Uncertain will let him sit for another day or two before entering him in the "I Did It!" Album on the NaMoPaiMo Page.

And then I will get back to the bears. Spring is coming. They are getting restless.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, and for many many years, I led a different life. There is a hobby called Model Horse Showing, and I customized plastic model horses for myself and other competitors. The most popular plastic horse figurines used were made by the Breyer Molding Company, which was, at the time, located in Chicago, Illinois.

With hot water, soldering irons, Bondo, varieties of epoxy putties, sand-paper, grinding tools, primers, paints, and patience, we could create, or attempt to create, the equines of our dreams. Yes, our horses often sported real hair manes and tails - from a wide variety of fibers.

Below are only three of hundreds(?) of models I made. (I am still a poor keeper of records...) Most were produced and sold to pay rent, buy groceries and gas, or pay for trips to and from model horse shows - both in the U.S. and Canada. Some day I might type of years spent judging at these shows - but not today.

Arabian stallion - So Bask Fireworks (from Proud Arabian Mare)

Spotted Mule - Sunshine's Oh-Oh Be-Bop (from Classic-scale Duchess)

Appaloosas colt - Sunshine's Cocoa Dial (from Running Foal)

The baby above is one of the few customized models I still own, but that's O.K. The life-long friendships formed with folks around the world is ever so much more important. Most of the ribbons and trophies are gone. Many of the friends are now mad typists on Facebook.

This post is simply to illustrate that one person, if time and interests allot, can live a bunch of different lives. Some people only knew me in the model horse world, some only in flea market/antique shop world, some in the relatively new life as full-time artist. All of these worlds offer fascination for a life-time, but, darn, one has to choose whether to spend a whole life-time completely in one world (a fine choice for some) or decide to romp in a few other widely-different realms.

Readers who know me from art fairs - well, now we have something "new" to discuss. Readers who are in "The Hobby" will smile at these vintage goodies, and see (and rejoice?) how far the artistry in the industry has come from the good old days of the 1970's and '80's. All these different times have been important to the whole weird life I've lived so far. I hope you enjoy being part of the Adventure!

Now it's time for a late-night (for me) last cup of tea.

Enjoy your world or worlds, and if you choose - strike out to discover a new one in a minute or tomorrow. There's still time...

Fare-thee-well,

Sue