Sunday, November 18, 2007
Aaaaargh.
On the CM Draft: I put him in a precarious place. He took a nose dive and at first I thought there was very little damage. When I looked closer I realized he had significant damage. I have pulled his eBay auction. I am repairing the damage, and I'm going to do some more improvements while I'm at it, so he'll be better than ever! Then he'll be up for sale again.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
On eBay
The CM PS Drafter is up on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120183143729
I've been working on SM-scale sculptures lately: a trotting PRE stallion and a trotting Saddlebred mare. Also on MMs, a whole batch. They should be done really soon (like tomorrow for the micros, I hope). Pictures soon.
Oh, and I still have Bartimaeus resins for sale! I'm generally shipping them out the same day as I receive payment, so if you want one now's a good time to order. Email me at star_splinter@yahoo.com if you want one.
I've been working on SM-scale sculptures lately: a trotting PRE stallion and a trotting Saddlebred mare. Also on MMs, a whole batch. They should be done really soon (like tomorrow for the micros, I hope). Pictures soon.
Oh, and I still have Bartimaeus resins for sale! I'm generally shipping them out the same day as I receive payment, so if you want one now's a good time to order. Email me at star_splinter@yahoo.com if you want one.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
I'm bad at going to bed on time.
Why is it that even when I'm tired I don't feel like going to bed?
Spent today doing advertising-related stuff and learning how to update my website (no, it's not up yet), and a little bit of actual finishwork. Not really all that productive of a day, I'm afraid, although I did learn some stuff.
It was windy and wet so I haven't been able to get final pictures of the CM PS drafter yet--maybe tomorrow (today!). I realized that the other drafter I'm working on won't be haired unless I change my plan for her a lot--she has feather on her legs that I wasn't planning to grind off and I don't like the combination of sculpted hair and real hair. But maybe the CM Breyer Cleveland Bay I have here will get hair once I'm further along on him (very minor CM, just correcting a few things).
Spent today doing advertising-related stuff and learning how to update my website (no, it's not up yet), and a little bit of actual finishwork. Not really all that productive of a day, I'm afraid, although I did learn some stuff.
It was windy and wet so I haven't been able to get final pictures of the CM PS drafter yet--maybe tomorrow (today!). I realized that the other drafter I'm working on won't be haired unless I change my plan for her a lot--she has feather on her legs that I wasn't planning to grind off and I don't like the combination of sculpted hair and real hair. But maybe the CM Breyer Cleveland Bay I have here will get hair once I'm further along on him (very minor CM, just correcting a few things).
Friday, November 2, 2007
A Haired Custom
Never really haired a custom before. Haven't even done hardly any customs, to tell the truth.
I've found I really like doing them. I probably spent way too much time on this one, but I'm But quite happy with him! I'm still finishing up his hair, making sure no glue is showing and such. I really like hairing, it's fun, more realistic than sculpted, and easier for me to do (I have such a hard time sculpting manes and tails). This guy (he needs a name!) even has leather on the underside of his tail bone, which is sort-of-poseable (I wouldn't move it too much, but it is!). He'll be on eBay soon--once I've 100% finished him! Hope he sells well so I can justify doing more CMs. It took forever to do all the tiny hair detail in his complex overo markings. I need a better way to get nice solid white than dozens and dozens of layers, but I'm not sure that such a thing exists.
I have another CM started--a Stone trotting draft to a galloping mare. I think I'll hair her too!
I've found I really like doing them. I probably spent way too much time on this one, but I'm But quite happy with him! I'm still finishing up his hair, making sure no glue is showing and such. I really like hairing, it's fun, more realistic than sculpted, and easier for me to do (I have such a hard time sculpting manes and tails). This guy (he needs a name!) even has leather on the underside of his tail bone, which is sort-of-poseable (I wouldn't move it too much, but it is!). He'll be on eBay soon--once I've 100% finished him! Hope he sells well so I can justify doing more CMs. It took forever to do all the tiny hair detail in his complex overo markings. I need a better way to get nice solid white than dozens and dozens of layers, but I'm not sure that such a thing exists.I have another CM started--a Stone trotting draft to a galloping mare. I think I'll hair her too!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Abel is done!
Abel is, I think, done. I wanted to paint him but it looks like that's not going to happen: I had some finish issues (since sorted out; I was trying to dull cote him while the under layers were still damp, although they LOOKED dry). So he's half-finished to a rather nice bay, and I don't think I'm going to finish it. I like painting the original sculptures because it means giving the horse a very thorough going-over, insuring that I spot any issues that might otherwise have been missed, and I did find some. Most notably, his eyes were not entirely symmetrical--a longstanding problem that I tend to have. I've fixed it now (by resculpting his left eye) and I'm happy with it now.
On the opposite side of the issue, I don't like painting OSs because I worry that layers and layers of fixative may obscure some of the finest details. While this might not be an issue in the resin edition (you can see through transparent layers of finish, for one!), for the original I want to preserve as much detail as possible. So I think I'll just have to wait and paint one of the first production castings!
Incidentally, this means that I will be ready to take orders for Abel resins. He'll be $250 + $15 postage to the USA, or $30 postage outside the USA. It will be at least a few weeks before resins are ready to ship, possibly longer. He's going to be an open edition, which basically means that I will continue selling him until a) there seems to be no further interest or b) I get tired of him. You can email me at star_splinter@yahoo.com for more information on how to order. I won't be accepting time payments on Abel.
On an unrelated note: I took yesterday off and drove all the way down Skyline Drive in Virginia.
It was a gorgeous day, just on the edge of warm enough for comfortable top-down driving, and sunny. It made me realize that I really do like driving as much as I think I do, although 7-8 hours is about as long as I can go before I start getting tired. I've done as much as 11 in a day (alone), but that's really too much. I also hiked a shortish trail down to a waterfall, and found that I'm in pretty terrible shape--getting back up was a challenge. Who knew a 440-ft elevation drop would be so hard to climb back up!
On the opposite side of the issue, I don't like painting OSs because I worry that layers and layers of fixative may obscure some of the finest details. While this might not be an issue in the resin edition (you can see through transparent layers of finish, for one!), for the original I want to preserve as much detail as possible. So I think I'll just have to wait and paint one of the first production castings!
Incidentally, this means that I will be ready to take orders for Abel resins. He'll be $250 + $15 postage to the USA, or $30 postage outside the USA. It will be at least a few weeks before resins are ready to ship, possibly longer. He's going to be an open edition, which basically means that I will continue selling him until a) there seems to be no further interest or b) I get tired of him. You can email me at star_splinter@yahoo.com for more information on how to order. I won't be accepting time payments on Abel.
On an unrelated note: I took yesterday off and drove all the way down Skyline Drive in Virginia.
It was a gorgeous day, just on the edge of warm enough for comfortable top-down driving, and sunny. It made me realize that I really do like driving as much as I think I do, although 7-8 hours is about as long as I can go before I start getting tired. I've done as much as 11 in a day (alone), but that's really too much. I also hiked a shortish trail down to a waterfall, and found that I'm in pretty terrible shape--getting back up was a challenge. Who knew a 440-ft elevation drop would be so hard to climb back up!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Leaving
I will be out of town starting today through Sunday, Oct. 14. I'll try and check email sometime in there but no promises. I'm going to Lexington, KY for horsie fun!
On the model horse side:
Abel is basically done. I'm painting him before sending him off to be cast.
I'm working on a big pile of micro minis (15 of them, although not all will be finished, ever). A nice variety, so keep an eye out for them, they'll be coming fairly soon.
I've still got Bartimaeus resins on hand, so if anyone orders while I'm gone I will ship them out when I return. They're $40 each ppd within the USA or $50 each outside the USA--just send the money via PayPal to star_splinter@yahoo.com, labeled Bartimaeus. You can see pictures at http://www.maggiebennett.com/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=455
I'm working on a CM Salinero to an Andalusian. I think he's cool! Pictures when I get back.
On the model horse side:
Abel is basically done. I'm painting him before sending him off to be cast.
I'm working on a big pile of micro minis (15 of them, although not all will be finished, ever). A nice variety, so keep an eye out for them, they'll be coming fairly soon.
I've still got Bartimaeus resins on hand, so if anyone orders while I'm gone I will ship them out when I return. They're $40 each ppd within the USA or $50 each outside the USA--just send the money via PayPal to star_splinter@yahoo.com, labeled Bartimaeus. You can see pictures at http://www.maggiebennett.com/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=455
I'm working on a CM Salinero to an Andalusian. I think he's cool! Pictures when I get back.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Feeling sick
I've been feeling somewhat ill for the past week, so I haven't managed to get as much done as I would have liked. It's hard to think artistically with a sore throat and a drippy nose! I have managed a little bit though.
I've especially been working on Abel, trying to get him finished up. I've been working on adding his fine veining, using Sarah M-B's "messo". It's a mixture of modeling paste and gesso. I couldn't find my gesso, so I'm using white acrylic paint instead. I always find that gesso goes grainy on me in
any case--maybe my bottle is bad or something. I struggled with this at first, until I discovered that the way to get smooth veins is to load up one side of the paintbrush (wiping the other side clean) and roll the messo off while pulling the paintbrush along. It takes some practice but works pretty well eventually. My first veins came out too big, so after they dried I sanded them off and tried again. In this picture I've slightly hit the veins with sandpaper, so they show up white against the red/brown primer. They were just a bit too big. I'll see when I put on another coat of primer if they're in scale now. I don't want to end up looking like he has worms or snakes under his skin! I'm using photos I have taken of some of the horses I know for reference--one of them has some very prominent veins/capillaries.
I've done a tiny bit of micro mini work, working on the mare
and fixing her shoulder and jaw. She needs some serious hoof and leg work (one of her hooves is missing entirely, although you can't see in this photo!), but I haven't felt up to mixing up some epoxy and doing it. I have to plan to sit down and work for at least an hour straight, and I just haven't managed that this week. It's easier to work on something like the veining, which can be set down at any time with just as much warning as it takes to rinse a brush.
This is my "studio" area as is it now. It's gotten a lot more crowded because my bed was moved in here and I got a table instead of a desk. The table is great-it's a peanut-shaped table from Ikea, with these really neat turn-out trays I put on the legs. I keep tools that I'm using in there so they're close at hand.
As you can see I work messy.
You can also see some of the aquariums in the background there. I have seven in here, ranging from 2.5 gallons to 55 gallons. Nice to look at when I should be working! The 55 gallon is right behind me when I'm taking the picture.
This is a small section of the 55 gallon aquarium. All my tanks are planted with live plants. The fish like 'em and so do I!
I had my last day working at the barn at school this week. They won't let me come and ride or work anymore since I'm no longer a student, having graduated this year. I'm really going to miss getting to work with horses twice a week, but it's really expensive to ride anywhere in this area that I've found.
Look at that ear flopping around! This is Hershey, a TB who I've grown very fond of in the last few months, as he was on stall rest and loved having plenty of time spent with him.
I've especially been working on Abel, trying to get him finished up. I've been working on adding his fine veining, using Sarah M-B's "messo". It's a mixture of modeling paste and gesso. I couldn't find my gesso, so I'm using white acrylic paint instead. I always find that gesso goes grainy on me in
any case--maybe my bottle is bad or something. I struggled with this at first, until I discovered that the way to get smooth veins is to load up one side of the paintbrush (wiping the other side clean) and roll the messo off while pulling the paintbrush along. It takes some practice but works pretty well eventually. My first veins came out too big, so after they dried I sanded them off and tried again. In this picture I've slightly hit the veins with sandpaper, so they show up white against the red/brown primer. They were just a bit too big. I'll see when I put on another coat of primer if they're in scale now. I don't want to end up looking like he has worms or snakes under his skin! I'm using photos I have taken of some of the horses I know for reference--one of them has some very prominent veins/capillaries.I've done a tiny bit of micro mini work, working on the mare
and fixing her shoulder and jaw. She needs some serious hoof and leg work (one of her hooves is missing entirely, although you can't see in this photo!), but I haven't felt up to mixing up some epoxy and doing it. I have to plan to sit down and work for at least an hour straight, and I just haven't managed that this week. It's easier to work on something like the veining, which can be set down at any time with just as much warning as it takes to rinse a brush.
This is my "studio" area as is it now. It's gotten a lot more crowded because my bed was moved in here and I got a table instead of a desk. The table is great-it's a peanut-shaped table from Ikea, with these really neat turn-out trays I put on the legs. I keep tools that I'm using in there so they're close at hand.
As you can see I work messy.
You can also see some of the aquariums in the background there. I have seven in here, ranging from 2.5 gallons to 55 gallons. Nice to look at when I should be working! The 55 gallon is right behind me when I'm taking the picture.
This is a small section of the 55 gallon aquarium. All my tanks are planted with live plants. The fish like 'em and so do I!
I had my last day working at the barn at school this week. They won't let me come and ride or work anymore since I'm no longer a student, having graduated this year. I'm really going to miss getting to work with horses twice a week, but it's really expensive to ride anywhere in this area that I've found.
Look at that ear flopping around! This is Hershey, a TB who I've grown very fond of in the last few months, as he was on stall rest and loved having plenty of time spent with him.
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