Tip Tuesday: Medallion Process II

The long awaited continuation of my 'Dylan' medallion sculpt. To be honest, he hasn't got much further! I've been a bit here-and-there recently. But I thought I'd better do something to him this month! So yesterday I freed up some time, and sat down for an hour or so to started on his eye. The below images are taken with two different light angles, a before and an after for each light direction.

I also reworked the nostril after realizing the angle was wrong (it's still a little off, but its on it's way to working right), tried (and failed) with the mane again, and worked a little more on all his wrinkle detailing. He's still a long long way from done, I can reel off a list of things that still need work as long as my arm .. and there I was, in his first post, saying I was going to try and have him done by the next week .. HA!  I'm such a terrible procrastinator! And I can't work on him all this week, I'm off in the motorhome to the Great Dorset Steam Fair! I promise to return with a LOT of photographs of the heavy horses strutting their stuff!

(Click the photos to view them bigger!)

Also, here's some shots showing his depth and relief. I think it's substantial enough, especially if he ends up on his planned base.

Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show

This weekend is the Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show! My best friend was home from Ireland, so we hopped along yesterday with our cameras and had a jolly good time! There was, of course, showjumping, and there was harness classes, a rather overflowing fancy-dress class, and we caught the end of the side-saddle class before the exciting scurry ponies took over the main ring!

I'm just putting up a few of my favourite shots here, but if you follow the word-links above it'll take you to the correct photo albums. Or, you can just find them all on TwentyOne Equine Photography's Facebook page!

Portraiture

I've just finished off this pair of commissioned portraits for a lady in Scotland, as presents for her sisters' birthdays. One is of Wypkje (pronounced "Vipka") the Frisian mare, and the other is Cookie, belonging to her other sister. I'm quite proud of them, considering I was working from a pair of quite blurry, small, reference images. I pulled some secondary references from our own Beauty and Aladdin for the smaller details, but I think I kept them true to their own images.

I am just waiting on her conformation of the Frisian, then I can send them off!

Job Hunting

Some of you may know I've been on the job hunt recently, and they I've just done a short trial period at Emily Llewllyn's evening yard in Surry. I had a really good time, surrounded by nice people and wonderful horses, and just thought I'd share a few (rather terrible) phone photos!

The lad on the left is Junior II, simply known on the yard as Junior. He's one of the big-shots, but surprisingly quite a quiet horse, spending a lot of time at the back of his stable and such. By contrast, the grey on the right (I've forgotten his name!) was always over his door, being nosy and wanting attention!

The still forgotten grey on the left was definitely a big character on the yard, always had to know everything! The beautiful center grey is Lilly, who reminds me a lot of Kelly Savage's 'The Babysitter'. And the chap on the right is Eddie, generally friendly, but likes to nibble everything and everyone!

The hobbyist in me made note of some of the wonderfully interesting markings these horses have, and, as always, I marveled over the details that cover them, especially their faces.

And last but not least, this chap was my favourite on the yard, Teddy (Crystal Rock). Look at his handsome face! He had 4 white socks to go with that stripe, what a smart lad! I'll have to get a portrait painted up at some point!

I'll let you know in a few days if I'll be returning. Till then, I have some commissioned portraits to work on, and some more re-sculpting to do!

WIP Re-sculpting

Just thought I'd share some current work-in-progresses I've had on the re-sculpting bench the last few days ...

The Stablemate Belgian is having it's face re-done to have a slightly open mouth, larger nostrils, more detailed muscle structure, and ears flicked back. I'm still unsure about giving them a sculpted mane and tail, or getting them haired. They'll then have a rod to get their lifted hind leg off the ground, and maybe the raised foreleg slightly more outstretched. The Classic's AQH foal has had his hind leg outstretched more and the start of some neck wrinkles added. I need to finish the wrinkles on the neck, and add them on the chest and legs, and maybe put some work into the face. The Stablemate Jumper has had his mane and tail removed and his back legs repositioned. He still needs his front legs re-made and a lot of detailing. He'll be on an acrylic rod over a cross country fence.The new Stablemate AQH is nearly finished and has had her neck repositioned, mane redone, and feathers added, as well as skin details and wrinkles.

Also, this is my new arrival onto the desk, the Breyer Weather Girl, Sunny. I'm not really settled on what to do with her, there's really so much choice! Raise the head and neck, alert and interested in her surroundings? Stretch her out more and have her snaking, ears pinned and teeth bared? Tuck in her head as a riding horse? Twist her neck and headset so she's looking about? And then there's the choice of keeping the hair, resculpting the hair, or getting her haired? I don't know at all! And she's missing a foreleg below the knee, so that'll need to be replaced. Though I really am loving this sculpt ..

Marble

Last night I finished up this portrait of my aunt's miniature, 'Cranshade Pretty In Pink', more commonly known as Marble. It's A5 size and done in HB pencil, with 2B worked over the top. I am very pleased with her, as was her owner and her friends. I've received two commissions on the strength of this portrait.

"Anyone that has met her will know how perfectly you have captured her character,"

"Really have captured the wee madam perfectly,"

MHL Mini July Photoshow

The ModelHorseLove forum (which, if you're not part of, I highly suggest you join) recently ran a photo show specifically for mini models, with the classes spit by colours. The show had a lot of entries, and a lot of stunning models! I was very surprised to come into the placings! My blanket appaloosa shetland foal achieved 5th in her class, and my sabino clydesdale foal came 3rd in his! Also, my OF Stablemate Saddlebred came 3rd in the buckskin class. I have barely any original finish models, but his coat is just too nice to even think of damaging! 

Thank you very much to Clare for holding the show, it seemed like a grand success! Now I've just got to print out my certificates.

In-Real-Life Horse Time

I've spent a lot of this weekend around living breathing horses. Alladin, the grey, belongs to my stepmum, and the Frisian called Beauty and Shire called Callum belong to our friend Danielle. I've ridden Beauty several times now, and although she's only four years old and gets a little panicky sometimes, she's a brave one. Our adventurous hack yesterday proved as much, what with horse-high ferns taking over the path, horses just the other side of a fence galloping back and forth, and lots of shenanigans from Yve and Danielle! Just thought I'd share some photos as I've been so quiet this weekend .. (also, cameo of my brother, Simon, who willingly got on a horse yesterday for me to give him his first lesson!)