NaMoPaiMo 2019!

I've been procrastinating more than usual recently, and as a result my documentation of this year's event has been delayed by far too long!

I filmed as I painted, so there’ll eventually be a full video tutorial on YouTube at some point once I’ve got round to editing it all!

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For a project like NaMoPaiMo, success can be measured in many different ways.
For some, success can be as simple as adding paint to a model after years of no motivation, or trying out a new colour or technique. For others, it can be more specific, like finally finishing that AR you’ve been putting off painting because you lacked the confidence to even start it, or nailing the perfect dappling technique.

Everybody’s experience is entirely their own, and therefore, in the words of the inimitable Bob Ross:

’we don’t make mistakes, we make happy accidents’

That said, I made my fair share of mistakes this year, but I think the successes drowned them out overall.

NaMoPaiMo prizes!

As everyone who took part in this year’s NaMoPaiMo knows, being lucky enough to win a prize wasn’t the point of the challenge, but a nice bonus and not something to be expected! However, I was told a couple of weeks ago by Jennifer that both myself AND Max would be getting something in the post, and it arrived last week. 

I didn’t sleep much the night before, after staying up until 6am to watch Critical Role (damn you timezones!) so I wasn’t quite with it when the parcel arrived, but once I’d woken up and realised what it was I couldn’t wait to investigate! 

 I’m utterly blown away, this is so incredibly generous and I just don’t have the words to thank you guys!  I got this absolutely beautiful Classic scale ‘Gigi’ resin by Mindy Berg, which I can’t wait to paint, though it might take a while to settle on a colour, but I’m already getting a very matronly broodmare feel to her, perhaps an old retired riding school pony or something? She’s currently the biggest resin I have now too! 

 Max didn’t come away empty handed either, and now has another resin to paint, this time a Maggie Jenner Bennet grumpy pony! I have to admit that out of all of Maggie’s minis this one wasn’t my initial favourite, based purely on the pose but oh how my opinion has changed! There’s so much personality in this little beastie (I love the neck wrinkles!!!) and I’ve got so many colour ideas! I’ve been buzzing all day! 

Rest assured guys, there’ll be a repeat of Max’s adventures in painting next year!

On another note, I've been very bad at updating this blog recently - extra annoying as I actually have lots to post about for a change! Hopefully I'll get some more interesting stuff up on here soon.

Going Incobnito!

I realised a few weeks ago that I never actually showed the progress of my final NaMoPaiMo horse - Hamlet the hogged show cob!

I finally settled on a pattern...

...and then totally forgot to update on his progress! XD

I went from primed to complete in only a couple of days - one of the benefits of black pintos is that you can get away without a lot of complicated shading!

I blocked out the markings in black acrylic, then added in some mapping. Shading was added with pastels and coloured pencils - those especially came in handy on the hooves.

I always make a point of dirtying up the feet a bit, as even with the best will in the world and a ton of cleaning products, no horse ever has absolutely perfectly white legs unless they're never allowed outside.

I started making him a tack set almost as soon as he was finished - the same night, if I remember correctly.

 I'm confident enough with the saddles but the bridles are something else entirely at that scale!

As a result I cheated hugely with the bridle as I absolutely loathe strapwork, so the buckles are only painted on and it's split at the crown so it all goes on/off in one piece. It isn't brilliant and in an ideal world I'd like to do it again but I'm not really ready to attempt it again so it'll have to do for now.

I gave him a photoshoot the other day but the lighting was terrible and makes him look much 'colder' than he really is. The WIP pictures above are closest to his actual colour.

 

 In preparation for his ridden career I'd been customising an old Britains rider off and on for a few months. He had a flat cap transformed into a helmet and had most of his inside leg removed and reshaped so he'd sit properly, as well as having his arms resculpted. He needs a skoosh of dullcote to take away the gloss but I think he'll do!

Because of my love of puns and cobs, I decided to name him 'EA Incobnito' as he went under the radar for a bit!

NaMoPaiMo - A few finished ponies!

Against all my original predictions I've not only finished my designated pony, but several others too and I've still got half the month left to go!

NaMoPaiMo - Day...3?

I've kind of lost track of the days a bit here, haha!

Progress has been made on all fronts however, and some are getting closer and closer to completion!


After another couple of pastel layers, the Shetland had his markings outlined, which is one of the most tedious, yet fulfilling parts of doing pintos.



I always love this stage, as the coloured areas really start to pop, even with just the basic outlines done!

NaMoPaiMo - Day 1

First things first, I needed to clear my desk! XD