The nexus

I spent the first three weeks of February blogging about NaMoPaiMo the International Painting Party

Then it was BreyerWest week, and coverage shifted abruptly from one event to the other.

But I always knew I would circle back eventually. All I needed was an excuse, an intersection of events, a nexus. Well, here it is:

This is Candace Anderson's 2023 International Painting Party project. She started the model on February fifth and completed her at three AM on February twenty sixth, just a few hours before the BreyerWest Youth and Novice Show.

Candace writes: I started her without ever having painted a model before. I started her not knowing hair growth patterns or technique. I started her feeling hell-bent on finally completing a project for *me* and with daydreams of standing her in the CM ring during BreyerWest, just to see.

And I did it. I finished her, and she won first in class.

She’s not properly “finished” and I didn’t do a thing to prep her aside from rattle-can primer (because I simply didn’t know to do it). I see now what I could do better next time, and to allow space for rest so my chronic illness won’t flare up in protest, but *gosh.* I did it. I did it!

If you see this and have wanted to try: go for it.

If you see this and have an idea but don’t know what to do: wing it. If you see this in March or July and feel like you missed NaMo again: who cares. A model finished outside February or even attempted and put aside for now is still effort and still deserving of praise. I think you can do it too.

Congratulations, Candace! This is a lovely model. You picked a difficult pattern, and you made it work. I would have never guessed this was your first attempt at painting. Keep going and thank you for representing the International Model Horse Painting Party at BreyerWest!