Go!

It's already February in some parts of the world. 

That means the painting has begun.

Here in Colorado, we still have another three hours to go.

Unless, of course, you're applying Melanie Miller logic.

If you're still on the fence about participating, consider this your nudge. Whether you are a professional artist or a newbie who's never touched a paintbrush, we would love to have you paint with us this year. Registration is open until midnight in the timezone of your choice. Please visit the NaMoPaiMo website for more information.

It's going to be weird.

Levi Kroll

It's going to be wonderful.

Melanie Miller

I can not wait!

Anne Veeneman–van der Weel

P.S. If you have trouble with the registration form tonight, don't panic. We'll be happy to help you in the morning!

January horses: Olidoodle

Several months ago, Olive's regular turnout privileges were revoked, and she was moved to the "bad girl field."

This isn't as bad as it sounds. Everyone one of the mares that spends time in this field are sweet and cuddly with people. They just aren't particularly friendly with one another.

Mostly, that's okay. Olive is not a pushover. She can hold her own in pretty much any company.

She is, however, a social horse. She really wants a friend to groom, nap and eat with. 

For a while it looked like that was going to be Cheval, but after a promising start, their friendship has fizzled.

Lately, I've noticed Olive studying her fellow bad girls, looking for a new buddy.

For reasons known only to her, her gaze has fallen on Doodle.

Doodle has not been receptive.

Literally, every time she sees Olive, she puts her ears back and walks in the other direction.

Olive is weirdly undeterred.

Following Doodle has become one of her favorite past times.

Doodle is really over it.

Really, 

really, 

really over it.

Sorry, Doodle.

I'm not sure you're going to win this one.

It doesn't matter how many times you say no.

Olive is patient.

Olive is persistent. 

Olive doesn't take no for an answer.

And really, who could say no to this sweet girl?

I mean, come on. She is so cute.

I don't know when or how, but I fully expect that one of these days, I'm going to find these two sweet girls grooming each other. I just know it.

Horse rescue

There's nothing like sorting through someone else's accumulated treasures to make you entirely rethink the whole collection thing.

I realize my hoard herd is completely out of control, and I have spent the last couple of years trying to cut back. 

It's hard, but I've been at least somewhat successful.

Today at work, as I was gathering the trash, I spied a single Mini Whinnie was lying near the top of one of the wastebaskets. I stood there for a long moment, weighing my options. I could pretend I didn't see him. After all, he was already in the trash, and I don't need any more Mini Whinnies. But also, he's very small, and he looked so sad. How could I leave him?

I didn't.

I'll probably give him away at some point, but for the time being, he's hanging out on top of my laptop. 

Sorry, Ryan and James. Despite my best intentions, you're probably going to end up with a whole bunch of model horses. I am trying very hard, but sometimes, I can't help myself.

BCC 2024

My phone started pinging while I was at work yesterday. I glanced at it to see what was going on and quickly deduced that the class list for the 2024 BreyerFest Best Customs Contest had been released.

Clearly, it was break time! I went to the backroom, sat down and clicked on the link.

The first thing I did was scroll right to the bottom.

Dammit!

Then it was back to the top for a leisurely stroll through the categories. The first four were exactly what we've come to expect: Excellence in Finish Work,

Fantasy,

Most Extreme Custom...

and Performance Excellence.

Excellence in Tack Making is a new category and one I appreciate greatly, even though I can't participate.

The final category is the theme class, and this year's theme - Glow Ups - is perhaps my favorite ever. Take a model and customize it to make better but still completely recognizable.

Not to belabor the point, but I can't participate. However, if I could, I would totally take a Misty, sand off the winter coat and add braids to make her resemble my favorite Wesley Dennis painting from Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. I love this idea so much. Someone please steal it from me!

Truly, this is the best idea for the theme class. I can not wait to see all the vintage Breyer Glow Ups!

Life and painting

It's a good thing I prepped by February models early because life has thrown us a curveball: A couple days ago, Seth's mom was moved into hospice care. 

Right now she's holding her own, but we are all making an extra effort to spend time with her. 

Seth's brother is here again. It's sad, but also, it's nice.

In the quiet moments between work and family, I've been painting. Not little Butterbean. He's my official NaMoPaiMo horse so I can't start him until next Thursday.

The same can not be said for Antara, who is my model for Heather Bullach's Introduction to  Oil Painting Workshop: Painting Black. Heather recommends using red primer. Since I am partial to Tamiya grey, I went ahead and base coated her today. This is three thin coats of acrylics. My studio lights aren't properly dialed in. She's more red than she looks in these photos.

Mostly, however, I've been ticking away at my failed 2022 NaMoPaiMo horse, Taco.

I could barely look at this model for more than a year. He was the living embodiment of every one of my personal failures.

Not anymore! Now he's an emotional support pony. I have fallen in love with him all over again, and I have no doubt I'll get him past the finish line sometime during NaMoPaiMo.

It's funny how life works. After years of barely being able to paint at all, now it feels like a lifeline. I have no idea what the next month will bring, but I'm sure it will include lots of family, lots of friends and lots of little brushstrokes.