Crunch time

On this, the twenty sixth day of February, there are approximately one hundred seventy horses in the NaMoPaiMo Winners Circle.

We started the event with six hundred and eighty five registered entrants.

That's about a twenty four percent completion rate. Historically, between thirty five and forty five percent of the models won't be finished. 

It's okay. Life happens.

That means there are probably about two hundred of us, still fighting the good fight and hoping to finish our horses in the next two days.

photo by Maddie Miller

A lot of us are really close.

photo by Vivian Tusveld

So close.

photo by Cindy Evans-Yates

Although we're not there yet, the end is in sight.

photo by Liisa Michele

We know it's going to happen.

photo by Danielle Hart

Jane Chapman writes: I'll make it! Who needs sleep anyway.The big girl is the target (needs mane, tail, legs and face). The tiny guy was to test my color plans (he'll get chrome and details when the mare is finishing up). The baby only has his base coat. He'll be baby black going grey. I probably won't get him done in time as my planned "did this too" horse.

Others need a lot more work.

photo by Katie Chamblin

Hanna Lukasiewicz writes: Well, the oils on my pony took longer to dry than usual (I mean I’m on a deadline, of course they did) but now that they have I can finally get on with acrylic work. I got the spots painted back in today, took seven hours and my hands are burning from cramps, but it’s done! Detailing next, two days left. I’m definitely feeling the pressure.

Daphne Headley is also burning the midnight oil. She says: Here's last night's work. She needs a couple of more coats of the dark pink, shading, blending, her hair done, details, and a name.... which I can't decide between Strawberry something, as I have a LOT of horses with that in their names, or Raspberry something, but she glows like some candies.

Amanda Chappell is STRESSING but determined. She explains: This guy came with me on a road trip this weekend, and I was supposed to get at least one solid day down there of free time to really be able to work on him... Thaaaat did not happen, and I have no time today. So... I'll have the last two days to finish his mane, get his pinking on his nose, give him eyes, and do his hooves... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..... I KNOW I CAN!!! 

Team Last Minute is all about math. Ondřej Moučka writes: Before I had to leave for work on Sunday, I managed to do a dappling session. About two hours. If the math is mathing, it was a quarter of a half of the horse. Which means about fourteen hrs to go. Aside for a small part of her shoulder on Monday, I haven't had a chance to continue since then. But there are still 2 days, right?

Two days doesn't seem like much, but consider this. Yesterday, Tee Steineke's horse was in primer. Today he looks like this.

Keep on fighting the good fight, my friends.

photo by Lauren Hoeffer

There are still two days.

photo by Karah King

There's no telling what we can do!