Erika's BCC entry

For some artists, the BreyerFest Best Customs Contest is more that just an opportunity to win a high value model. It's a yearly challenge to try new - and sometimes scary - things. Erika Isbell is definitely one of those artists. In today's guest post, she shares the creation of her 2025 entry, Briarwood's Ghostrider.

The Making of Briarwood's Ghostrider

by Erika Isbell

Introducing “Briarwood’s Ghostrider” my 2025 Best Customs Contest entry for the Most Extreme Custom division

The BCC means so much to me - it’s a time for me to Do The Scary Thing ™️ and help advance my skills each year. 

Last year, Styx’s model, was learning how to sculpt legs. I had always avoided them or just filled the gaps-  but that was the first model I actually studied legs and sculpted the actual muscles. I fully sanded the body down and sculpted from head to toe for the first time! He changed how I saw full body sculpting, and I have dremeled down a lot of projects since then without fear! However…  I didn’t change his proportions from the original plastic… 

Then comes Ghost. Scary Thing of the year? Not relying on the plastic underneath for proportions. 

While he’s not actually an original sculpt- he’s the closest I’ve ever come to making one! 

He’s got a full plastic body (minus the hooves) in there, but it was cut, moved and dremeled down so much that it was basically used as an armature and bulk for the first layers. 

I still am working on painting techniques- and yes I had him totally stripped on Tuesday to redo his color - but for where I’m at now, this accomplished all the goals I had!! 

He’s not perfect, but I could not be more proud of him! 

Congratulations, Erika. I love watching Do The Scary Thing ™️ become Do The Awesome Thing ™️, and this horse really is awesome. Good luck in Kentucky!