Start to finish with Julie Ward

Julie Ward was one of two lucky NaMoPaiMo participants to win the Stone Horses model of Little Colorado Sage.

Although her name was chosen for simply signing up to paint a Stone, Julie did, in fact, complete her model. She chose an ambitious color and worked on it the entire month, documenting nearly every step along the way. In her own words, here's the story of Julie's 2026 NaMoPaiMo pony.

Diary of a NaMoPaiMo Pony

by Julie Ward

February 1: And we’re off! She and I decided on a buckskin tobiano. She got her base coat of acrylic this morning and first coat of oils this evening.

February 4: I worked on a whole herd of horses today. The Stone pony - my official NaMoPaiMo entry - got her second layer of oils.

February 5: Layer three of oils went on today. Just starting to build and see a little more depth. 

For the base color I used titanium white, burnt umber, indian yellow, terra rosa, ivory black (to desaturate everything) and purple lake. I was having trouble getting my color cool enough and just adding the slightest hint of the purple lake was the magic cure. 

I mixed two shades of the base color by separating the mix and adding more white to one of them. 

Since I was very happy with my color mix today I saved them by putting them on pallet paper and folding them up like an envelope and put them in the freezer.

February 7: Working on the buckskin pony tonight. Oils before and after blending.

I also started the dapples. Dapples scare me so this is a good challenge.

February 8: I didn’t do much today, just roughly blocked in where her tobiano markings will be. I don't want to waste my time putting more dapples in where they will just be covered in white anyway.

February 14 - Second coat of glaze over the dapples to set them in. Tomorrow I will start shading to add depth and dimension to her.

February 15: Some definition shading and re-blocking in roughly where her white tobiano markings will be.

February 20: More layers of white markings and blocked in some dark mane and tail color.

February 21: More layers of white. I also worked on eyeballs, ermine spots and hooves.

February 22 - I finished the layers of white markings and did more work on the mane, tail, hooves, and eyes.

Day 28: I did it! Down to the last day, but she’s done! Her “real” photos will come at a later date….now I must start the next ponies on the list!

Thank you, Julie, and congratulations. How exciting to end the month with not one but two fabulous new Stone models. You truly are a winner!