State of the Studio 2015

It's been a long silence from me... so much has happened in the last year. Not much new has come out of the studio in the last year and well, I don't think anyone could blame me, but I feel I must share. So here's a recap:

First, in October, after many months of waiting, my mother received a liver and kidney transplant. The roller coaster of her recovery was considerable, and news would filter in on occasion with breakthroughs and setbacks. Being broke and in Kentucky while she was in Indianapolis meant that I couldn't visit her often (and really, shouldn't due to her suppressed immune system), and for a long time she was unable to speak due to the tubes. Every call I got from my family created a sinking feeling that this was "the call." Skype helped us to connect, but it wasn't perfect.

It was around this time (including one being posted publicly while I visited my mother the weekend after her surgery) that several people alerted me about some of my models having problems: epoxy lifting, stickiness, etc. Stuff that I work very hard to actively avoid. I make each model to the best of my ability, armed with all the knowledge that I currently know to prevent such disasters. The fact I had failed killed my motivation just because I still couldn't pinpoint *why* it was happening. Was it my epoxy? The new Breyer plastic that's softer (with more cellulose filler)? Breyer's paint? My primer? Something I was doing/not doing?

One of the affected models: his mane apparently "popped off" which I've never had happen before or since.

I had many more that were unaffected, including ones I own. Because I didn't know why, I despaired, wondering why even bother customizing a model if it's only going to fall apart? I can't offer to fix them because I can't match paint to save my life. And some models will fall apart no matter how good the workmanship, no matter how they're handled or stored. It killed my desire to create. I knew I couldn't support myself in any way with just the models, so I decided against customizing in the winter months (like I've done occasionally in the past) and looked for a job.

In December, I got a new job in a call center... it is not my first love, in fact I'm still not entirely happy with it. The learning process was intense as I learned the software (the best that 1993 had to offer), the codes, the protocol and started gaining experience as a sales person. I'm not the best salesperson, but I am EXCELLENT at customer service, but the stress was pretty overwhelming as I shifted gears to this new "career." It was quite a change that I'm still adapting to.

Not entirely accurate, however...

The reason I got this job was after Breyerfest 2013 I was kicked by a horse and dislocated my knee. To save my knees from wear and tear, I took this desk job, plus it was likely time to find a job with a reliable paycheck and health benefits. I truly miss being physically active in a job, especially working around horses. It was a dream job, working at the Kentucky Horse Park, but it didn't pay much (barely above minimum wage at them time) and was not very reliable (being seasonal). Still, being happy at a hard, low paying job felt pretty good, but I guess being able to pay for groceries and gas is a good thing too... but if I ever won the lottery, fairly certain I'd just work there for free.

Then in January, my computer crashed. After a LONG 3 month saga with the absolutely terrible Computer Repair Place, they finally got it fixed to where it worked, but not without loosing a year's worth of archived emails and giving me a computer with less RAM and processing power than I had before (after I specifically told them they could replace part only if they were equal or better than what I had). I like to game on occasion so this was a bummer, but not as much as not having access to my regular routine and reference photos during that time. My computer time is my "escape" and it was hard to escape and de-stress (during a VERY stressful time for me) when my main source had been taken from me, and as much fun as customizing can be, it is NOT my de-stresser.

*sigh* First World Problem, anyone?

In March I judged at a show and accidentally made a sarcastic comment (along the lines of "I'm tired of seeing this person's horses")... and that person took it seriously. The backlash and regret from that killed my enthusiasm for showing, and possibly for the hobby in general. It is NEVER my intent to offend, hurt, or be negative in any way, so for someone to take a joke that I figured no one would ever take in any other way except it's true intention (one that was actually meant as praise, a nudge to how ridiculous the notion would be, being sarcasm after all), and make it sound like I was a biased, untrustworthy monster (my words, not theirs) really put a damper on my motivation and hurt ME deeply. My reputation had been tainted in a moment of misjudgment, and I felt like the worst person on earth, causing irreparable damage between me and this "friend." I decided a hiatus from showing was needed and canceled my plans for my next show.

If I could go back, I wouldn't have said it, but after everything that had happened already that year for me, I just let myself get a little too comfortable in my escape. I had an unprofessional moment when I needed to be "on." To me, a model horse show is usually a fun time with friends who "get me" and a reunion with those I don't get to see often. They are my people. I am still incredibly sorry that I hurt this friend and it still stresses me out (at the time, it literally kept me up at night). Add in to my already stressed situations, and I was starting to feel depressed.

April thankfully brought some joys: I met a new guy who would eventually become my boyfriend. Dating had been disappointing for me in the past and it's great to have someone who shares a genuine interest in each other, common views and interests (geek outs!) etc. Obviously, this meant that my spare time now included him a lot, but ya know, I feel this one is justified. Everyone deserves to be happy and not alone.

"Family" movie night

In May and June I was finally hitting my stride at my job, performing well and getting the hang of it. However, that came to an abrupt halt when on June 18th, when I was home sick with a terrible fever, I got the call that Mom was dying. Her liver had ultimately failed. She was gone within 12 hours. Obviously this changed my world quite a bit as I took 2 weeks off work (when I came back, it was rough getting back in the groove). This woman was responsible for "me", she taught me how to art, teaching me to draw, giving me honest critique, supporting me and in general being the best mother anyone could ask for. Obviously this sense of loss has affected me, I'm sure any of those who have lost a parent or even just loves their mother could understand.

Then of course along came July which means Breyerfest where I volunteered and taught Equine Color Genetics in the Hobby Info Booth. I also entered in Breyer's first Custom Contest with Prowler in the "Most Creative" category... and WON!

I was so excited and feel it is the biggest honor I've ever received. Judged by some of the hobby's best artists, the prizes being so beautiful...

And for once I was in a place in my life where I could afford to keep them and not sell them to the highest bidder. I plan on treasuring "Anahi" and "Agueda" for as long as I can. I picked up an Enchante as well to act as the "daddy" of the family, I think they go well with each other!

And finally, in August, things have settled down. Perhaps now I can work on the models again. First thing's first, commissions will be given primary focus, but as I've shared in the past, sometimes I need to do something else to "freshen things up" and keep me from getting in a funk. I have a general priority list and will try hard to keep to it, and I want to thank everyone who does have an order with me for their continued patience and understanding.

Breyerfest and Kentucky Horse Park Tips

A beautiful and exciting sight, indeed.

As we come closer and closer to that wonderful weekend in late July, I once again feel obligated to share some very helpful tips, guidelines and just plain rules that one should follow when visiting every hobbyist's most favorite place on earth. In our excitement of making our yearly pilgrimage to the Mecca of all things equine, some seeing real horses only at this time of year and never again, we need to be careful not to come off as nothing more than overgrown 5-year-old little girls.

My purpose here is to educate and ask to remember some cardinal rules that will perhaps create a more fulfilling and enlightened experience. I'm going to give some basic guidelines, some may sound pretty simple and obvious, especially to those who have or deal with horses on a regular basis, but I understand some may never have realized these rules, either through inexperience or unintended ignorance. Also, some handy tips regarding the Breyerfest experience...

The Line... Yes, THAT Line

This has been a point of controversy and ill feelings for many years, but the line that develops at the entrance to Breyerfest on the Friday (and Saturday to an extent) morning is extremely crowded and filled with excited anticipation and various forms of plotting. With Breyerfest so close we can taste it, and a Black Friday-esque sale going on in the Breyer Store (a.k.a. the Ninja Pit Of Death, or NPOD), as soon as the massive crowd is "released," it can border on the feeling of chaos depending on where you are in line.

Aaaaand they're off! (Remember to walk *calmly* and not rush: Breyerfest isn't going anywhere :P)

Remember, there are CHILDREN and ELDERLY in this line. Do NOT push and shove, act inappropriately, instigate any conflicts, or otherwise make the situation worse than it is. Injuries have happened in the past and they really didn't have to happen. Please remain calm and TRY to act polite, even when in the NPOD (hey, I can at least ask...)

One of the things I find quite sad is that out of ALL events held at the Kentucky Horse Park, this is one of the few times its fine Mounted Police are in action and ready for duty for actual pedestrian control. The only other time they make such a strong presence is during Rolex, the international 3-Day Event. When they do allow the line to move on towards the Covered Arena, STAY BEHIND THEM. You are not allowed to pass them and if you do, they will run down any offenders and send them to the very back of the line which tends to be in the middle of the parking lot. Don't give my cop buddies a hard time, listen to what they say and follow their directions. They are real Lexington police officers with plenty of experience and can uphold the law and order in any way they see fit.

This is only about the middle of the line...

Also, I would like to offer this helpful tip and really want to encourage this: If you are not trying to get to the Breyer Store for the NPOD (which as mentioned before, is not for the faint of heart), have a 9:30 Ticket for the Special Items, or want to see the Opening Ceremonies, I would suggest NOT showing up until later in the morning, after 9:30 or 10:00. The line truly is enormous (as is the traffic to get in) and takes a while to get through, and Breyerfest is going to be there all day. Just because it opens at 8, doesn't mean you HAVE to be there... unless you need to be for the above reasons.

The gates officially open at 8:00 AM (though I know people who line up MUCH earlier than that), with Opening Ceremonies at 9:30 AM which last about half an hour to 45 minutes, after which most exhibitions begin. Also remember that Parking will be $5 per day unless you have a season pass to the Park.

Bringing Your Dog to the Park

I did want to make one small blurb about Dogs at the Horse Park. Years ago, I brought my old dog, Casey, and he did well, though he wasn't a fan of other dogs or horses, so we kept that in mind as we progressed throughout the day. I currently bring my dog Molly who loves kids and doesn't mind horses, but can get nervous with VERY loud noises. She also tends to get very BORED sitting around and likes to go on lots of walks (especially if they end up in air conditioned areas, the spoiled house-pup). I keep this in mind as I plan my day. I do not bring her on days I will be in the SR Line/Breyer Store as dogs are certainly not allowed, and leaving her in the car is NOT an option at any point due to the heat.

My sweet Corgi/Aussie mix, Molly! Photo by Heather Moreton.

Keep in mind while there is special screening processes in place to make sure horses don't have any communicable diseases, there is no such requirements for dogs. To bring your dog is to possibly expose him to other dogs who may have something he can catch. Prevent him from interacting with other dogs and make sure his shots are up to date.

The Horse Park is used to doggy visitors and are generally allowed just about anywhere (including the Visitor's Information Center or VIC) except the Museum (the lobby is fine) and Restaurant. You may use the VIC as an air-conditioned place to get your dog out of the heat, but only for short periods of time and please keep him away from the Auction Models and Artisan's Hall tables if set up.

July in Kentucky is HOT! Be aware of your dog's cooling needs (certain breeds, thick coated, overweight, or elderly dogs may need more attention) Keep your dog in the shade, avoid walking on pavement, and bring a bowl or collapsible container for him to drink water out of. There are many water sources on the park in the form of water fountains and even wash racks. Feel free to use them to fill water or even hose your dog down (please ask a nearby Park employee *first* if you may do this). Please do not use wash racks if there's a horse using it already, and remember to shut off the water and leave any hose you used as you found it. Do NOT let your dog jump into any water tanks.

A few other tips:

• Be prepared to take your dog back to the car to hang out in shade and AC if he needs. Take many breaks and plan on not being out for long periods of time. If you have any doubts or if it's at all possible, consider not bringing him to the Park/Breyerfest at all.
• It's also a good idea to assign one of your group or family members to pay specific attention to his needs. That way only one person needs to worry about him, and knows exactly when he needs his scheduled needs like water, food, or potty breaks. 
• Please pick up any poopies they your puppy may make, lots of people walk on the grass! And there are trashcans EVERYWHERE.
• Do not let your dog interact with any other dog and keep him away from the horses as well. Not all horses like dogs. This help prevent any conflicts, injury, and spread of disease.
• And, of course, keep your dog on a leash at ALL times! This is in accordance with the Law and Park policies. Any dog found off of a leash may be fined, or worse, gathered and sent to a local humane society and will demand a "bond" to be paid, if you even realize he's there.

The (Live!) Horses at the Park

Lykle the Friesian greets Breyerfesters

Most of the Park's horses are well trained to deal with the inexperienced and most have seen it all. Most will be just fine with flash photography, petting, and other things that may upset the average horse. However, any guest horses for Breyerfest or competition horses there for a show that happens to be using the Park grounds at the same time may not be.

It is advised NOT to bother any competition horses who are there for unaffiliated horse shows, both for their own benefit (showing is STRESSFUL) and to reduce the risk of spread of disease. Every horse that sets foot on the park must bring with them papers to show they are healthy, but it's entirely possible that this is not fail-proof. Also, these horses are riders are in a high-stress environment and in a certain mind-set that must not be interrupted.

This year the Champagne Run Horse Trials will be running the same weekend as Breyerfest.
Feel free to watch, but don't interfere!

Rules to Live By (Maybe Literally...)

The most important thing to remember is that horse are living, breathing, PREY animals. They are not dogs or cats and should not be treated or approached like one. As one article put it: "WE (people) are like dogs or cats. We are predators. Predators like to do new things. Horses do not like new things, as new things usually mean the death of them." Learn the safety rules and proper conduct when in the presence of the real thing.

Now is not a good time: The horse is agitated and defiant.

• Ask whoever is handling/riding a horse if you may approach. It may not be a good time to come visit if the horse is being restless, scared, preparing for a presentation, or being worked on with grooming, hoof trimming, or saddling/tacking up.
• Always walk calmly, not run, up to a horse. Running up to a horse means you may be a predator and he may try to defend himself.
• Always approach a horse from the front or slightly from the side, never from behind. Be sure to always be in view of his eyeballs so he's not surprised by someone popping into his vision. This goes double for horses wearing blinkers/blinders in harness, like the draft horses pulling the trolley. 
• Horses cannot see directly behind them or in a small blind spot directly in front of their face. Be aware of this if you reach a hand up to pet them.
• Watch a horse's body language. Ears, neck position, and tail all tell how the horse feels about your being in his space.
  +Pricked ears, ears to the side, or slightly back are fine.
  +Ears pinned back against his neck is not.
  +Stiffening of the neck, raising his head out of reach, or avoiding you altogether means you should take the hint and leave him be for a minute.
  +Eyes wide ( I would say "with eye-whites showing" but some horses, like Appaloosas and pintos, have eye-white that shows no matter what, so just be aware) Half-closed eyes means the horse is very relaxed or might even be dozing. Leaving a sleeping horse lie is also a good idea, as it's only polite.
  +A swishing tail (when not swatting at flies) is also a bad sign.
• Good places to pet a horse is on the nose, face, forehead, and neck. Avoid the ears and eyes as some horses are sensitive about them. Make sure he sees your hand before you reach up between his eyes (a blind spot) or he may be surprised.

Petting done right, such a happy, relaxed horse!

• Never walk behind a horse. If you need to, try to stay back at least 10 feet and TALK to them. Say whatever you want, just make a little noise so they can listen for you. Another way of going behind a horse is to keep your body close and keep a hand on his rump and you go behind. The idea behind this is instead of gaining some steam for a kick, the horse can only (roughly) "nudge" you away. This is NOT recommended for those not use to horses and is to be avoided if at all possible.
• Watch your feet. Make sure that your feet are one full, adult-sized step away from the horse's base. Horses like to shift weight or move restlessly, so be prepared and watch to see if a horse is planning to take a step so your feet aren't under them. ESPECIALLY if you are wearing sandals or flip-flops.
• DO NOT HAND FEED THE HORSES. This is a Park rule to insure that the horses don't start getting nippy whenever hands are put near their mouth. These horses are usually well trained to be petted on the face and nose, and it's ok to do so. But if they expect hands to have food, a hand may become food. Save your fingers and keep your apples, carrots, and peppermints to yourself.
• In fact, don't feed the horses AT ALL. Horses have much different digestive systems from ours. They cannot burp or throw up, so if something disagrees with them, they can colic, which is very serious and may even cause death.
• Keep an eye on your children and dogs. Just because you know what to do doesn't mean they will, even if they don't mean to cause harm. Some dogs are threatened by horses. Some children think all animals are big fluffy stuffed animals that wouldn't dare hurt them. So watch your child or dog to make sure they don't go darting in a horse's path or worse. Serious injury or death is a big possibility.

Nick and Lou, the Clydesdales. 

• The Horse-Drawn Tour Trolley does not stop. If you see it coming, get out of the way or risk getting run over. If you are riding the trolley and one of your items falls off, again, the trolley does not stop. It's unsafe to stop or jump off anywhere on the trolley route, especially on a hill, as it puts strain on the horses and risks injury to you. (Note: the Trolley Tour is not available to Breyerfest attendees unless you pay for a Park admission ticket, due to the sheer load of people they would have to haul if it was open to all Breyerfest ticket holders.Do not expect to get on with your Breyerfest Button alone)
• And this really goes without saying but it has happened: Do NOT open and/or enter any stall or paddock, either by the gate or hopping over the fence. Only Park employees are allowed to do this for obvious safety reasons. They are experienced horse people and trained professionals. I don't care if you "have horses yourself," it is incredibly inappropriate and unsafe.

Stealing is Wrong and Makes Baby Ponies Cry

I have discovered over the years, Park staff put up special measures to prevent... stealing.

That's right, the nameplates on the stall doors in the Hall of Champions are taken down prior to Friday morning so that they'll still have them by Monday. No tack is left unattended. Even golf carts are locked down! And even more recently, I fear for the Breyer display stall in the new Kid's Barn. No doubt some of the models there will end up "walking away." Needless to say, this makes us hobbyists as a group look BAD. Yes, it is just a few bad apples, and not us as a whole, but if you see someone trying to take something that is obviously not their's, STOP THEM.

As for the theft, there's nothing I can say here that will deter those who steal from doing such things. I can only remind that the Kentucky Horse Park is a state park (owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky) that relies heavily on donation and a small amount of funding. Anytime something is stolen from the Park, it's the horses themselves that takes a hit.

How could you hurt her wittle fuzzy feelings!?

Kentucky State Taxes do not support the horses' feed, equipment, and other needs. That is funding through the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation (previously the Man O' War Foundation) and sponsoring companies. And like most funding sources, the money is hardly ever-flowing. It's not uncommon for Park staff to pay for things they need with their own money, and as state employees, they don't get paid much.

I would like to make a note here; anyone can make a donation at any time, please ask in the Visitor's Center if this is something you would like to do so the Park can keep on running and improving!

The great Secretariat statue at the Main entrance.
(Reminder: Please refrain from climbing on or sitting on the statues. They are works of art, not playground equipment)

Breyer is responsible, however, for the models in their stall in the Kid's Barn. However, those models are there to teach, inspire, and spread the love of model horses to the next generation. Even though Breyerfest is packed, with hobbyists, without sparking the fire in the children that discover the hobby and what it has to offer in the first place, we risk the future of our hobby. Not saying a missing model or two will do this, but who knows if it was that model that a child really connected with and wanted to learn more. Plus, hard to have a Breyer stall without Breyers. Don't ruin their fun, don't pick up or take any models from the Kid's Barn.

All in all, we are VERY lucky that the prestigious Kentucky Horse Park agrees to host Breyerfest, without them, I don't Breyerfest could exist, or in the very least, could not be the same at all. Please respect our host and don't do anything to make them think twice about allowing our event to happen.

PLEASE share this post with all your friends planning to go to Breyerfest. I would love for everyone to be aware and showcase themselves as a wonderful representative of our hobby. That out love for horses goes beyond handling and collecting equine-shaped-objects, but to truly understanding the beautiful animals we all fell in love with as kids.

Have fun and I hope to meet some of you at Breyerfest this year!!!

Photographing Your Model Made Simple

One thing that I notice with a lot of model horse ads (eBay, MHSP, etc.) is that people don't seem to understand how to take a flattering picture. In fact, some of them are downright BAD pictures!

Not mine though, they look good, but I couldn't very well take a random screenshot
and point out other people's flaws without their permission!

And what makes things worse is if you're showing off a custom. That model may have changes that if someone sees it in anything but the honest light of what it actually looks like, then someone may think that IT is done wrong. It's hard to give an reliable and honest assessment on a custom with a bad picture. This is where accuracy is VERY important! If you don't show it as it really is, someone may tell you to fix something that is actually just fine.

A good photo for critique due to how accurate the model is, though the background is a tad cluttered.

About the Model:

This post is to help explain how to take a basic but honest picture of your model to present it at its best for sale or critique. I've chosen to use a Lady Phase model because she is standing mostly square and looking straight ahead (so no distortion from foreshortening because of a turned head) and is a very common model that almost everyone is familiar with so they may know her true dimensions. This particular model *is* a body, so she has a chipped ear and some smudges here and there, but she serves the purpose.

About the Cameras:

I take pictures with a Digital SLR, a Canon Rebel XT EOS... an older camera, but very serviceable and produces good quality due to the SLR, or Single Lens Reflex, which works more like the human eye than on a regular "point and shoot" camera. You don't need an SLR camera to take good or accurate photos, though it does help and make things easier. A "Point and Shoot" camera usually works just as well these days with the advances in technology.

I also will be showing pictures taken with my cell phone's camera which happens to be a Nokia Lumina, which has one of the better cell phone cameras out there, but it's similar to any other cell phone, smart phone or otherwise, because of the restrictions cell phones have, which is no room for proper lenses because they need to be so thin. Many tend to create a wide-angle "fish-eye" effect, especially when taking photos up close.

The main issues with taking bad pictures is:

• Bad Angles
• Cell Phone Camera Distortion
• Dark Photos 
• Distracting Backgrounds 
• Blurry Photos 
• Dirty Models 

You can get a good picture no matter what kind of camera you have, even a cell phone! I cover that later, let's first look at how to take a proper photo of a live horse itself. The general rule of thumb is to aim for just behind their heart or center of gravity.

Real horse photo I took of a sweet old mare named Blue Viking
(go to www.ourmims.org to learn more about her and other retired "ladies" of the Thoroughbred industry)

The black dot indicates where I aimed when taking the photo of a live horse, close to the middle of the barrel.
If you're tall or the horse is short, you may need to crouch or bend over slightly to be level with the dot.

Because we are taking pictures of models, it's best to get down to their level. Taking pictures from above makes your horse look like it has really short legs.

Is it part Corgi?

The red dot indicates where you should aim with your camera, kind of in the middle of the barrel.
The black dot indicates the center of gravity on a horse which is not a bad spot to aim for either.

One needs to be careful to not only get low enough, but to stay centered towards the middle of the barrel as well. If you take the picture too closely inline with the shoulder, the head and front end look too big.

It's a subtle difference, but enough it *could* be a problem. 

On the other hand, if you get too close to being straight across from the haunch/butt, you will make the front end look small and the hind end too big. Some breeds, like Drafts and some Quarter Horses, actually prefer this angle to enhance the "assets" they like to show off for their breed. For our purposes though, we want to be as true to the actual proportions as possible, especially if it's a custom.

Makes the head look smaller and refined and the buttocks look big and round...
now who wouldn't want THAT?

Getting distance is a GOOD thing. Even if you don't have a fancy camera, you can get good pictures by pulling back a bit, and zooming in if you have the option, or cropping the photo later. This is ESPECIALLY important if all you have to take pictures with is the camera on your phone, where distortion is a BIG problem, BUT it can be done! Be careful, most of the zoom options on phone cameras is DIGITAL zoom, which means all they're doing is zooming in on the original image so the image looks pixelated or grainy. When buying a real camera, always opt for OPTICAL zoom. This actually uses lenses to act like a telescope to actually make the image appear closer. This is your best option for getting the most true photos.

Example of just a BAD cell phone picture.
Taken from above, things are out of proportion (look how tiny those feet are!)

This is what happens when you get TOO close to your subject with a phone camera.
The backdrop somehow is smaller and can't cover up as much as it needs to,
and the model appears to have a slightly large head and longer neck than it should.
Even the barrel seems smaller and the tail seems shorter!
Minor differences, but enough it doesn't accurately portray your model.

Compare to the GOOD photo taken with a phone camera. See the difference?
This picture is much more true in the horse's actual proportions
while the former gets them ALL out of whack!

And then compare the previous good photo from the phone camera to this one, the good photo taken with a digital SLR (almost pro-grade camera). The digital SLR is the most true, but you can see by comparing it to the smartly-taken phone camera shot that there isn't much difference when it comes to the proportions.
Just proves you don't need an awesome camera to take good pictures.

This is the original phone camera picture where I got the good shot from. I had to pull back, and didn't use zoom. Instead, I gave myself some distance so it could take a truer picture, and the cropped it later with photo-editing software.

The only problem with creating distance and cropping is that you may get more pixels or grain showing. Hopefully you have enough megapixels in your camera so that it's not very noticeable (both my Digital SLR and my cell phone has around or over 8 megapixels). It's kind of a balance of getting close enough so the pixels/grain won't be bad, but you won't distort the picture by being TOO close. If you have optical zoom, it makes the problem so much easier to deal with, as it zooms in AND stays true!

REALLY bad cell phone picture that almost looks like a fun-house mirror!
That head is almost HALF the size of the body!

A GOOD 3/4 view CAN be done that is accurate! Once again,
putting some distance between you and your subject is key.
That's what I did here with the Digital SLR camera, and then I zoomed in.
Also, notice I got down to the correct level as well.

Watch your lighting. Using flash is helpful but sometimes it can create unwanted glare or wash out a model. Pulling back also helps with "reducing" the flash so it doesn't create too much glare or lose detail due to washing out. If you want to avoid flash, the best idea is to get more lights. Find floor or desk lamps and point them at your picture-taking area. Some people use photo tents to diffuse the light so it's not so harsh and creates hard shadows, but I have found that I get along fine without one, but if you can, certainly give it a try!

My personal photo-taking set-up.
Just a piece of blue poster board (less than a dollar from Wal-Mart or whatever office/art supply store)
that I lean up against the wall and secure with tape at the bottom.
I have a shop light above, the room's lights, and two floor lamps, one on either side.
Good clean, white florescent light is best, and it's hard to really over-do lighting.

Much too dark, this is just with my overhead lighting with no floor lamps and no flash...
although I may have discovered how Breyer took photos of their models in the 70's...

Now, if you find your best lighting happens to be in an less than photogenic area (like the bathroom or kitchen) use a backdrop. Don't just place it in front of a bunch of clutter and distracting stuff. Even finding a couple of towels and draping them over something like a box or chair is helpful.

Everyone's seen this shot in ads... the top of the stove, in front of a microwave, on top of the toilet...

Simple background. Not perfect, but much less distracting. This is just towels on a chair.

And finally, you'd be surprised how much these get through... dirty models or blurry pictures. With dirty models, unless it's a body, you should always at least brush off the worst of the dust and preferablly brush it ALL off! Rinse the model with water in the sink if you need to! Otherwise it's hard to tell if there's any flaws which may be important for someone who wishes to use it as a collector's piece or to show it. Even being dusty may make some people uneasy about wanting it as a body, because they don't know if that dust is *stuck* on there (which can be hard to get out of crevices and may cause problems later if they plan to paint it) or just hasn't been brushed off.

Is that paint flecks? Are any of those white dots rubs?
Hard to tell when it's so dirty!

You wanna just blow some air on it, don't you?

And the number one WORST thing you can do for ANY picture you have of a model you want to share or sell is blur. A blurry picture ruins detail and the model can't be seen. It's very frustrating because the human eye WANTS it to be in focus but it can't. Make sure your picture is in focus, and if you upload and it's STILL not, go back and take another picture until you get it right. Don't ever upload a blurry picture. Some parts can be blurry, like the background, but if you're focusing on a certain part, like the head, make sure that part is as clear as you can get it.

ARRGGHH!!!

So all in all, taking a good picture is not difficult, just takes some education and tricks of the trade. Don't skimp on lighting, feel free to take multiple pictures in case one doesn't take, and don't be afraid to edit with cropping and light/color balance to capture the true look of the model. You'll find a model will sell a lot better with a good picture than a bad one, and as an artist, your work will look a lot better and people won't think it's all screwed up with limbs and necks too long or heads too big.

A good picture to be proud of... happy shooting!

The Prodigal Children Return

I recently welcomed home two former customs of mine that I somehow managed to finagle out of the grip of their current owners for much less than their original cost. It's not often I can keep a custom, I usually need to sell whatever I make due to my less than ideal financial status (I'm dead broke about 99% of the time and that is no joke) and even rarer still to find and be able to purchase back a past piece. I have one or two that never left, and one that I bought back for a song.

First off, Prowler the Unicorn is home. And he is NEVER leaving again. It was a very heart wrenching situation (not to mention and fairly embarrassing snafu that happened during his sale but thankfully was sorted out). I've had this model since I was in high school and worked hard on him over the course of nearly a decade.

Original concept sketch I drew in Pre-Alegbra class when they were talking about,
like, fractions or something, who knows...

The initial hack and chop and bringing him together from a Hidaglo/Silver and a Sucession.

I never should have tried to sell him but you know me, I can't afford to keep anything I make. Thankfully when he was offered to me, I barely had enough spare cash to get him. (Thank you Breyerfest Raffle Model...) I really shouldn't have, logically I shouldn't have spared the money as I was sure to need it later (and it turns out, I did...) but sometimes, you need to say screw it to logic and find a way. This model taught me more about anatomy and sculpting than most of my customs combined. Many parts of him are 100% original... both shoulders, right haunch, tail, neck, chest (most of which I then covered by hair... derps).

I'm so sorry baby, I'll never let you go again!

Second, the original "Velocity" somehow made it back into my hands. "Velocity Rapture" was a Lonesome Glory I customized to a racking Saddlebred stallion back when I first started customizing "drastics." He was essentially my first "big" project and one that I was incredibly proud of when I created him. I kinda knew then and DEFINITELY know now he had his flaws, but he was special to me.

Original "Velocity Rapture" Painted chestnut. Didn't show well or sell so I thought perhaps it was his paintjob...

 

Yeah, painting him a "gold champagne" didn't help things either...

Eventually I stripped him and chopped him up some more in an effort to fix him and eventually just plain gave up, selling him down the river to whoever wanted to give him a shot.

As he looked when I sold him.

 

 

About a year ago, I tried again and created "Velocity" a vast improvement to my original idea. As you can see, my skill and growth as an artist did MUCH better justice and I also learned a lot more about Saddlebreds and what a proper, true rack should look like.

Much more lively, isn't she?

I was browsing on MH$P one night, checking out customized models (which I do from time to time to see what other folks are up to) and I found him... advertised as a "Racking Horse/Tennessee Walker" with a mane and tail that wasn't mine and stacked pads strapped on his feet, I still would recognize him anywhere: that lumpy shoulder that follows no anatomy whatsoever, a patch void of definition on the neck where I dremeled away his original mane, the landing hind foot that was not attached when I sent him off but now was in such a way I NEVER would have done. It had to be him... lo and behold, it was. But my heart sank as I saw the icon at the top of the page:

"ON HOLD"

I sent off an email anyway, begging that the seller contact me if the sale didn't go through or to give my email to the new owner. She assured me she would and I heard nothing for a couple weeks. Then, out of the blue: "The buyer never paid, do you still want him?"A week later, he was back in my possession (and apparently became a "her" at some point...) It seems he found his way to a customizer of about "equal-to-me-then-skill"... the paint was laid on thick, air bubbles weren't filled in, spaghetti legs were just as I left them, etc. Someday, I plan on "fixing" him (i.e. full and total resculpt armature). Until then he rests as a testament to my skill of years past.

I'm done buying for a while, I just can't afford to do so, but when it's one as special as these two... sometimes, you got to find a way. It's so rare I get attached to ANY model, but when I do... well, love and logic mix about as well and oil and water.