Feedback on first-timer dapples?

[mamakaroti]

Howdy! After 2 error-prone attempts at customizing a traditional Breyer (I'm a beginner), I've decided to start smaller and practice my skills on Stablemates first! So I'm wondering if I can get some feedback from some of you on my first attempt at dappling a bay? First time I did them, they were way too big (guess I'm really challenging myself trying to dapple a stablemate, but he looks much more interesting with them). So I re-did them to a more reasonable size. I have a reference photo I am using, but there' only so much I can get out of a one-sided photo of a horse. The dapples are still bigger than in the reference photo, but I'm wondering if some horses have bigger dapples than others, or are they still too big? Are they in the right locations on the horse? Are they too circular? The right color? I am happy to get any constructive feedback. Thanks!! :bloom:

Carolyn

http://members.cox.net/mamakaroti/Dapples.jpg

[lonesome_glory_2007]

Honestly, I think he looks nice. The dapples look right to me, but bear in mind that I'm no expert! Keep it up-- you're doing good! :grin

[Red Wolf]

Looks good to me. They stand out nicely, but are still pretty subtle. And they don't look like polka dots! Good job.

Erin

[reggieqh]

I like it!

[thebillybo]

I like 'em! I looked at the picture before I read what you wrote about them, I definitely didn't notice that you were considering them to be too big. I really do like them! Now to see if I can get mine to turn out 1/2 that good... Lol!

Keep up the good work!

[mamakaroti]

Cool--thanks for the input. I think I'll keep them the size they are, then. I don't think I could make them too much smaller anyway, 'cause he's such a little guy!!

[ravensgate]

Great job! First time!??? you brat:)

[WSTopDeck]

Wow, those are nice! But, yes, they are in the correct place. A general rule of thumb is that there usually won't be dapples in areas where pangare may be found.

[mamakaroti]

What's "pangare"?

[WSTopDeck]

Pangare is where the horses hair is lighter than the rest of the coat. Flanks, armpits, muzzle, buttocks, and eyes.

The lighter areas on the following horses:

http://www.icelandichorse.is/pangare/PangareSkardarett.jpg

http://www.horsedesigns.com/drafts/butt.jpg

http://www.denverbryan.com/Newsite/Horses/4/00637-00211.jpg

[mamakaroti]

Thanks! There's my new word for the day!

[nekomi]

It's been said already, but I think he's gorgeous!!! Especially for a first time! If you wouldn't have mentioned it, I never would've known you're a beginner. :)

What technique are you using for the dappling?

[mamakaroti]

Thanks for the compliment--it makes me feel good, especially since I just had a bad experience with my first go round on a POA (see thread "I'm such an idiot"). I actually was kindof scared to try the dapples, but I just started playing around with the paint and eventually figured out what did and didn't work. I used oils and painted the base coat, blending my light and dark colors. While the base coat was still wet, I used the lighter color to touch on the dapples as *randomly* as I could, then stippled them slightly so they blended with the base coat color and were more subtle. My first time around, the dapples were TOO BIG. So then I randomly put smaller dapples between the bigger ones and tried to make the bigger ones smaller by pulling in the darker undercoat on each dapple. That's what ultimately seemed to work in the end. Hope you can follow my rambling. :)

On a more random note, I just cut the ear off of my Clyde mare I'm working on b/c I think her ears are kindof weird and want to change them. Does anyone else feel a little weird hacking off body parts, or is it just me??

[mamakaroti]

BTW, Nekomi, where in Ohio do you live? I live in AZ now, but was born and grew up in Ohio. Columbus and Bellefontaine areas. My family's still in Bellefontaine.

[moonroof]

On a more random note, I just cut the ear off of my Clyde mare I'm working on b/c I think her ears are kindof weird and want to change them. Does anyone else feel a little weird hacking off body parts, or is it just me??

Hahahaha . . . for whatever reason, it doesn't really bother me very much - maybe because in general it's very much a transitional stage for me, and I can kind of imagine the part being where I want it to eventually be. However, my sister (also a collector, but not a customizer) is horrified!! :shocked She loves the end results and understands what it takes to get there, but would rather not see "parts," especially heads. Before she comes into the studio, she often asks me, "Is it safe?" :haha

Lexie


The dapples look great! :bloom:

[isabelle]

On a more random note, I just cut the ear off of my Clyde mare I'm working on b/c I think her ears are kindof weird and want to change them. Does anyone else feel a little weird hacking off body parts, or is it just me??

I totally do! I just bought a POA specifically for CM-ing... and im not sure ill be able to bring myself to do it! Its so hard... but worth it in the end! Love the dapples btw- wish i could get them right! :)

[mamakaroti]

Thanks!

So I sculpted new ears for my Clydesdale gal and feel a little better about it now... :grin

[mamakaroti]

I thought I'd post a couple newer pix of my SM Morgan--he's almost done.

[mamakaroti]

And here's the other side...

[WSTopDeck]

He's looking GREAT!!! Keep up the good work! :thumbsup

[MGR]

Very fantastic!! Wow! I STILL can't dapple that well. :haha

[lunarune]

he's great!!! my 1st dapples will never see the light of day lol! great job!

[mamakaroti]

Thanks, guys! :bloom:

[mamakaroti]

So I have a question...I painted little horse shoes on my SM morgan b/c I think he looks really cute with them, but I haven't seen many horses with painted-on shoes. I am not, however, going to try to sculpt teensy little shoes for this guy. If he ever ends up at a show, is it "undesirable" to have painted-on shoes? Should I lose the shoes?

[Beyondanytherapy]

No, I paint shoes on my guys all the time. There are tons of horses out there who have them painted on. It looks very nice if done properly, and will only add to the beauty!

[mamakaroti]

Here he is, all done. I went ahead and put him up for sale on eBay since I don't show. He's not perfect, but I think he's kindof cute. I'll be happy if someone else loves him and gives him a home. :)
http://i10.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/f9/a7/60_3.JPG

[mamakaroti]

http://i15.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/fa/c0/a0_3.JPG

[Mithren]

Very nice! I love his dappling. :)

[samantha k.]

:wow I think he looks GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:adore:adore

If I wasn't broke I would totally bid!:):):)

[mamakaroti]

Awww...thanks. :hugg Even though this guy had some little imperfections, he was my favorite of the two stablemates I had on eBay. I'm glad b/c the lady who bought him is going to show him. :D

[samantha k.]

Oh gees! I didn't even notice the date of your post!

Well I'm glad he sold to a good home:)

[MirrorBayFarms]

Too bad for me.. I totally would have bought him directly from you!

[mamakaroti]

Too bad for me.. I totally would have bought him directly from you!

Thanks for the vote of confidence--sorry you missed him!

Right now I'm working on pastelling a Lady Phase into a smutty/dappled palomino. At the moment, though, she looks like my old palomino QH mare after a good roll in the mud!! :lol I'll see if I can post a pic later, before I do anymore work on her--I think she's pretty funny-looking.

[mamakaroti]

Just thinking outloud here...

After I wrote that last post this morning, I was thinking about how fun it would be to do a very old, retired-to-backyard-pasture-type-horse. I'm thinking the Old Timer mold without the tack, sway-backed, shaggy mane and tail, maybe even a bald spot on the tail where he's been rubbing against the fence, ears cocked back in an "I-don't-care-bout-nothin-attitude", eyes half-closed in doze, droopy lower lip (my old mare used to have that--wouldn't that be awesome??), dirty unshod hooves with a few chips, a few maneuer stains, and some caked-on mud complete with texture to make it seem realistic. Wouldn't that be awesome?? Am I demented? I think it would be so much fun to make...and I have the whole summer off starting next week! Yippee!!

Oh, yea, and how 'bout a few burrs in the tail and forelock? :jar:

[tinnggg]

Sounds like the Yucky resin

[mamakaroti]

Someone did a RESIN like that? Cool! Do you know any links to pictures of it? I'd love to see it. :clap

[mamakaroti]

Nevermind--I found it on the resin list. He looks pretty good for being "yucky"! I had an even "yuckier" image in mind for what I was thinking...

[tinnggg]

I'd like to see old fart representatives of some less generic looking breeds. Like an Arab. LOL! You almost never see the geriatric Arabs who look their age.