Abby's Customs! - Small Update 1st October p3

Today I received some pastels and fixative for my birthday!

My Andalusian foal was selected to be the first victim as he had lots of scuffs
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It took me quite awhile to build up the first layer of colour- I think the grey I was using at the beginning was to light
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Though in the next few steps, he ended up being a little too dark but hopefully I will learn how to refine this method more in the future-especially as this was my first pastel custom
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I didn't like him very much at all at first, however the unique coat colouring is rather charming (though I really need to work on painting eyes...he was terrifying for a long while )
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This is him just before his last coat of sealer and with his little acrylic hooves
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Overall I think this little project was a success considering that I had almost no idea what I was even aiming to do for a long while and it only took me a few hours, though I would love feedback and tips to help improve

Have a happy new year

You were good starting out with light grey pastels You want to slowly build up layers, adding a small amount of darker pigment for each layer. If you add too much dark too fast, the finish starts to get grainy. It's not uncommon to use 50+ layers on just one model.

I think he's very good for your first one! A few suggestions I would make are watch the hoof color - since the legs are all white (except for the front left, that one should be dark), the hooves should be a light shell color. I was planning on doing a tutorial for eyes, I keep forgetting to since I love panting eyes and just go through it It looks like the Schleich stamp is still on his belly? Perhaps your next one you might want to remove the stamp and do some prepping, it really makes the model look so much better.

I probably made it sound like he's not good, but really, you did an awesome job!

I agree with LeeAnn. Thats a very good for your first pastel repaint. I think this unique color suits quite well for her :) will we see the mare tomorrow? I saw she was in the backround there
When you paint eyes use the most small brush you have or get a couple of those. That makes it so much easier overall your foal is adorable! I got bitten by a repainter bug again too xD

Thank you for the feedback and advice LeeAnn and Jonas

I was originally going to take off the schleich markings, but I forgot until I started pastelling and was too lazy to start over
And as for the hoof colour.. I was aware that they should be shell coloured but I decided to ignore that fact and paint what I thought would look best (especially as she was pretty much grey scale-black hooves made more sense to me) Also, I was simply too lazy to get all of my paints back out and try to mix a suitable colour
I'm sure myself and many others would certainly benefit if you made an eye painting tutorial
Thank you for the tip on the layering too, I was actually trying to figure out why the finish was grainy in some areas!

Jonas, you have a very good eye there! I was originally going to paint her as a buckskin or palomino but I might start over and pastel her too..hmm so many decisions

Just a short update today:
On the weekend I customised a blank stablemate using my grey scale pastels I'm definitely getting the hang of them now-just a little more practise needed

Unfortunately I've had lots of school work and one of my dogs was hit by a car so I haven't been able to update this thread until now, though the dog had no serious injuries- the vet was so confused! I guess he's magical  

These photos were taken in such horrible lighting, so you'll just have to imagine that the colours are beautiful It generally gets dark by the time I'm home from school so it would be a while if I waited for sunshine! 
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I ordered several packs of unpainted stablemates from UH (I'm addicted!) so I would imagine that many future updates will be about them  
Thank you for viewing and have a nice day

That's a really nice color, Abby! I think you're better with acrylics already now! Love his light hoofs
I'm glad that your dog is ok! And hey - I understand what you mean about the darkness that comes so early. You know Finland's winter

He's very pretty in grey!

I just wanted to note - you don't have to buy unpainted models to customize them. You can just spray primer right over OF models and you're good to go.

Thanks guys

LeeAnn wrote:

I just wanted to note - you don't have to buy unpainted models to customize them. You can just spray primer right over OF models and you're good to go.

Thank you for he information LeeAnn, they were actually on sale three or four for £5 which was an incredible deal considering they sell for about £3 each...I couldn't resist

That's an excellent deal!

Nice work! Like them a lot!

For about three weeks I have been using my new earth-toned pastels to customise a Breyer stablemate, he is not finished yet as it has taken me a while because of school commitments etc, but here are the results thus far!

His first few layers were a subtle 'lemon yellow'

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Before long, he started to turn to a dark brownish colour
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Then today I started adding dark-points on his legs
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I really like how he has turned out so far and I hope I'll be able to finish him soon

I was also inspired to start working on my Breyer Morgan foal-I think I will make her into a buckskin, though I'm still unsure.
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Thank you for reading

Looking good!

Aw that pony is so cute! xD Cant wait to see them all finished I really like seeing your horses!

I'm finally back from Iceland (it was a fantastic trip!) and I'm embarking upon a week of exams..that means not a lot of time to paint horses
Yet I found some time to paint in between revision

First up is this stablemate which is painted in acrylics
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He was my first attempt of painting more detailed eyes
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Then I decided to pastel a horse

This is it in various stages of completion
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This is how he currently looks, I haven't finished painting his mane and tail, or his hooves, eyes and general details (but hopefully I will get chance to soon!  )
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Thank you for viewing

Love the andy!

Thank you Leeann

Nice work again!

sadie3112 wrote:

I'm finally back from Iceland (it was a fantastic trip!) ....  

Ohhh ! You lucky banana
It is my dream to be able to go there some day

Do you have any pictures ?

....

Beautyful repaints, - I adore that little pony too, and the pinto foal is gorgeous

Looking good already!!

Wow you were in Iceland! That must have been a great trip! Did you see iceys? :)
I love the last repaint! Very beautiful color

looking good so far
When you have time; 1 done 3 to go hahah ^^
That how it work with me to!
Begin on one don't finish start another one ...
yeah .. finally you will see the are going to be awsome

JonasV wrote:

Did you see iceys? :)

We saw so many! They absolutely love their Iceys haha
I currently have a French exchange student with me this week, but hopefully I can grab my photos of Iceland and upload some of them for you all to see And if I'm lucky I may eventually finish customising these horses too!

sadie3112 wrote:

JonasV wrote:

Did you see iceys? :)

We saw so many! They absolutely love their Iceys haha
I currently have a French exchange student with me this week, but hopefully I can grab my photos of Iceland and upload some of them for you all to see And if I'm lucky I may eventually finish customising these horses too!

That's the thing Iceland is famous about
Oh yes it would be awesome to see photos! And of course it's always exciting to see what you've been doing for your customs victims
Btw, have you been able to get your paints and brushes on those horses I sent you? ; D

It's funny you ask Jonas, I prepped the hanoverian mare you sent me a little while ago but never got round to actually started customising her!

Here she is after a few layers of grey pastels:
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I hope I'll be able to finish her sometime soon

I was also finally able to come close to finishing this little guy
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He only needs his eyes to be painted then he's finished! I really like how he came out
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And since i'm currently on a two week Easter break from school, I thought I would give myself a break from revision and do some more customising
This classic scaled foal has become a little experiment of mine and I really like how she has come out so far
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Thank you for viewing, I hope to update this thread fairly soon

The shetty looks good in bay! Is he going to have any chrome?