Painted in 2023

Another year gone by, and it's time for my annual recap of all the custom horses I've painted...

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28 this year, a much lower total but I'm still pleased - there were a couple of long pauses where I didn't paint any at all, so I'm just happy that I didn't stop entirely, and picked up the paintbrushes again after the months when nothing happened

There's also two or three scattered through here which haven't actually been introduced and explained on the forum yet, but I'll get round to writing about them and sharing bigger pictures in my Tales From The Body Box customs thread at some point

24 solid colours, one spotted, and just three pintos this year, I'm finally getting out of the habit of wanting to paint every pony patchy

None are colours I'd never painted before, though quite a few are different variations or shades, or experimental paint application techniques, which make them still slightly different to my previous interpretations of coat colours. There's a fleabitten grey speckled with pencils rather than just paint, a couple of metallic chestnuts, and one where the customising project included a whole new hairstyle and show tack too.

And, like last year, I've managed to add quite a few 'firsts' to the list of breeds I've painted : Sorraia, Welsh Sec C, French Trotter, Kerry Bog Pony, Kabardin, Don, Chincoteague, Sandalwood, Muraközi, and Gelderlander.

Unfortunately, not all of them have names yet, but really I wanted to post my recap on the final day of the year, and will fill in all those blank spaces later as I think of them!

28 is a very good number, especially considering how perfectly you paint each piece. Interesting, I know a collector of dogs who loves to paint his spare models, I'd say 80% of them are pinto like colors. There's a kind of pinto fever among talented people. Have a great 2024!

well done George! great to see all your efforts in one picture - I expect there are many many hours invested in there

That's very funny about pinto coloured dogs Roger! I must say I do love the pinto / paint pony pattern myself

I've no idea how long it would all add up to, usually about half an hour per custom, but longer for the fiddly colours

Happy new year for 2024!

28 is a really incredible number, I think, even though I know you have done more in past years! Each one is so meticulous. I'm glad you didn't set down the brush for too long. :)

I love little Snap Dragon and Greenbriar, and I am still blown away from all the work on the Stone model. I think it's great that you give the same level of attention to "ordinary" chestnuts and bays and what not as to flashier colors, and your dedication to accurate breed representation makes your customs just as educational as they are lovely to look at.

Wonderful to see all the colour variations. Horses colours provide a great opportunity for artists. It requires a lot of practice and talent to paint horses so perfectly in only half an hour. Did your first horses take longer?

Wonderful selection of beautiful repaints