Six Years Skin Cancer Free

In 2011, I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma - the mildest form of skin cancer.

It was a mark on my forehead.

It took 4 hours to remove all the "runners" and 36 stitches.

I have gone yearly for a check up and today was that day. I had 3 pre-cancerous spots removed (spots that they feel could turn but are not at this time and 2 moles that were not cancerous). And I got the ALL CLEAR!! No "active" skin cancer. 

I am HUGE HUGE promoter of sunscreen for ANYONE - not matter your skin type. And my favorite is :

It's not heavy and greasy feeling and it lasts. I use it daily - spring, summer, fall and winter on my face. It doesn't cause break outs or anything for me and I have VERY sensitive skin. For the rest of my body I use just the regular coppertone 50. 

PLEASE PLEASE get your skin checked out once a year at least. I know in Estes there are free screenings at a lot of the local clinics. Please check in your neighborhood or call your doctor. 

Model Horse Blab Spring Swap 2017

Every year Model Horse Blab does a Spring Swap. You don't have to be a great artist to participate, you just have to be willing to try. Minimum requirement is $10. You answer a short questionnaire about yourself:

Your Blab user name:
Your real name:
Shipping address:
Willing to ship internationally?:
Willing to be a back up if needed?:
Favorite SM mold: 
Favorite horse color:
Favorite non horse related color:
Deco or realistic:
What treats do you like:
Any other likes:
Any allergies or other things your partner needs to know: 

And then you are paired with a partner. 

This is what I sent my partner this Spring: 

She liked blue and this Stablemate Mustang model - so I painted him in acrylics and sent along some chocolate and a cute stuffed horse that neighs. 

My partner sent me this great package that I received today:

A horse plaque, thestral sticker, 2 bags of oreos, 3 bags of haribo bears, color pencil book, owl, owl book and a painted model horse. 

Here is a better shot of the model:

It's always fun to see what other people create from the information you give them. 

NaMoPaiMo - National Model Painting Month - Completed Model

So I am very excited to say I completed my entry model for NaMoPaiMo. See my original post here.

I hate taking progress photos. Mostly due to my own insecurity in my abilities, but I feel like it's always awful.

The wonderful thing about this group is that there are all levels of artists and everyone else is posting progress pictures - some are always excellent and some were like mine and had issues. It has been one of the best painting experiences I have ever had.

So here is the progress of my model.

Original Model  - Safari 1:24 Scale TWH in rust primer

Acrylic base coat with first layers of pastels - EWW

Acrylic base coat with first layers of pastels - EWW

About 15 layers in pastels now

About 15 layers in pastels now

Completed model - 35 pastel layers, acrylic hooves, eyes and ribbon

Completed model - 35 pastel layers, acrylic hooves, eyes and ribbon

Completed model - 35 pastel layers, acrylic hooves, eyes and ribbon

Completed model - 35 pastel layers, acrylic hooves, eyes and ribbon

Completed model - 35 pastel layers, acrylic hooves, eyes and ribbon

I am very pleased with my completed model and here is the reference photo that I used. I feel that I really got close to this color. 

I am so grateful for this experience and I hope they do it next year too! 

NaMoPaiMo - National Model Painting Month

The month of February I am participating in the Facebook group NaMoPaiMo - National Model Painting Month.

See group here

I have painted models for a long time and had some sales but I have never felt my work was very good. I have had some work qualify for the North American Nationals (NAN) but nothing that has won the big awards.

This group has all levels of model artists from Beginner to Advanced and I actually felt the need to participate. I have been considering leaving the hobby for a while now because I have just not felt I could compete.

For some reason, the creation of this group inspired me to step back in and really try again, a lot harder. Seeing the posts from all of the others participating really inspired me and I am grateful for the groups creators.

I have done the NaNoWriMo for writing the last 2 years and failed miserably with writing. I am hoping my painting won't fail as badly.

This is my victim - Schleich Tennessee Walking Horse. It is not a model that will win anything big at any show but it is a model I like and will help me build my confidence back up.

I can't wait to see everyone's completed models - it's very exciting. 

My only problem is - I don't know WHAT color to paint mine! haahahha - and the art starts today!!!

Bury your poverty, Dig up your wealth 2016-2017

Okay folks! It's New Year's Eve today!! And I stole this from my friend Chris Wallbruch - I tried it in 2013 and it was an OK year - I tried it again in 2014 and while it was a rough year - this DID work for me. I did this in 2015 and while the end of the year was not what I expected - it was a very good year. 2016 has just been a bitch and while I had no great windfall I have always had the funds to pay what needed to be paid, so I think it counts.

It is time to bury your money!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this tradition, what you do is bury a dollar (or any amount above a dollar that you want) in the soil on New Year's Eve. This can be in a houseplant if the ground is frozen or inaccessible, but I like to go outside, dig a hole, and drop my dollar in. (I put it in a plastic bag). As you bury said dollar, say out loud, "I am burying my poverty!" TIP - if you do this outside, make sure you place some sort of marker where you bury your buck.

On New Year's Day, dig UP the dollar, and as you do so, say out loud, "I am unburying my wealth!"

You can't spend the dollar - you can either keep it or give it away to charity. Giving it away is the best so you are less likely to spend it.

This tradition is supposed to give you an unexpected windfall of money during the year.

I have had money come to me the 4 years I have done this - while not what I would call a windfall it helped me out of tough times so I am NOT complaining.

It is a tradition I plan on keeping every year and I thank Chris for pointing me to it!!

Painted Sea Shells and Wood Pieces

Growing up, all I ever wanted to paint or draw was horses. Art teachers in Grade School and High School frustrated me to no end wanting me to draw anything else, so in 9th grade I quit drawing and taking any kind of art classes.

I had been learning model horse painting from Chris (Cook) Flint and I even stopped that, regretfully now.

Art became like poetry too me, something I didn't like. Oh I dabbled at still painting models but was more frustrated than anything.

It took a lot of years and finally just giving into the urge to actually sit and paint models and work at getting better. With that came the urge to do flat work again.

I bought some very small canvas - like 4x6 - to practice on.

As you can see I was not that good at depth or even the shapes but I did try. Frustration still abounded and still does but I have started to do other things to teach myself painting technique since I can't find someone to help me learn that doesn't want to charge me hundreds of dollars. 

I came across some wood pieces and sea shells and thought well I will try my hand at those. These were my first attempts at the wood pieces.

These were my first attempts at painting on the sea shells

I stopped painting them for a while because, again, the frustration was building. Recently, I purchased about 20 large sea shells for a really cheap price at a thrift store and thought - what the heck just start painting. 

While I have a long way to go - I am liking how they are turning out and I am learning more and more about getting everything where I want. 

Chestnut and Bay - 2 Months of Painting

I am working on other blogs - topics of interest to me but I am still editing them. This one is just models that I have painted in from Sept 1-Nov 1.  I seem to have been in a chestnut and bay faze but I feel I have improved with each model.

1:12 scale Breyer Classic Man O War painted by me in Pastels and acrylics

1:32 scale Moonlit Dale Resin painted by me in pastels and acrylics

1:32 scale Moonlit Dale and Night Heather Resins together

1:32 scale Night Heather resin painted by me in pastels and acrylics

 

1:32 scale Ertl Plastic QH painted by me in pastels and acrylics

1:32 scale Unknown Plastic Faux Breyer FAS to bay in pastels and acrylics by me

1:32 scale Breyer Stablemate Driving Horse to bay splash in pastels and acrylics by me, sculpting by Heather Kapica

Laura Behning Working Western 1:32 scale resin painted by me to bay in pastels and acrylics