In the mid '80s, I taught myself how to paint model horses using oil-based paints. Yes, instead of painting on canvas, I paint on 3-D models! They can be any size, too. The horse at the right is about 11" by 8", while the unicorn at the bottom of the page is about 2" by 2". Sometimes I work with *really* small brushes!My repainted horses won many ribbons and awards at model horse shows. Picture an art show judge examining painted model horses on a table and it will give you an idea of how the horses are judged. Two of my buckskin Quarter Horses even took Reserve Halter Champs titles in successive years. That's the second highest award you can get at a show. The buckskin Quarter Horse stallion pictured above (right) is ZIK ZAK, one of the champs. I painted him in oils and glued on a mohair mane and tail to make him look real. I also made the leather halter he is wearing.
FAWLTY TOWERS, my first remade custom horse, won several rosettes at her first live show, Marney Walerius' "Model Horse Congress" held in Illinois. This horse (pictured at the left) is a sorrel semi-leopard Appaloosa mare. I actually had to cut off her head and neck to reposition it so she is looking down instead of up. I painted her in oils and gave her a mohair mane and tail. You can learn more about FAWLTY TOWERS and my other Appaloosas at Appaloosa Avenue.In the past few years, I've moved away from using oils. Although oil-based paints are easier to blend and shade, they are somewhat expensive, take a long time to dry, and are a mess to clean up. Today, I prefer to handpaint models using metallic acrylics. Acrylic paints are relatively cheap, tend to dry quickly, and are easy to clean up. Plain acrylics tend to look "flat," but if they are blended properly with metallics, the results are amazing; the horses look alive!
HORSES
LANCELOT, the dark bay Andalusian stallion pictured below, was painted with metallic acrylics. He is the Breyer Stablemate Andalusian mold, approximately 3" by 2.5". LANCELOT is owned by Wendy O.
EQUISAURS
Originating in prehistoric times, the Equisaur is the oldest of the fantasy equines! Equisaurs are part horse, part dinosaur. Their coats have a characteristic "dino-green" color with primative markings such as dorsal stripes and leg barring.The equisaur below was my first attempt at the "dino-green" design. He is the Breyer Stablemate rearing Arabain, approximately 3" by 3.5". Instead of using epoxy to make a new tail for him, I carved his old horse tail down and sanded it off for a nice smooth dino tail. This color/pattern is the prototype for my Equisaurus Idealus horse. He is owned by me.
HELIOS was a challenge from the beginning! He is made from the back of a plastic dinosaur body glued to the front of a Grand Champions Micro gaited horse! He is approximately 2.5" by 2". HELIOS has a spotted dorsal fan, resembling the rays of sunlight. He is owned by Wendy O.
This is the ultimate equisaur, Equisaurus Idealus. He is made from the Peter Stone Ideal Stock Horse mold, approximately 11" by 9". I created him as an entry for a Peter Stone model horse painting contest. He was a runner up in the contest! You can read all about this amazing horse by clicking HERE.
PEGATIELS
What do you get when you cross a horse with a cockatiel? A Pegatiel! I created these from two of my favorite animals. :o)This is a normal gray Pegatiel. His features include orange cheek patches on a yellow head, shaded body/wings, and a black-frosted mane. He's made from a Grand Champions Micro horse with plastic bird wings. He is owned by Lori H.
MERLIN is a whiteface Pegatiel. His features include a white head, shaded body/wings, and a black-frosted mane. He's made from a Grand Champions Micro horse with plastic bird wings. MERLIN is owned by Lori H.
UNICORNS
A fantasy collection wouldn't be complete without a unicorn. This is a chestnut and white pinto unicorn stallion made from a Grand Champions gaited horse. He is approximately 2" by 2" and is owned by me.
Photos and text Copyright 2002-2003 by Keri Krause. Please do not use this material without my permission. Thank you!Last updated: 10/22/03
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