Sunday, January 11, 2015

Studio Update: January 11

This week has been all over the place.


I've entered this weird, transitional phase of studio life, thanks to my decision to attend two back-to-back performance shows in March. So in addition to the current orders I'm working on, I have a lot of work to do for myself to try and get a head start on improving my performance entries, rather than waiting until the week before the shows and throwing everything together (which I've definitely never done before...). 

Naturally, now that I have so much legitimate work to get done, I decided it was time to try micro scale tack. 



That adventure lasted about an hour, before I decided that micro is way, way too small for me. However, it sure made Stablemate tack seem large and manageable!

I also...


...realized it's high time to order new stirrups, and apparently make a side saddle!



At Sweet Onion Live last summer, I drooled over Leah Koerper's incredible mini scale dolls, and resolved to one day have little riders of my own. This has been quite the adventure. 

First, I decided to give a whack at just sculpting a doll entirely from scratch...


...but sculpting is hard, and I was really frustrated with her leg-to-saddle ratio. I'm keeping her around, but I think if I'm going to go that route, I either need to make her larger or make a smaller saddle to fit her. Ugh.

Frustrated with that, I took a hacksaw to one of my plastic dolls and tried to alter her into the kind of position I'm going for. She's really, really rough right now, but I think this is headed in the right direction?


Her arms need a lot of help!
With all this work on dolls, though, I'm feeling torn: On one hand, I think a doll could really help my performance entries look more complete and put-together, and give them an extra edge they need. On the other hand, I'm terrified of unknowingly having a doll with slightly incorrect positioning or not perfectly fitting the tack, and having it hurt my otherwise good entry. Non-articulated dolls are definitely hit-or-miss in that if there's something fundamentally wrong with her, I can't just adjust it later!

I'm totally open to constructive criticism at this point- what do you think? Keep going and adjusting her, or just leave her off altogether and play it safe?




2 comments:

  1. The sculpted doll looks like maybe she needs to be pushed down from the waist to get her rump more in the seat of the saddle. A great first effort.
    The second doll has good potential. I wouldn't give up. There are always classes (like games) where having a doll is pretty much required. In those classes your improved people will give you the advantage. I vote keep going! So...does this mean you're planning on my show? :)

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    1. Thank you so much for your thoughts! I've been plugging away at the second doll, and she's already looking much cleaner and more correct.

      Sending in my entry form today! I can't wait!

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