I'm tickled to announce the winner, it was synergistic to see that it is her. She will appreciate the Dodo, since she is very involved in that sort of thing. Kristina Lucas Francis, your post of the PH Maggie won the contest using the Random Number Generator, and the Dodo will be coming to live with YOU! Congratulations!

8/13/15 Jennifer Kroll sculpted this Dodo, and here is the first test piece. There are five more bisques waiting to be glazed, but I wanted to try a few techniques, such as rubbing off and leaving color in the white feathers, and washing the green underglaze into the base and around the rocks. I think he turned out great, and this one will be given to the winner of the latest contest. (the winner will be announced this afternoon, but I already know who it is. The best part of a lottery ticket is anticipating that you might have won, right?) I chose a slightly different color for him than Jenn did, as these colors work better for my palette, and this coloration is from an old lithograph, so is very likely correct...

(Note from your webmistress.. this was a contest that Joanie ran on Facebook in the beginning of August.) Facebook is both an entertainment and a way to reach my customers. Now the Mini side of my life is supplying most of the FB posts in my feed, because Mini people post more often, and post more pictures of their cars. Let's have some fun.... post a picture of your favorite Pour Horse that you own, and tag me on your post! I'll choose one tomorrow by lottery and send them a special prize. Let's see those Pour Horses! Whether glazed by me or not!

Lyn Sherer Raftis: From the way back machine...the Suspiro I glazed at Joanie's back when I lived in San Diego. Sadly, he and all my Pour Horses were broken during the move from Texas back to CA.

Yashka Hallein: Joanie Berkwitz challenged us to post our favorite Pour Horse horses. I couldn't choose just one. They are like potato chips!!

Yashka Hallein: And how could I forget him?!

Shannon Southard: I have yet to do my own glamour shots of my china collection, but I have to say these are my favorites so far - photos courtesy of Joanie Berkwitz ~

Jennifer Lambert: My two Pour Horse molds for Joanie Berkwitz. CMG Collier by Jessica Fry and CMG Nomad by Leslie Kathman. Horrible pictures by me. :-)

Tracy Wells: An awesome combo. Maureen Love horse finished by Joanie Berkwitz.

Diane Gutzwiler: One of two custom glazed Dafydds by Joanie Berkwitz.

Diane Gutzwiler: Here's Montmorency the gargoyle. He sits on the hearth above the fireplace. He has asked that I do not dust around him since people will not fear him if he's dusty. Hence, he can continue to contemplate his plans for world domination. 

Joan Branstetter: This is the bay Owynn by Joanie Berkwitz.

Joan Branstetter: This is the Okie Rio red dun appaloosa by Joanie Berkwitz.

Jennifer Kroll: "Elidyr" my custom glazed Dafydd by Joanie of Pour Horse Pottery. So thrilled to have this guy in my collection after all the years of wishing. :-)

Julie Wagoner Harris: My favorite Pour Horse - "Irish Limerick". What a blast to show such a tiny thing in performance!!!

Marilyn Jensen: "Tempest" my custom glazed Stormwatch by Joanie Berkwitz.
A grail. A masterpiece. An inspiration. A chimer!

Maggie Shneider Barkovitz: Another piece I have always wanted & had the opportunity to purchase at BreyerFest this year, but under sad circumstances. From Keith's collection.

Susan Candelaria: My big guy.

Susan Candelaria: And then there's always....

Anna Tackett: My favorite two Joanie ponies.

Bev Manderfield: My favorite custom glaze china by Joanie Berkwitz. Not only is he a sculpture I coveted in resin and china form that I never thought Id get my hands on, not only because its a BAY ARAB, but also because it was originally owned and commissioned by Keith G. Bean and I was floored when he texted me with first dibs when he was looking to sell it, I had been at my new job just a few months but I knew I could finally actually afford such a nice piece even if I did have to make a couple pmts on him. Miss ya Keith! So glad I have Altair and Harley to remember you by.

Gail Berg: Putting things in perspective. Joanie Berkwitz's lovely work. A gargoyle (about 2" high), and her little Santa (mounted on a glass marble with some putty so it won't get as easily lost).

Tiffany Tran: CG Okie Clay. Like the OF, but with no appy pattern. Love him!

Chris Wallbruch; I have two more Pour Horses for Joanie Berkwitz to see...both custom glazed by Lesli Kathman!

Susan Hurst: My only two Pour Horse related items, they're both treasured. I love my Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig Otto mug and use it pretty much every morning. I am not really a sculptor, but Betsy Andrews asked me to come up with a piece for the 25th anniversary of MAR in 2005, and Joanie was kind enough to mold, cast and glaze them.

Beth Kusnetz: I know he's not a Pour Horse but I love him.

Kristina Lucas Francis: A fleabit Maggie Pour Horse that Joanie Berkwitz and I custom glazed together.

Melissa Gaulding: My favorite Pour Horse (in this case, a "true" Pour Horse) is this Hadrian, sculpted by Sarah Rose and produced by Joanie in a production run; however, this one was made as one of three awards for Elizabeth LaRose's show Skyline Live, to one of Joanie's exquisite "sputter" roans—AND he is made all the more special because he is a mistake—Joanie forgot to put black on his feet, so he has dark brown hooves! It has never affected his showing and he always places!

Melissa Gaulding: Kristina Lucas Francis sculpted a teensy horse called Collier and she and Joanie produced him in a Pour Horse production run. Many years later, Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig claybodied several Colliers. The roan is finished by Joanie, and the pinto (below) was finsihed by Lesli Kathman.

Melissa Gaulding: Uh oh, here's Dixon!

Melissa Gaulding: And then, finally, my favorite Hadrian that I have ever seen, finished by Lesli, here is Willem, who I actually got in one of her rare lotteries (you could have knocked me over with a feather!)--

Heather Malone: This is my favorite Pour Horse and probably my favorite in my collection. This is "Warburton", named for Patrick Warburton, who played "The Tick" in the live action series. Get it? CG Okie glazed by Joan!

Sarah Townsend: Joanie Berkwitz wanted to see our favorite Pour horses. Mine are my OF Nomad and my CMG Bressay by Lesli Kathman. I also love my Limerick that Lesli glazed and show her in Performance!
The Tarpan shows as Butawhiteboy Cantbekhan, Bressay is Blush and Bashful, and Limerick is Violet (named by Lesli)

Christina Dils: My all time favorite Pour Horse picture. Caption is "Nomad is an Island". I took this pic about 10 years ago for one of Liz Holm's photo shows.

Teresa Fedak: Here is my custom glaze Dafydd, beautifully glazed by Joanie Berkwitz. He has been a successful show horse for me. Multiple top tens at NAN in both breed and workmanship, plus a Reserve Champ in 2008, when I first took him. Besides all that, he is special to me because he was named for my two dogs, Gyspsy Rebel. Gypsy has since gone over the rainbow bridge, but will always hold a special place in my heart. So he always makes me think of her. Here he is winning Reserve Overall Champ Custom Glaze at High Country Live last year. Thank you Joanie!!

Jackie Arns-Rossi: Joanie Berkwitz asked for pictures of our favorite Pour Horses. This Collier was glazed by Lesli Kathman and was gifted (!!!) to me by my bestie Heather Malone. To my surprise, he never got a name, so I dubbed him Herschel.

Cynthia Shepard: My Pour Horse representative Twelfth Night.... A beautiful grulla from Joanie who "glows" like moonlight.

Chris Wallbruch: This is Gaspar, and he has won a TON for me. He is also a NAMHSA Register of Merit!

Charlie Chipscat: My one and only Pour Horse and I just love him.

Charlie Chipscat: Wow, I found two more PHP pieces hiding in my stash.

Charlie Chipscat: Here is a WTW that my mother has. Nice flea bitten.

Celeste Alvarez Plitz: I lost my phone so no way to take pics right now, but I can use the ones already on here! (Otherwise my Taboo would be on this list! ). I love my combo Joanie and me pieces, though! I treasure them not only because I think they're beautiful, but also because of the time I got to spend with Joanie creating them. She has taught me so much! And she knows all the best restaurants. A custom Okie Joanie and I did. I won the bisque at a workshop several years ago. I was so thrilled!

Celeste Alvarez Plitz: Hadrian!

Margaret Para: Choose, I have to choose?? My WTW is buried in the curio cabinet, and I have always enjoyed Limerick. I missed out on Voltage and Owen, those two really were favorites but only bought bisque and then sold them.

Juan John Vallejo: Had to choose my two Bressays! I love them!

Kay Myers: My lovely Saucy. Laurie Jo Jensen glazed her. Her belly reads: JENSEN "SAUCY" TEST 95.

Kimberley Harvey: Not a 3 dimensional piece, but a piece of Pour Horse history!

Lesli Kathman: This one is still one of my favorites. We had such a great time making these, and of course the idea and the name began at Pour Horse, too!

Elizabeth Bouras: my favorite Pour Horse is actually a cold painted custom, this is BACCHUS - Pour Horse "Saucy" slightly resculpted and painted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig to a beautifully shaded pale chestnut drafter. (1996)

Elizabeth Bouras: And my favorite by Joanie Berkwitz is this Horsing Around Cromwell custom glaze who I think is one of the prettiest dappled grey glazes I've ever seen!

Jessica Fry: My favorite Pour Horse, Suspiro by Joanie Berkwitz. He was (when I first got into china horses) my most sought after, and shockingly, other than the mini Hr's, my very first china horse. He opened the door to a very cool part of the hobby for me. He is still one of my top favorite china horses I own, right up there with the test HR Two Bits and HR white Sun Cortex. For many years he was my best show horse too, but has since been retired since I don't really show anymore.

Jessica Fry: This is a Frosty pony Joanie Berkwitz did for me a few years ago when she made the mold for me. Love this little pony, my lighting wasn't very good, he's so much cuter in person.

Jennifer Lambert: I have my gargoyle Tongshi, who sits on the bookshelf next to my Oceania.

Karen Malcor-Chapman: My two darlings.

Kelly Sealey: My very special Pour Horse, this model was part of an epic adventure and has so many special memories embedded in it.

Carrie Rouillard: Hard to pick one, but it's probably Sadie!

Mary Osedo: Definitely this baby. Memorial portrait of the first horse who got me involved in horse rescue.

Tracy Wells: love my OFC Okie, but this little Maggie is my favorite PH piece.

Kathleen Williams: Hmmmm... *very* hard to pick only one... I think this CG Suspiro from many years past is still a beauty!

Kathleen WIlliams:  And of course I love my Lippett too!

Dara West: Love my Lippett Joanie....

Dara West: Favoritest PH product....buckskin Suspiro... snagged one after 13 yrs...(aka Buzz Lightyear)

Teresa Candelaria: how to choose just one...!!! You are an amazing artist. And I can say I knew you when.

Marcy Myers: Peanut Butter Pixie.

Tammy Lee:  My favorite is my Pixie.

Tammy Lee: Guessing the Lippett will be a fan fave so will post a pic of him too.

Kim Bjorgo-Thorne: My all-time favorite, glazed in honor of my dad. Photo by Joanie.

Diana Dubbeld: Well I am late to the party/contest, but here is my only Joanie piece, my custom glazed Pokey with his OF sister Grumpy! Darn traveling for a family funeral kept me from knowing that was going on.

Lauren Lee: Late to the party, but I proudly have a Pour Horse, too!
No need to enter me in the contest, though, I just wanted to share how proud I am of my cousin!

Sandra Garner: I missed it too, but I think this is one of my favorites.

It's Thursday, and it's getting tiring, making molds during the day and casting in the evening. Looking forward to the weekend! Once you start making molds, you have to keep going until all of the pieces are made, because once the plaster dries out you can't add new wet pieces very easily. However, it needs to be done, because new molds make new horses, and some of these are long overdue. The highlight of today will be finishing the rubber mold on the Dodo.

We have a good rubber Dodo. One bubble in his wing, which can be fixed. Now to make a plaster mold on him! Well, three molds... A two part head and neck; a three part body (pouring through the neck) and a four part base/ leg mold. Fun!

 So tired last night, this is how the work table looked this morning. Now it's clean, and I am pondering Disembodied Dodo Legs. Where to start on them?

This is what I had in my head, but the reality leaves me doubtful. The legs are too firmly encased, they will not demold intact this way. So this piece will be further pared down, and at least two more pieces required, if not three. Time to stop and ponder.

t's a hot, humid Monday and the thrill of a new mold is the only thing keeping me going. We have achieved 2/3 of a Dodo. No legs yet, the mold isn't done, but the rest works great! He'll sit in a wet box for a week, waiting for his legs.

Working late again. The legs don't get attached until the seam cleaning is done.

One of the biggest rewards in moldmaking is being able to reproduce a piece of art, faithfully. Cutting up the master, so that you can reassemble it in another medium, multiple times. It's always interesting to see the 'birth' of the first casting.

I'll be making and selling them, yes, they won't be inexpensive though. The coloring will take some time.

  Oozlefinch is a historical figure, a mascot for the Air Defense Artillery.   The originals (here, from San Francisco) were plaster. Goofy, aren't they?

 I sculpted this one, I  think I got pretty close!

This is Oozlefinch Version II- I changed the eyes and feet to closer approximate the original. The outer toe on each side is shorter than the inner toe. I also deliberately tilted his head but that can be changed with each casting. This one captures the arch in the foot more accurately, and the eyes are also more correct to the original.

I won't be making the production on these, just the molds. But these ceramic castings are to get a good master for those molds. They  will be sold as a fundraiser for a San Diego historical site, Fort Rosecrans.

Collectors dream of finding important, unknown pieces at Estate Sales, it's the thrill of the hunt combined with the ache of *wanting it*. My friend Teresa Rogers clued me in on a sale in our area, warning me that there was a possibly important piece there by the sculptor Maureen Love, whose work we collect. I was involved in writing two early books about Maureen and her work. So, recruiting Craig, we all were in the driveway of this sale at 5 am, trying to beat the dealers. We found not one but TWO pieces that Maureen cast and glazed herself. Karma was very good to us. This is a MAJOR find. This is as close to the artist's work as you can get.

Mine was glued in a glass case...so I bought the entire case. We were afraid to bring her home glued into the case, the fabric was loose and the door was broken, so Craig went to the store and bought us scissors so that we could cut her off the fabric, sitting in Jack in the Box. It was freakin' weird.

I'm going to send her to Kristina Lucas Francis to restore and document, she has been doing the most excellent research on Hagen-Renakers, as well as fantastic restoration work. The horse deserves top notch restoration, and Kristina is among the very best.

The production piece is on the left, the original sculpt on the right. There is something very immediate and gestural, expressive, something more emotive about these original sculpts.

For more about this piece, please read Theresa Roger's excellent blog post.

 Have I been working hard? Well, I listened to one entire book on Audible yesterday, ten hours and a bit, and I only let it play when I am actually working. Today I have a twelve hour book ready to go. Three horses are being worked on right now. I've got my groove back. 
 
Below, detailing on a current project. This horse will be auctioned off when finished.

Below is the full view of the horse that I am working on. Still some tweaking to do, and that white leg will be dark (as Manchados tend to have dark legs with regular markings) You can see how small he is, and how easy it would be to break him. It's tense work but, in a way, very soothing. Another hour, and he will go into the kiln. This is the first of about four firings for him.  

The Manchados have white under their armpits, their... ahem... genital area, and white tails with dark tips, mostly. The tail tip will be the last thing to get painted, as that is where I hold him. They have dark heads, but the white is along their polls and over their ears, sometimes with spots on their ears. Since there are only about a dozen horses whose photos are known, there may be variations, but that is the general idea. The color originates at the poll/upper neck, and along the tail head/topline. If you don't have Lesli's book, you are SO missing out!

Below is the finished horse, now named is "Il Poeta". He's a Dante by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig, as an Argentine Criollo in a faded black manchado pinto. Slightly over 4" tall. (comparison is to a D cell battery) He is in a satin glaze. He will be auctioned off in the next week, and is going to make someone very, very happy.

Here is my Kiln God, who protects the ware and watches over the firing.

He's a 'Hammy', sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig, who is the sculptor of the three pieces in the firing tonight. So he will take extra pride in his work. 

Kiln Gods are, I think, a way of focusing your attention on the load, the proper setting up, and the firing itself. When most of the work comes before the firing, it's easy to slack off and feel like you are done when you get them into the kiln. But that's when you can mess up things! Luck in firing happens best when you are diligent.

Restoring an eartip on Joan Branstetter's Northlight Fjord, using Amazing Sculpt made by Debbi LerMond. I really like the texture of this sculpting medium! Super fine, long working time so you don't need to hurry.

Did a little sanding. The Amazing Sculpt has a very fine texture and sands nicely. Now I will mix the acrylic colors to spray on.

Didn't have the perfect red brown but it's very close. Applied the paint using thin washes and a little dry brush stippling. The inside of the ear will then get airbrushed.

Final finish. Not perfect but very close (and even closer in person) used brown black to spray inside of the ear, and a little mane touch up. Now for a very thin spray of Dullcote and he is done.

Blast from the Past... Kristina sculpted this calf in about 1994, before we started in ceramics. We cast him in resin, in two halves, and stuck him together like a beef dip sandwich! This is 'Custom #1' and I've listed him to MHSP in case there is an OF collector whose life is incomplete without him. Otherwise, I will keep him...