30 Colour Ideas

Happy Friday everyone! If you are feeling like doing a bit of customising over the weekend I have put together a list of 30 awesome real horses that I think would make really cool model horse customs. Feel free to have a look through, feel inspired and maybe steal one for your own custom projects this week.

1. Black Akhal Teke

Image: By User:Artur Baboev - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27441300

The show ring is full of lovely cream dilute Akhal-Teke with shimmering coats so why not try something a bit different? This black is absolutely beautiful, his ginger highlights look almost bronze in the sun. A really stunning horse that would look amazing as a custom.

2. Very Pink Appaloosa

Image: By bankerssilvermoon - DSC05703, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5053401

Somebodies just had a bath! I love how pink the skin on this Appaloosa is. He also has a really unusual pattern with lots of mapping and grey as well as quite subtle spots. Definitely something a bit different if you are going for a spotted.

3. Another Spotty Bum

Image: By own work by original uploader, which was RL65 at fr.wikipedia - Personnelle, own work, Transferred from fr.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6014572

The blanket on this guy is just spectacular, he would make an amazing custom.

4. Another Appaloosa

Image: By Daniel Johnson - originally posted to Flickr as 20070518_1898, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8289477

I may have gotten slightly distracted by spotted horses. Anyway here is another gorgeous and slightly unusual Appaloosa. I love the way the white speckles across his withers and down the shoulder.

5. Rabicano Arabian

Image: By Montanabw - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10254170

A lovely chestnut rabicano Arabian. This one would also make a great drastic custom if you are feeling a little bit more adventurous.

6. Dapple Bay Bardigiano

Image: By Fioravante Patrone - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13031205

The dapples on this guy are absolutely gorgeous. I also love the heavy contrast in colour throughout his coat. He would make a really dramatic bay custom.

7. Fluffy Dole

Image: By HaXXa - Own work by the original uploader, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4889769

I love the white this guy has flecks of white throughout his mane. I also like the dramatic contrast between his light coat and dark mane and tail.

8. Another Dapple Bay

Image: By I, Rozpravka, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2499106

Another lovely dapple bay with really heavy dappling throughout his coat. This guy is an Estonian Native if your curious as to breed.

9. Dun Fjord

Image: By Plasma at French Wikipedia - Transferred from fr.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1785872

Fjords are so much fun to paint with their lovely dun colouring and their dramatic contrasting manes. Here you can see a lovely example of the black and white of the mane.

8. Soft Chestnut

Image: By RMBlaney - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113952868

I love how soft the colour on this Galiceno is, she almost looks palomino with her light colouring. Would make a beautiful custom chestnut and suit so many different breeds or moulds.

9. Dappled Haflinger

Image: By Matthias Walther, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11986845

This isn't the best angle but check out the amazing dapples on this Haflinger. A good reference for what the dapples look like from the front as well. Would make a cute little pony custom. Also bonus foal.

10. What the Heck?

Image: By 4028mdk09 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15298674

Sorry I couldn't resist. Anyway look at this unusual native pony style colouring. I particularly like the strong black contrast lines around the ears. O and bonus foal again! (if you don't understand the joke this is a Heck Horse)

11. Light Dun

Image: By Eponimm - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20278727

I really like the colour of this dun, it isn't your usual dun colour and I think he would be a great custom for a pony mould. He is a Henson Horse.

12. Another Bay

Image: By Tuxer2002 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8038902

This is another lovely bay with lots of contrast. This Latvian Horse has some subtle dappling but what I love about him is the highlights and his deep rich red coat.

13. Red Chestnut

Image: By ABTiede - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81027793

I love the deep red chestnut of this Nordlandsest with his red mane and tail to match. Would make a really dramatic custom for a horse you want as a nice rich red chestnut

14. Dramatic Markings

Image: By Gilberto D Junqueira - originally posted to Flickr as colorado rn, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8782840

Although this isn't a very good image you can still clearly see the dramatic markings on this Mangalarga. Maybe combine it with the chestnut above to give a really cool colour combination?

15. Heavy Dapple Grey

Image: By Fábio Vidigal - Arquivo do Rancho Haras Quitumba, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10697750

I love the dapples on this dramatic dapple grey Mangalarga Marchador. Would make a beautiful custom on a huge variety of models.

16. Black Marwari

Image: By Virendra.kankariya - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5091926

I love the markings on this Marwari. There is something so gorgeous about a black horse with heavy white markings. It's a nice shaded black colour as well.

17. Spotty Baby

Image: By JC i Núria - originally posted to Flickr as Cavall a la reserva Nez Perce, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5169909

Another really nice spotted horse. This is a Nez Perce youngster who has a lovely blanket pattern. A good reference for a yearling or similar.

18. Lovely Dapples

Image: By Pieter Delicaat - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150009347

Another horse with really lovely dapples. I love the contrast on this Black Forest's coat and the gorgeous star dapples around his barrel.

19. More Dapples

Image: By Pieter Delicaat - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150009363

Another lovely Black Forest (although actually I think it could be the same horse as above in better lighting)! Anyway nice dapples!

20. Red Bay

Image: By Véronique Mestre Gibaud (Association française du Cheval Arabe-Shagya) - https://www.shagyafrance.fr/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7685683

I love the red in this Shagya Arabian's coat. A really simple bay with no white markings but wow the dramatic colour in the coat makes him really stand out.

21. Dapple Shire

Image: By Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone) - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3669603

Some more really lovely dapples here. This Shire has star dapples across her whole coat which just look gorgeous.

21. Flaxen Chestnut

Image: By Sciencia58 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=171268978

I love how white the mane and tail on this chestnut South German Coldblood are. The heavy contrast and the subtle dapples make for a really nice coat colour.

22. Pinto Mustang

Image: By Mcgregorranch at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2836821

This is a Spanish Mustang with really lovely and unusual white markings. I love how the marking on his stifle is not as distinctive as normal white markings. He also has a lovely bay colour.

23. Chestnut Pinto

Image: By Kirsty Hagger - Takoda Spanish Mustangs, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32466747

Another really dramatic pinto (and quite a dramatic pose as well). A gorgeous light chestnut with almost a peach like colour to it.

24. Another Pinto

Image: By Just chaos - originally posted to Flickr as Spotted Saddle Horse, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5124025

Not the best reference as the horse is tacked up but again another unusual pinto. This is a Spotted Saddle Horse but I really like the slightly roaned patch of bay and the colour contrast in his tail. He also has a wall eye which is a fun touch.

25. Dapple Buckskin

Image: By Tocekas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4917407

A really heavily dappled buckskin with lots of detail. This guy is a Žemaitukas and I think this colour would suit a pony style mould.

26. Bay Pinto

Image: By Silverije - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79900043

This Croatian Warmblood has another coat with lots of high contrast. He has tonnes of shading, dapples and even pinto markings. He'd make a stunning custom.

27. Bay Welsh

Image: By Elevage de maika - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49734970

Another really nice red bay with lovely markings. Lots of detail and contrast in his coat and a really cute pink nose.

28. Bright Chestnut

Image: By Fefa Koroleva - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47276183

You know sometimes you paint a chestnut and it just ends up orange? Well if you did a custom of this Russian Don it wouldn't matter because he is orange! I love how much his coat glistens in the sun.

29. Silver Dapple

Image: By Andersson LS, Juras R, Ramsey DT, Eason-Butler J, Ewart S, Cothran G, Lindgren G. - Andersson LS, Juras R, Ramsey DT, Eason-Butler J, Ewart S, Cothran G, Lindgren G.: Equine Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies maps to a 4.9 megabase interval on horse chromosome 6. BMC Genet. 2008 Dec 19;9:88. PMID: 19099555, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6506295

The Rocky Mountain Horse is renowned for its silver dapple colouration and this guy is a really dramatic example. Lots of amazing dapples, a white glistening mane and huge contrast in his coat.

30. Red Dun Quarab

Image: By Montanabw - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56826320

We are finishing with this lovely red dun. I love how smooth and subtle his coat is, with a lovely red mane.

If you've found inspiration in this post and painted any of the horses please do make sure to share pictures, I would love to see how they turn out

Three New Resins

I've been busy painting recently and have started to try and put a dent in all the unpainted micros. Probably pushed on by the fact that I literally do not have any more space for unpainted micros (although it is worth noting that I also don't have any space for painted micros so we are in a little bit of a predicament).

I've got three finished over the last few days, two heavy horses and a Morgan. I prepped these models over a year ago with a plan to take the Shire to Recycled Live. But, like many things, when I fell pregnant again that got pushed to the bottom of the todo list and nothing got painted until I went on maternity leave seven weeks ago!

So let's go through and see what I completed

First up we have CRS White Marble aka Pierre.

Pierre is a Maggie Bennett Donner resin from 2017 (yes that is how long some of these horses stand unpainted on the shelf for, I'm pretty she he is not actually the oldest one). He was sculpted as a Boulonnais and as I don't actually have a Boulonnais in my collection I decided to go for a standard grey and keep him.

He has been painted to a fleabitten grey. His base colour was done with pastels and then he has hand done fleabites with pastel pencils across his whole body. He was finished off in hand painted acrylics. I went with a heavy metallic grey for the base to contrast his light body colour.

Second we have CRS Blakemore

Blakemore is a CF Micro Pewter Shire (Winston). I purchased the full set of CF micros when they were released, this is the third one to get painted and joins my Exmoor and Welsh D. 

He has been painted to a traditional Shire black with four even white socks and a white stripe. I really just wanted your bog standard traditional Shire colour for him. He has plenty of shading and some lovely sunburnt highlights in his mane and tail. Blakemore is also staying with me as I didn't have a single ARC Shire before I completed him.

Finally we have 'On My Own'

As the name suggests this is the only sales piece of the batch. He was painted with the intention to sell but I fell increasingly in love with him the more work I did on him. I very much want to keep him but he was done as a sales piece and I think should probably be sold. I have, however, put him in my micro cabinet and can't say I'll be disappointed if he ends up staying with me for some time!

On My Own is a Maggie Bennett Armstrong micro pewter. He was sculpted as a very angry Morgan Stallion. I love how much character he has and I think the fiery chestnut really suits his personality.

He was painted in airbrushed acrylics with pastels and pigments for shading. He was finished in hand painted acrylic with white flecking across his flanks, four white stocks and a white blaze. I think this dramatic colour works so well for such a dramatic little horse.

He is available now at Chestnut Ridge priced at £100. Click here to give him a new home.

Which is your favourite from this batch? I hope you like the colour choices as much as I do!

Rainbow Unicorn

Towards the end of my pregnancy I had horrible pregnancy insomnia, often sleeping for only a couple of hours each night and spending the rest of the time desperately trying to get comfortable and living with my own thoughts.

It was whilst I was in this state of sleep deprived insanity that I decided I really wanted to paint a rainbow pinto model with gold mapping around the markings. So of course, like any sensible person, I decided to give effect to my sleep deprived desired and create said model. I had a prepped Magnolia unicorn and thought that would be the perfect victim for this particular project.

I started by finding a reference of a real pinto horse whose markings I liked. This actually took longer than you'd think it would as I was very particular about having the right balance of white and colour. I wanted an approximate 50/50 split so you got a really nice hit of colour but it was balanced against the white.

Once I found the reference I then started by blocking out the white with Maskol. Once the Maskol had dried I then measured the horse and used a pencil to mark out approximate divisions so that each block of colour would be around the same width. 

I then started on the airbrushing, working from red on the head down to purple on the tail. There was a bit of a delay whilst I had the baby, spent a week in hospital and then managed having a newborn at home but we eventually got there, finishing off the last few airbrushed colours last week. I decided that the mane and tail would be purple but added some pink fading into the purple on the tail to give it a bit more depth.

Once the airbrush rainbow colours were done and a layer of sealant had been applied to protect the paintwork from being scratched I started THE PEEL. I carefully removed all the Maskol to reveal the pinto pattern. This was the moment of truth, would it look as good as I hoped? I was absolutely delighted with how it turned out, it worked so well! The colours had faded into each other perfectly and because they'd been applied over the Maskol rather than each marking being hand painted they all lined up and the model really flowed.

Once all the Maskol was removed I then used a gold acrylic to go around each of the markings, creating mapping. I used the same gold for the horn and hooves as I didn't want to add too many colours to an already colourful horse! I also hand painted the purple mane as for some reason I'd put Maskol on the mane but then decided I actually wanted it purple. I suppose technically it should have only had colour where the markings touched but I mean we are painting a rainbow unicorn we don't have to follow colour pattern rules exactly!

I finished by giving her a gold and purple eye and then adding some glitter to the mane and tail. This was mainly because the purple on the mane had come out incredibly matte which didn't match the rest of the horse so I felt it needed something to create some continuity. 

She was signed and gloss added to the hooves, eyes and horn and is now ready to find a new home.

Unfortunately she's not perfect, the primer cracked at some point around the head and I didn't have the mental energy to strip her completely. Thankfully it's on her non-show side so she should be great for photoshowing. I was also not happy with the shade of red, it was a lot more of a deeper blood red than it looked. I'm definitely going to do another one at some point with different markings and will pick a different red. Because of these issues she has a reduced price of just £25 which honestly is a bargain because she's so pretty!

Sale link: https://chestnutridge.co.uk/products/youll-be-in-my-heart

I definitely want to use this technique again to create another rainbow unicorn but I also think it would be fun to create other colour combinations and different markings. Now to prep a few more of the unicorn bodies I have so that I can create a whole army of pinto unicorns in different colours! I think a blue, pink and purple one would look gorgeous <3