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Horsin' Around Rivendell Project
Tips for Artists
Toy horses are generally made of vinyl or plastic and sometimes they are covered with flocking. The flocking can be painted, collaged over or peeled off to reveal smooth plastic underneath. Sometimes rough seams will have to be filed, sanded or carved on less expensive horses (dollar store variety). Flocked horses are usually hollow and this feature can be used to your advantage – just be careful filing the seams on them!
Manes and Tails
Manes and tails can be removed and either replaced or reattached after the decorating process has been completed. Hair-type manes and tails can also be dyed or painted with acrylic paint or certain markers. See 2006 Art Horses "Penned" by David Manny as an example of a dyed mane and tail; see "Wildflower" by Ellen Levine as an example of a painted mane and tail.
If the mane and tail of your horse are hair, be careful and keep them out of any paint or glue you are using on this horse. I slip the tail into a small plastic baggie or wrap with tinfoil or plastic wrap to keep hair clean and paint-free. Manes can also be wrapped or masking taped to keep them away from the horse body during decoration.
If you are going to dye or paint your hair mane and tail, make sure the hair is well combed or brushed before attempting dye or paint. (Even if you are NOT going to dye or paint the mane and tail - brush, brush, BRUSH!!!) Paint is very messy - be sure to not get mane paint on horse's body. Plastic wrap works well here to mask off the body (like the hairdresser sticking you in one of those vinyl capes!). A small amount of paint goes a long way. You can use a stiff brush or large-toothed comb to distribute the paint evenly through the hairs of the mane and tail.
Paint, Adhesive, Embellishments
Gel medium works great as an adhesive for collage on either the plastic or the flocking. It will have to be sealed with an acrylic spray (like Krylon) as a finishing step.
Acrylic paint adheres well to both the flocked surface and the plastic surface. To achieve a smooth coat of color on smooth plastic, Krylon now makes a product called Fusion which bonds to plastic. If you are using an airbrush on plastic, Createx sign and auto paint (AutoAir) is perfect. A final coat of sealer is recommended on any acrylic paint.
When attaching embellishments (trims or beads), be sure to use a permanent adhesive (gel medium works here, too!). These will also have to be sealed. Think of the eventual owner of your project and the fact that keeping it clean will be their responsibility. Make it as easy for them as you can!
The main criterion is this: if you apply paint, paper or embellishment to a surface, make sure it will stay put over the long haul! We don’t want our horse buyers calling to say that the paint is flaking off or the lace is coming unglued.
I would only recommend using hot melt glue if you are really familiar with its use and the various types and temperatures of the glue sticks. Glue guns are cheap and dangerous! Absolutely nothing looks worse than blobs of hot glue or those little "strings" showing on your finished project. I really only recommend hot glue as a means to attach embellishments.
Most glues and paints will work on wooden horses and there are special paints for china, glass and metal. Plush horses will be decorated with sewn fabric, trims, beads, etc. Gel medium works best for collaging fabric onto any surface. Please - no lumpy hot glue!!!
If you have any doubts about what glue will stick to what surface, here is a great website resource: www.thistothat.com This site will tell you everything you want to know about every adhesive known to mankind!
Clothing
A lot of the horses have ended up with various items of clothing. It can be very difficult to determine the proper pattern to cut when you want to make a vest or a skirt for a horse. Here is a tip from my sister-in-law Ann who creates gorgeous handmade dolls - use a paper towel as your pattern. It bends and folds better than paper and it is cheap. It can be pinned into shape for fitting and then unpinned to trace onto your material.
Potential Problems
A word about stickers and the Art Horse. Stickers come in an amazing variety of shapes and sizes and colors and they would seem perfectly suited to decorate your Art Horse. However, stickers are best used in combination with an adhesive, like gel medium, used both underneath and on top of them. Otherwise they have an unfortunate tendency to come unstuck.
A warning about battery operated horses. Unless you are planning on allowing your creation to walk, neigh, kick or whatever the batteries make it do - REMOVE THE BATTERIES before you work on the horse. Reason number one: old batteries leak and are toxic. Reason number two: one small child was scared silly when her new Art Horse started kicking its legs. So she threw it across the room. And it broke.
Speaking of children as Art Horse recipients: these are NOT TOYS!!! They are object 'd art - I repeat - NOT TOYS!!! Many Art Horses have been broken or destroyed due to being played with by young children. Many Art Horses are created with tiny parts that may come loose and could create a choking hazard for young children. Art Horses are NOT TOYS!
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At a loss for ideas? Just do what I did – think of “horse words” and the ideas will flow! All of the horses I have created as samples are based on word play, or should I say horse play: “The Bridal Path” – The Night Mare” – “The Tree Horse” – “Pony Express.” Click on the above button to read "The Equine Lexicon" - it will really help you out of the starting gate!
Have fun with this project and know that it is for a really good cause: helping physically, emotionally and mentally handicapped folks of all ages to gain the confidence, skill and self-esteem that only big warm friendly horses and Rivendell’s wonderful volunteers can provide!
WARNING! One artist made the unfortunate discovery that spray painting a vinyl (dollar store) horse with anything but Krylon Fusion results in a bubbling, melting toxic mess!!! Horrible stench - very dangerous! Krylon's Fusion is designed for all plastics, including vinyl. Soft vinyl horses are best painted with acrylic paint ! WARNING!
Art Horses as Art Therapy
It makes perfect sense that real horses have great therapeutic powers whether one is riding, viewing, petting or hugging them. An interesting sidebar to this Horsin' Around Rivendell project is the therapeutic nature of simply creating an Art Horse.
This therapeutic aspect came to light with our first year's project. I was amazed when at least three artists made similar statements: "This horse saved my life - I don't know what I would have done if I had not been able to work on my horse."
I have often found that working on miniature projects to be very soothing. At one point in my life when my house had no roof for three years (it did have a big tarp!) and rain poured into my living room through light fixtures, I began making miniature roomboxes. It was then that I discovered that even though I had no control over my real world, I had complete control over at least one cubic foot of space! It was a lot cheaper than therapy!
The Art Horses function in much the same way as their larger breathing brethren. Benefits of working on an Art Horse include self-confidence, increased concentration and self-discipline. "Do-overs" are allowed: don't like the color you just painted? Pick a new color and paint over the last one! No problem! You are in complete control! (try it - it can be quite exhilarating!)
Another aspect of the Art Horse is communication with them. Sometimes, if you listen very carefully, your horse will whisper its Name to you. Many of our Art Horses were named that way. Some horses will even tell you what colors they wish to be painted. You just have to listen. Children are best at this obscure skill - look at some of the names that our youngest participants have given their creations: "Sherka," "Peep-O" and "MeMe" were all created (and named) by four year-olds.
So if life is giving you lemons - make lemonade by creating an Art Horse for Rivendell. You will be astonished at how terrific you will feel and you will be amazed at how talented you are.
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