All Parts Of Me by Kristian Beverly

Everyone should read this. Our hobby can do better, and needs to do better. #blacklivesmatter

Kristian Beverly

My existence is not political.

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Show Report: Rose City Live 2018

Earlier this month I attended one of my favorite show, Rose City Live. I’m totally spoiled to have a show like this every year just 15 minutes from home. Showholder Vicky Harms always does a great job putting on a fun, well organized show.

This year I judged performance and then showed halter in the afternoon. Performance was relatively small, so between classes I entertained myself by helping call classes for other judges, hawking Erin’s sale horses, and oogling other people’s entries.

I just finished a new horse- Maggie Bennett’s micro mini cob, Rockwell. I painted him as a surprise gift for Maggie, but he was done just in time for the show so I had to bring him!

I was delighted when Microsoft Clippy took first in breed and second in workmanship. I was chuffed to be able to send along two ribbons and two NAN cards when I mailed him to his new home :)

My micros had a stellar day overall. Thumbelina was AR Reserve Champion Draft/Pony/Other and Dirt Nap took first in AR Mix Breed Draft.

The biggest surprise of the day was Hovito being pinned AR Reserve Champion Stock Breed, AR Reserve Champion Pattern/Other Workmanship, and then Overall Reserve Champion Resin!

I have never, ever had a horse get a rosette in breed and workmanship at the same show, let alone go on to earn an overall! By the time this championship was pinned I had started packing up my table, and for a long time I didn’t even notice what happened. It didn’t even occur to me that I might have won- I just knew I needed to go pick up my horse later. When I did finally look I was absolutely speechless!

It was a stupendous ending to a wonderful show!

BreyerFest Ahoy!

And I’m off! This year I’m flying out to Chicago and then driving the rest of the way to Lexington. It felt real strange to pack so light- no show stuff, no models. This is the first year since BF 2014 that I haven’t been showing or competing in the custom contest.

Leaving Portland

I’ll be plenty busy at BreyerFest Live and Breakables none the less- I’m judging! I love judging, and having the opportunity to do so at these big shows is an honor.

I didn’t actually think I’d be returning to BreyerFest so soon after my first experience in 2016, but everything came together and here we are.

For the rest of you traveling- be safe and see you soon! And for those of you at home, enjoy your sleep and air conditioning, and armchair ‘fest in comfort :)

Pieces of Flair…finally

My newest model is done, but truly he’s not so new. In fact, I started him five years ago when I first took a dremel to a Breyer Citation ornament. He languished in my work in progress zone for years, getting attention every once in a while. The poor thing even went through two or three head swaps as I tried to find one of the right size and worked on my head sculpting skills.

I finally got truly motivated last winter when I decided this horse would be my BreyerWest performance horse. And several months later, he was finally done.

BreyerWest 2018 – Western Pleasure

I nearly defeated myself by deciding to paint him buckskin, a color I’ve never done in oils. And of course since he’s a large horse, he also needed a bunch of new tack. But I managed to get him and his gear done in time for BreyerWest, where he was the Overall Performance Champion.

BreyerWest 2018

I am finally happy with how Fancy (as I called him while in progress) turned out, especially his floating trot. His head is from the Breyer stablemate Django mold, which turned out to be just the right size- and has such sweet character. His neck, back, mane, tail, ears and much of his legs is totally new sculpting.

This month I’ve entered Pieces of Flair in the Breyerfest Best Customs Contest, in the Performance Excellence division. His entry is an expanded version of his winning stock work entry from BreyerWest. He’s shown doing a really neat event called Rodear, which is a newly-developed version of a cattle dog trial.

The goal is to have the cows go into the chute and over the bridge. Fancy and his rider herd the cows while their cattle dog (left) blocks the other end of the chute.

Judges watch the team work while a trainer videos the run on her iPhone

The scene from above, showing all the fun background elements.

It was fun to take the time to set up a performance entry as a full scene, with more background action and detail than is usual for a live show. The scene includes other competitors with their horses (can you spot Puns N Roses, my 2016 BreyerWest performance champ?) and dogs, spectators snacking on concessions, and a brave kitty taunting one of the doggos :)

If I’m lucky, I’ll be selected as one of the finalists and get to bring Fancy and his gear to Kentucky with me for exhibition at Breyerfest!

Commission finished!

Now that she’s been delivered to her owner, I’m happy to share that the red dun overo Moxie is finished! I was able to get her done in time for her to be delivered as a surprise to her (very patient) owner at Breyerfest.

This was my first dun paintjob in oils so it was a new challenge for sure, but I’m happy with how she turned out. I’m looking forward to painting my own Moxie… once I finish customizing her :)

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