Nowell’s Mold #3372

Paint: Nowell’s Showcase Colors - All New "ArtStrokes"

Technique:  Therese Meisling 

Clean greenware in the usual manner and fire piece to cone 04.  

Bottom tumbleweeds and stone base:  The base of this piece with the tumbleweeds does particularly well with the following color combinations:  Toffee, Kiwi, a small amount of Pine, Cinnamon, Thunder Cloud, and Marshmallow.  Typically apply one or two coats of Toffee or Cinnamon to fill in all the crevices.  Next, apply Kiwi, diluted with Marshmallow or mixed with Cinnamon to the tumbleweeds and wipe them back slightly.  Additionally, wipe back the stones slightly and then add another one of the above colors in dry brush style, to add dimension.  Tumbleweeds can look drab brown with green—and you may apply the brown first, and then highlight with the green or vice versa.  For variety, add a little Thundercloud to the base rocks.  Toffee and/or Cinnamon mixed with Kiwi and/or Black Cherry also make good colors for the base.  It’s easy to make a great looking base—use your imagination and have fun.  There are no set rules for rocks and tumbleweeds.

Taylor Made Calico: This horse was fashioned after a real horse named “Taylor Made Calico”, which I found on the internet using “Google” and the topic “Paint Horse”.  He’s a stunning stallion, which fits this mold perfectly.  Mix together equal amounts of Black Cherry and Cinnamon in another container with a tight fitting lid (a cleaned out glaze jar or the like) Make sure you mix enough to do four good coats of color on the horse.  If you run out, and try to remix, you may have matching errors.  This will create a nice chestnut red color.  Optionally, you may add a small amount of Hot Fudge to deepen the color.  Following the pattern on the horse, outline with a pencil where you want your color applied.  With four or five smooth applications, apply the color, trying to stay in the same area with each coat, so that you create sharp lines of contrast.  Allow each coat to dry before applying the next.  Don’t forget the left eye area with color, but leave some white around the eye.  Finish the eyes with Licorice.  Apply the color to the mane, leaving whisps of mane white and apply Marshmallow to these parts. Apply the mixed color to the tail also, leaving it solid.   Apply Licorice or Thundercloud to the hooves. Optionally, you may apply two coats of Thundercloud to the muzzle.  Finish the base as described above.  After the coats have dried, carefully apply a coat of clear glaze and allow to dry.  Finish with a final smooth coat of clear glaze and fire to cone 06.

  Zebra “Horse”:  This was a fun piece to paint.  Finish the base as described above.  Using the horse as a guide, paint different colors of stripes on your “zebra” An easy way to keep track of your color order is to line up all the colors you want to use (this piece uses all 22 colors of Nowell’s Artstrokes).  Simply paint each color on a stripe and continue with the next color, in order.  Apply the color smoothly with 3 coats and allow to dry.  I liked the idea of the piece being natural at the bottom, but gradually worked up into “color”.  For example, the base and two lower hooves are normal, but as you go higher up on the horse, the colors begin.  The raised hooves are Grape.  Use your imagination on this one and have fun!   Finish the Eyes with Licorice. Allow the piece to dry before applying two coats of clear glaze.  Fire to cone 06.

  Pinto Stallion:  This horse was made using Hot Fudge for the dark patches.  Simply outline with a pencil different patch markings.  Apply 3 smooth coats of Hot Fudge to the desired areas (do not allow color to puddle in the nostrils or leg depressions).  Apply Licorice or Thundercloud to the hooves.  Apply Licorice to the eyes. Complete base as described above.   Allow to dry and apply two coats of clear glaze.  Fire to cone 06. This horse can also be done with different colors choices for the patches.  He would look great in Licorice, Root Beer, or even Toffee.

  Grey Stallion:  This horse is simple and stunning.  Apply three or four smooth coats of Thundercloud to the entire horse, leaving the eyes white and giving him four white stockings.  Apply Licorice to the mane, tail, hooves and eyes. Wipe back the tail and mane areas with a damp sponge to leave highlights in these areas. Complete base as described above.  Apply two coats of clear glaze and fire to cone 06,

  White Stallion w/Black Mane:  Apply 3 smooth coats of Licorice to the mane and tail, allowing them to dry.  With a damp sponge, wipe back the tail and mane to leave highlighted areas.  Apply Licorice to eyes and hooves. Complete base as described above.  When dry, apply two smooth coats of clear glaze and fire to cone 06.