Workshops at BreyerWest!

One of the best parts of any Breyer event is the hands-on craft activities!

This February at BreyerWest, we’ve lined up some incredible model horse hobby artists to teach workshops to fans, just like you’d find at BreyerFest.  With five different offerings, there is something for everyone, from the novice to the expert crafter.

Workshops will be on sale January 3^rd, when BreyerWest tickets and other add-ons go on sale, but here’s a preview of what we will be offering to attendees:

1:9 Scale Leather Tooling with Hanna Bear

In this much-requested workshop, Hanna will take attendees through the process of tooling leather in 1:9 scale designs. Florals, stamping, design, layout, scaling down larger designs, this will be a holistic view of miniature leather tooling with hands-on learning and practice. Attendees will leave with basic leather tooling equipment and be able to continue their learning at home! We will not be assembling tack pieces in this workshop, but rather focusing on tooling design, mechanics, and application. If you have tack items in progress that you wish to tool or practice on, please feel free to bring them – and we will provide all attendees with leather to learn on.

1:9 Scale Found Item Performance Props with Laura Skillern-Sailer

Model Horse hobbyist and artist Laura Skillern-Sailer is keeping things traditional in this fun workshop! Spruce up your traditional scale barn or performance scene with this prop making tutorial that up-cycles found items and things you already have at home.  Laura will walk participants through how to make miniature bags of shavings, barrels, and jumps.

Hair Sculpting with Amanda Brock

In this workshop, Amanda Brock (winner of Best Hair in the BreyerFest Custom Contest) will take attendees through the process of sculpting hair in dynamic and interesting ways onto a provided classic scale model. Attendees who wish to bring their own project to add hair to are welcome to do so. Amanda will demonstrate the creative process, from hair flow mechanics, environmental impacts (wind and gravity!), and fine detail work to give your hair sculpting that extra oomph. Come prepared with some reference photos of hair you think is cool, interesting, and inspiring – or we will give you plenty of ideas to choose from.

Introduction to Drastic Customizing with Erika Isbell

In this workshop, attendees will get hands-on experience in drastic customizing! Each attendee will be given a deconstructed classic scale model, and Erika will take the class through re-assembly in new and fun poses, using foam, apoxie, and other materials. Literally, attendees will get to put horse pieces back together to form a new horse fresh from their imagination. Come prepared with some reference photos of heavy draft type horses in poses you find interesting or that you would like to try. Erika is an expert at bold transitions and new ideas, and will help attendees step outside their comfort zones in customizing.

All About that Base: Stablemates Scale Bases and Dioramas with Mindy Berg

In this workshop, Mindy Berg of Spruce Mountain Studio will take attendees through the process of building a stablemate scale base! Mindy's bases and dioramas are world-renowned for their detail and accuracy. Attendees will get to choose between a horse stablemate family or a unicorn stablemate family to build a base or bases for, and will be provided with several shapes and sizes of bases to choose from! Create a your very own custom base from the plethora of landscape materials that will be provided for you, for the ultimate base for your model or models.

We’ve got a sneak peek coming your way before the end of this week, so be sure to check back soon, right here on the BreyerWest Blog.