Hard Luck Horse Ranch - Part 2

With this post we'll wrap up this little base building project. You'll note I've change the name of the post. I've done a lot of these scenes so this will make this one unique from the others.
-
There are a lot of different steps in this post but none are really that difficult. Probably the most taxing is the sign. I use a fine tipped Sharpie permanent marker to write the small letters. Make sure you give the sign a coat of Testors Dullcoat prior to lettering the sign. This will keep the marker from bleeding into the wood. I painted the sign white on the front surface and then added a little yellow ochre and raw sienna for highlights.
-
I've added a lariet and back cinch to the horses tack. The rope is made from twisted wire and the cinch is made from tin flashing with bent 20 guage wire for the buckles. I really like doing these little details as they add so much to the piece. The same goes for the hindges and gate hooks. Sometimes its a challenge to get them to work out but when they do they're more than worth the effort and believe me.....people notice them.

I'll paint the horse in the next post and then keep this piece a secret till the Kansas City show. It will be my "ringer" for the animal caricature category.

Lots of photos in the Gallery.