The other day, Karlynn, the President of The Trail of Painted Ponies, and I were invited to speak  at a local art institute about career opportunities in the graphic arts world. We talked about the history of The Trail of Painted Ponies and how it evolved from a public art exhibition into a collectibles company, and one of the things we stressed was that from the very start we wanted this to be an art-driven company. We said we also felt that if we were going to be successful we had to differentiate ourselves from other collectible companies, and one way to do this had been to develop an ever-expanding talent pool, rather than to hire a group of “professional” artists. We then talked about how, through national competitions and a standing invitation to creative people to submit design ideas, we had kept the imagery generated by The Trail fresh and surprising.

I’m not sure this is what they wanted to hear, as many of these students were going to school precisely because they hoped it would lead to employment as graphic designers when they graduated. But we felt it was important for them to hear the way different companies were thinking.

Throughout the class we encouraged the students to ask questions. At one point a fellow in the back of the room raised his hand. “You said you’ve been at this for ten years. My impression is that collectibles come and go. How have you managed to stay in business so long?”

Great question. As a point of fact, the majority of the product lines that call themselves “collectibles” never move from samples presented at a trade show to actual production. Many of those that do get to the development stage are, in effect, thrown against the wall and stick around for a couple of years before they begin to slide, and then they disappear. So why have Painted Ponies from The Trail become one of those “evergreen” collectibles?

A half-dozen reasons for our longevity occurred to me. Horses in art have been around for millennia, so we are part of a legacy that has proven to be durable. We do our best not to repeat ourselves, meaning we try to pick designs that are different from what’s come before. We are willing to add new forms (see last week’s blog). We are constantly thinking about ways of involving different artists – thus the Celebrity Collection, where we invite Hollywood celebrities to show their creativity extends to other fields such as the visual arts. Through our website we try to cultivate a sense of community with collectors.

I could have gone on, but sensed I’d said enough to answer his question. Thinking about it later, I thought, “This would be a great question to ask on the blog….”

Standing. Running. Walking. Rearing. These are the four horse positions that we invite artists to imaginatively transform. Each began as an original sculpture created by a distinguished artist – the first three by Santa Fe bronze sculptor Star York, the fourth by Sommer Prosser, well-known for the horses she has created for Breyer. With the Fall 2012 Release we are introducing a fifth position.

The idea came from a horseback trip I took into the Colorado high country, when I was ambushed by a sudden, violent, electrical storm. Spears of lightning split the sky. The thunder sounded like canon-fire. My horse was skittish with fright. I worked with a designer by the name of Lauren Reeser to capture a pose that would look as if a horse itself was electrically charged, and the result is “Storm Rider.”

Although the figurine is just now shipping, “Storm Rider” has gotten such a wonderful reception that we have decided to offer it as a fifth stance for artists to work with. We will be adding the outline to the Artists Submission section of the website for downloading, and we will be holding a Design Competition in early 2012 that focuses on just this form. More dramatic than the other positions, with a stylized mane and tail, and body language that is charged with energy, it’s a challenging canvas, so it will be very interesting to see what creative minds do with it.

There’s just one thing. We haven’t been able to come up with a descriptive name for this position yet, and we would welcome any suggestions.

It’s official now. To that annual holiday that is observed on October 31, which commonly includes trick-or-treating, costume parties, ghost stories and scarey movies, you can add a new tradition: The Fall Harvest Design Contest, sponsored by The Trail of Painted Ponies.

This was one wild and crazy year for dressing up. (I heard celebrity costumes were the rage, the most popular being Charlie Sheen, of all people. Charlie clones showed up everywhere in khaki shorts, two-toned bowling shirts, high socks and loafers, carrying a bottle labeled “Tigers Blood” and saying “Winning” a lot.) But for sheer variety and runaway inspiration, nothing that went on this year tops the submissions we received for the 2011 Fall Harvest Design Contest from people across the country who channeled their Inner Painted Pony Artist. And that includes some amazing pumpkin carvings.

If this keeps up, Painted Ponies dressed up for Halloween may become as fun a part of the season as jacko’lanterns!

See for yourself by Clicking Here. (And it’s not too early to start thinking about next year.)

P.S. Beginning this month, I will be writing and posting a new blog weekly instead of monthly. So check back each Friday.

Happy Trails,
Rod Barker

As everyone knows by now, we introduced the Fall Release one Pony at a time, and withheld taking pre-orders until October. Now the wait is over. You can order your favorites – from both the Open Edition and the Official Autographed Edition, which will be hand-signed and hand-numbered by the artist personally, and will be guaranteed to be a very low edition number. (This Edition was created exclusively for Collectors looking for ways of adding value to their collection, and as a way of generating money for the artists, who are paid a very nice stipend for their personal signatures.) Could there be a more special gift at Christmas than a hand-signed low-numbered Painted Pony? Try giving one to someone special, and you’ll find out. (The shipping date for the Fall Release is early November.) CLICK HERE to view new introductions.

Speaking of making the Holidays a memorable occasion with a Painted Pony, the four 2011 Holiday-themed Figurines and accompanying Ornaments are shipping now. Giving friends and family a Painted Pony for Christmas has become a holiday tradition. While all are winners sure to bring a smile and a Thank You hug, my personal favorite is “Santa’s Surprise,” which gives every man, woman and child the opportunity to own their own Pony. (No one said it had to live in a barn and be fed hay three times a day!) CLICK HERE to view Holiday-themed figurine and ornaments.

And while you’re checking out the Holiday-themed Ponies, don’t miss something new from The Trail: the “Cowboy Christmas” centerpiece, with a built-in music box. This was produced as a limited edition. Only 1100 were made for distribution around the world, so it is an automatic heirloom that will be enjoyed for generations to come. CLICK HERE to see “Cowboy Christmas” That noise you hear that sounds like rain coming this way is not your imagination working overtime. It’s the gallop of small hooves from the Happy Trails Collection. Slightly smaller in size than the Classic figurines, perhaps a little more adventurous in their design, and priced to be within reach of everyone’s budget, the five Happy Trails Ponies will be on display for sale in stores nationwide, and in-stock and shipping from our Official Store, by the middle of this month. They are the perfect affordable gift for young people looking for another way to love horses! CLICK HERE to view the Happy Trails Collection.

When I was a young boy, Christmas was often spent at the home of my grandparents in central Pennsylvania. One of the reasons I always looked forward to this, in addition to receiving presents on Christmas morn, was it gave me a chance to explore their attic. It was a veritable antique store up there. Prowling over the rafters in the dark with a flashlight in hand, I never knew what treasures I would find. It was with this memory in mind that we created Treasures from the Vault, where you will find unique collectibles and pairings with Ponies that you won’t find anyplace else. Treat yourself by visiting The Vault. CLICK HERE to enter the Vault.

Happy Trails,

Rod Barker
Founder/CEO
The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.

The Trail of Painted Ponies created two figurines in commemoration of the tragedy that struck this nation on September 11, 2001. The first was the “Fallen Heroes Memorial Pony” – a design that was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s funeral procession, which was led by a riderless horse with a pair of empty boots set backwards in the stirrups, symbolizing the deceased had fallen as a hero and would ride no more forever. The second was “Children’s Prayer Pony” – which featured artwork drawn by children from an award-winning book titled “Children’s Prayers for America,” edited by the President of The Trail of Painted Ponies, Karlynn Keyes. (A very limited number of special sets including all three items are available as part of Collector Appreciation Month. Click Here.)

What no one knows, because it never got beyond the conceptual stage, was that The Trail had another idea for commemorating September 11. And on this, the occasion of the 10th anniversary of that infamous day, I thought I’d let friends of The Trail in on what might have been….

To go back in time for a moment: At the time of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, The Trail of Painted Ponies was still a public art project that invited artists to imaginatively transform life-size horse sculptures into original works of art. Out of a desire to make a symbolic gesture of sympathy to the victims of the tragedy, we created “The Fallen Heroes Memorial Pony,” which included hats and a helmet given to us by the first responders: New York Fire Department, New York Police Department, and Port Authority. The public reaction to the Memorial Pony was so great that we were invited to exhibit it in a rotunda in the central terminal at La Guardia Airport in New York City, where it could be viewed by millions of travelers.

The dedication took place on June 26, 2002. I was present at the La Guardia unveiling and found myself engaged in a number of moving exchanges with people who shared poignant and powerful stories about the meaning of the September 11, 2001 tragedy to their lives, and their way of thinking. And therein lay the seeds of the idea of turning the “Fallen Heroes Memorial Pony” into something much larger. One thought led to another and I found myself envisioning the Memorial Pony as an attraction that drew people in, put them in a contemplative frame of mind, and then, with the addition of an interactive feature, invited them to become a part of a living Memorial that would record their thoughts, emotions and memories.

As for the interactive feature, the technology required was relatively simple. At the core would be a computer with the requisite software and hardware. A kiosk would be erected in front of the Memorial Pony which would include a pedestal, a speaker and a microphone. The system would be set up to initiate an interactive session. A pre-recorded voice would ask the traveler if he or she wanted to become part of this Memorial. If the traveler answered yes, a series of instructions would follow for identification and permission purposes. Then people would be thanked, asked to speak slowly and clearly, and a scripted series of voice-activated questions would be posed: Where were you and what were you doing when you first learned about the attack on the World Trade Center? What were your immediate thoughts? How has the tragedy affected you personally? Are there any stories about its impact on others you would like to share? In your words, how has 9/11 changed America?

As soon as the session was complete, the data would be immediately transferred to a digital memorial repository. That database would form the basis of a website where people could log on and read their words as well as those of others. These testimonials – messages to the world – would eventually be artfully compiled and edited into a book titled: America Reflects on 9/11.

It didn’t happen. I was unable to interest any publishers in the venture. But now, ten years later, I wish it had gone beyond just an idea I would write about in The Trail of Painted Ponies blog.

Happy Trails,

Rod Barker
Founder/CEO
The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.

Children’s Prayer Pony Figurine and
Children’s Prayers for America Book

A recent email alerted me that the guitar strap from the guitar that Jimmy Hendrix smashed and torched at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival was coming up for auction. During his performance of “Wild Thing” Hendrix went wild and set it ablaze, hurling the flaming pieces into the audience. Now the lucky guy who happened to be standing in the right place at the right time is willing to sell this piece of rock-and-roll history. The opening bid? A mere $50,000.

It appears that just about anything that is associated with a famous name or historical event can become a collectible in its own right – witness the house in Wales where JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, spent her early years. It’s up for grabs and is being marketed as a “real estate collectible,” evidently in hopes that a “collector” will be willing to spend a large sum of money, and not be put off by such minor details as repair costs.

I was particularly taken by this story: Did you know that before astronauts boarded the Eagle lunar module that landed on the moon on July 20,1969, because there was no guarantee that Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin would return safely, while they were still in pre-flight quarantine they were given postcards to sign that were left with their families with the idea in mind they could be cashed in as collectibles if the moonwalkers did not return from their mission?  (A sidebar: Want to know why Neil Armstrong’s signature is so collectible today? In the 1990s he discovered that his local barber was selling clumps of his hair, and he was so disgusted by his celebrity that he stopped signing autographs – which made the ones that already existed even more valuable.)

Mechanical bank commemorating the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

Under the heading of collectibles you can ‘bank’ on, a mechanical bank commemorating the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair made a recent run across the auction block, defying age and expectations. In pristine condition, the bank depicted Christopher Columbus sitting on a rock, with the Santa Maria at one side and an Indian chasing a buffalo on the other side. Estimated to sell for between $14,000 and $18,000, it’s “true value” turned out to be a record $45,325. (Recession? What recession?)

I thought I’d heard it all when I received something called a “RecessionWire – the upside of the downturn.” The pitch that accompanied the promotion encouraged me to stock up on recession collectibles. What? I read on and discovered that there are companies out there who are already trying to capitalize on nostalgia for the present – in the form of a Bernie Madoff bobblehead doll (Only $49.95), and a Lehman Brothers Desktop Cigar Humidor (The “heirloom” humidor features an engraved Lehman Brothers logo and was currently priced at $69.99.)

Don’t get me wrong. Collecting “collectibles” can be a smart and enjoyable activity even when times have been better. As one email reminded, “Collecting is a passion and a distraction to a better place, a better quality of life than we can get from say, for example, following stock prices.” I think that’s good advice. It may even be worth stitching onto an antique sampler and putting it up for sale as a… collectible.

Happy Trails,

Rod Barker
Founder/CEO
The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.

But judging art is what we do, on a daily basis at The Trail of Painted Ponies. And there could be no better time to talk about this process than now – with the announcement of four Painted Ponies selected for the Summer 2011 Release… the first five Painted Ponies that compose a new, companion collection… all coming at a time when we are inviting America to vote for their favorite submissions to our National Art Competition.

There are a lot of things to consider. So it might be helpful if I were to provide some insights into the thought-process that goes on in our offices when it comes to deciding which design submissions we like, and which ones we select to craft into figurines.

The way an artist factors in the unique character of our particular canvas is a big part of the challenge, as well as the magic of Painted Ponies. As anyone who has followed our history knows, there are four horse forms to choose from – standing, walking, running and rearing. And as versatile as we have shown the horse can be when it comes to accommodating diverse creative expressions, there are complicating elements that need to be considered. With a traditional canvas you have four sides and four corners. With a horse you have four long legs, a tail, a head and mane, and a sense of movement that need to be taken into account.

The thought behind a design figures prominently in our assessments. Is there an idea at work? A concept or theme both illustrated and illuminated by the artwork? Is the perspective fresh, something we haven’t seen before? At this stage, ten years after The Trail began as a public art project, we have accumulated a library of images, and to keep what we do interesting and exciting we try to be careful not to repeat ourselves. We are captivated by work that explores new possibilities, or at least offers variations on what’s been done.

The skill with which the design is executed comes next. All art is not equal. We think we know good art when we see it: a creative design that is beautifully drawn, executed with precision, and utilizes color combinations that are appealing. This said, there have been Ponies whose charm lies primarily in the authenticity of the emotion that comes through, regardless of the “professionalism” that has gone into its creation. Part of our unwritten “charter” is that we give equal opportunity to talent no matter where or who it comes from. Indeed, when there is a “jump ball” in the decision-making process, if the choice is between an artist whose designs have already been crafted into figurines, sometimes the advantage will go to a new artist.

There is a signature “wow” look to Painted Ponies. Simply put, we have created something that didn’t exist before, and we do it better than anyone else. In order to achieve this status we had to be different. In order to maintain our position, we feel it is important to be original. We are always on the lookout for something we haven’t seen before. An artist who dares to be different and who surprises and delights us. An artist who evokes a reaction that we think collectors of Painted Ponies will appreciate.

Another thing that we at The Trail must be aware of is the scale of the final product. We have received a number of very accomplished designs that everyone would admire… but reduced in size to a six inch Painted Pony figurine – or a four inch Painted Pony now that we have introduced a companion collection – the impact is lost. We pride ourselves on creating miniature works-of-art, and it is the nature of our business that a design must succeed in “miniature” for it to be developed into a figurine. It’s hard sometimes to have to pass on designs that are wonderfully rendered, but are too painterly or too complicated to be translated successfully.

If it sounds like there is a check list we go down when a design comes in and that there is universal agreement among those in our office who participate in making a decision, rest assured, the selection process is never easy. We have arguments and sometimes we make mistakes. In our offices we have a cabinet of Painted Ponies we felt good enough to take to the sample stage, only to decide that they just didn’t work, so we did not release them.

Now, with all this in mind, it’s time for you to judge for yourselves. I encourage everyone to go to our Art Competition page (Click Here) and weigh in. And if you are so inclined, let me know, in the form below, the thinking that went into your decisions.

My thoughts go back ten years, to our start-up days, when a friend came into my office and pitched the idea of designing and developing a website for The Trail of Painted Ponies. It’s hard to believe that at the time I had to be convinced of the importance of websites to a business. I remember his giving me a list of the top reasons why every company should make a website a priority. It would allow our business to be open to the world 24/7. It was an easier and quicker way to get information out than relying on print material. It made us look bigger and more impressive than we actually were. (At the time there was just me, a secretary and an office full of dreams.)

We joined the digital business age that day, and since that time our website has undergone a number of facelifts and upgrades. We have added features and products and a tens of thousands of subscribers. And we have certainly done some things right, winning a national award for design and achieving the number one ranking on Google and Yahoo’s search engine. But mindful of how slow we were to grasp the significance of a website at the beginning, we have done our best not to be content or complacent with what we have. And, on a regular basis, to take a close and critical look at our website and determine if it has reached the point when a tune up is necessary, if not a complete overhaul.

We reached that point when we realized how hard it was for us to add new information, fresh graphics, product announcements and feature stories (which we do on a monthly basis) without it sometimes getting lost among all the choices a visitor to our site is presented with. (I can remember one day when I wanted to reread my blog and couldn’t figure out how to reach this page.) We also realized that there was new technology out there that would make navigating our site easier.

And so, on the occasion of our 10th Anniversary, we are welcoming you to the 2011 version of www.trailofpaintedponies.com. We have done our best to make it more appealing to look at. We have organized it into sections that make more sense. We have completely redesigned the e-magazine so that it reads like one you would find on the newsstand. We have eliminated drop down menus that link to other drop down menus. We have added new features: By popular demand, for example, we have put together a section that pictures the best of the life-size Ponies that were part of the original public art exhibition. We have made our invitation to artists to become involved in The Trail more prominent. We even have a section where Official Painted Ponies artists can exhibit and sell their artwork. We now feature a section just for horse lovers. For those who appreciate the ease of shopping online, we have enhanced the process for viewing and purchasing Painted Ponies merchandise through our official store. We have also created a delightful place for people to go for the wit and wisdom of cowgirls. And, for those who enjoy social media, we are featuring links to our Facebook and Twitter page.

There are ways to determine how many people visit your site, which pages they visit, how much time they spend there and how frequently they return. Our intention is to create a website where people will come, be informed and entertained, enjoy themselves, stay awhile, and come back.

Happy Trails,

Rod Barker
Founder/CEO

As it turns out, Santa Fe, New Mexico, where The Trail of Painted Ponies first started as a public art exhibition in 2001, is preparing to commemorate its 400^th anniversary. Among various celebrations that are planned is the creation of a time-capsule – an 8-cubic-foot, 70-pound, stainless-steel, vacuum-sealed box – that will be filled with unique and historically significant items. If things go as planned, it will be opened on March 30, 2035 – the 425^th anniversary of the first reading of a royal proclamation declaring Santa Fe to be a Spanish “villa.”

A committee has been set up to review submissions, and among the items already accepted for inclusion are:

· An English translation of a letter written in the 1760s by a the descendant of an obscure conquistador who claimed to have founded a plaza in Santa Fe in 1607.

· A decorative mirror donated by the consul of Mexico.

· Small sculptures, pots and baskets donated by acclaimed Native and non-Native artists.

· A book of poetry by a former Santa Fe poet laureate.

Contributions from the Arts figure prominently in the selections, as befits Santa Fe’s reputation as a world class arts community. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the film producers felt that a DVD copy of The Trail of Painted Ponies documentary belonged in the time capsule.

Wrote Doug Heller in his letter of submission, “This public art-for-charity project involved 118 Hispanic, Native and Anglo artists from throughout the state that in turn produced 120 life-size horses as individual pieces of art. The majority of the horses were sold off to raise money for designated charities. This project was created for a great cause. The Trail of Painted Ponies brought both awareness and needed money to New Mexico, and the story is all documented and will forever be remembered through the film we are submitting today.”

In a separate communication to me, Bobbi Valentine wrote, “When Doug and I walked into the space where the herd of some 80 Ponies were on display, we were rendered speechless by their beauty and knew it was a story that had to be told as well as documented for posterity. We believe the project happened at a time when an undertaking of this magnitude could be accomplished. Times have changed and it is unlikely that a state-wide project with such illustrious names from the art world could be achieved today. The fact that so much money was raised to help the many needy charities of New Mexico is something nobody should forget. The inclusion of this documentary in the time capsule will ensure The Trail of Painted Ponies project of its rightful place in New Mexico history.”

A big thanks goes out to these visionary producers. And for those who have not already purchased a copy of the DVD, we encourage you to order your copy at: www.ziavideo.com

Happy Trails,

The Trailmaster

There are, of course, differences between our competition and many of the others… beyond the fact that no one else is offering up a horse as the gateway to giving the imagination free rein. To name just a few of the differences:

1) Most art competitions are designed to appeal to people who have already been annointed as art professionals, whereas The Trail of Painted Ponies takes a certain pride in disovering those whose hidden talent have been waiting for just the right opportunity to express itself. No question, some wonderful Painted Ponies have been designed by people with art as their vocation. But just as amazing are Ponies created by people whose backgrounds would never have led you to believe they could paint a Pony. As examples, I point to Kevin Kilhoffer, who by day works in the oil fields of Oklahoma, and Vickie Knepper, who is employed at the University of Iowa. (This is why we think the comparison to “American Idol” is so appropriate. Anyone can win!)

Ebony in Harmony
Lorna Matsuda

2)  Many art competitions come with tremendous restrictions, however The Trail of Painted Ponies Art Competition invites everyone to participate. In many competitions you must be 18 years or older in order to be eligible, your work must be formatted digitally, categories are limited and each entry must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee!

Not so with The Trail of Painted Ponies art competition. Anyone of any age may submit a design. In fact we have created a Youth Category. Submissions can either be two-dimensional (on the submission form which may be downloaded from The Trail of Painted Ponies website, Click Here) Or, you can create a design on a Paint Your Own Pony Kit and send photographs of your completed Painted Pony to The Trail. We have chosen certain thematic categories and there is also an Open Category.

Finally, there are NO FEES associated with our competition, and multiple entries are encouraged!

Navajo Sand Painter
Cheryl A. Harris

3) Please Note: The submission deadline is  May 1, 2011. We need to be able to narrow the field down to 10 in each category so America can vote online for their favorite. But where we depart again from many other competitions is rather than wait until all the entries have been received before giving America a sneak peek at what they have to look forward to, we will be posting images from time to time of artwork that has already been submitted. Included here you will find just three designs that have caught our eye already. So don’t wait until the last minute. If you have an idea, please submit your Painted Pony to this competition and YOU could be one of the next Trail of Painted Ponies Artists. The sooner you enter, the sooner your artwork has a chance of being seen by Painted Ponies collectors across the country.

Don’t Fence Me In
Sharon Anderson

To view competition details, Click Here.

Happy Trails,

Rod Barker
President
The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.

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