THE ARTFUL PROCESS OF CREATING A FIGURINE

When we say that Trail of Painted Pony figurines are miniature works-of-art, we don't just mean that they are inspired by original artworks; which they are. We mean that we take such great care in assuring that the figurines are artfully crafted in a way that honors the spirit and is true to the detail of the original Painted Ponies, that they become works-of-art unto themselves. How that is accomplished is a story we haven't shared, before now.

Once we decide we would like to reproduce an original Painted Pony as a figurine, we take detailed photographs from all angles. These photographs are then sent to our manufacturer, Westland Giftware, who forwards them to factories in China.

Not all factories are equal in their abilities, and Westland has a long history in the collectible field. It has identified the most outstanding factories for the Painted Ponies. They are experienced, and they have attracted talented sculptors to work in their Sculpture Department who understand how important it is that they meet the high quality standards expected of the Painted Ponies. Over the past few years these factories have developed not only a feel for what is expected of them, the sculptors enjoy working on the Painted Ponies. They take pride in the job they do.

Drawing on photographs and sculpting in clay, the sculptors work in painstaking fashion to get every detail on each Pony right. Because they are working from photographs and in miniature, they want to make sure that the Ponies they sculpt accurately represent the original, so they send us back detailed pictures of the clay Ponies

At this stage in the process, we involve the artist who created the original Pony. We forward the photos, ask for comments, and respect their feedback. Often this approval process involves multiple back-and-forths, which we consider critically important because even though the figurine will be a reproduction, we want the artist to have a hand in the entire process.

Once we are comfortable with the sculpting of the miniature Pony, the next stage is the creation of a painted sample. The painters in the Sample Department are the best in the business. They must be because what they produce will be the model that all the castings will be compared to.

The approval process for the painted sample generally follows the same pattern as with the sculpting. Photos are sent to us, we present them to the artist, and the artist lets us know if there are any changes to be made.

Usually, a team of painters are assigned to a particular Pony, and each Pony has Quality Control people at different points in the process who oversee each Pony as it comes through to assure it is as close to the sample as possible. Invariably there will be slight variations, but overall the ability of these talented teams to create a figurine that can truly be described as a miniature work-of-art is extraordinary.

When you think about all the attention, all the care that goes into creating each Painted Pony, it's little wonder that Painted Pony figurines have become one of the most popular collectibles in America, and around the world. They really are more than figurines. They really are works-of-art.