orgen Kilbourn first started customizing as a pre-teen after reading a Breyer Just About Horses (JAH) article about it back in the early 80’s. From that point on no new Breyer plastic body was safe. She photo showed primarily back then however she had to borrow tack from friends. Morgen possesses no tack making skills what so ever.
Artistically, Morgen had always hoped to sculpt horses however she had several somewhat disheartening experiences with kiln-fired clay sculptures breaking and moved into illustration and eventually graphic and web design for quite some time. Most of it commission portraits or illustarations however eventually she worked as a corporate designer for quite a few years in a genomics company. Years later returning to hobby work because the lower cost of silicon production molds drew her attention. The internet started to become flooded with discussions about curing expoxies and her interest was piqued with the flourish of home-cast resins that clearly meant mold-making had gotten easier for the individual to manage. Once she discovered Apoxie Sculpt (a more permanent media that worked like clay but didn’t require molding that destroyed the original or firing), she bought 60lbs and began sculpting all sorts of things. A very hands on sculptor she preferred the ability to carry around the work easily and study it from various angles… as well as delighting in using hammers and saws to make modifications (nevermind minute dremel work).
Since her first discovery of this media in 2002, she’s released 8 resin casts as of 2008. Preferring to capture horses with expression.. she’s toned down her characterized animated horses of her drawing style to delve further into refined detailing and striving for technical accuracy that’s more suited to the hobby showing venue.
Painting has always been something where Morgen preferred oils for since her childhood. Growing up in an artistic family with art teachers (father and grandfather) left her with a wonderful supply of the media for her customs (of course the family would have preferred to see her canvas painting more). ;) Today she uses a variety of mixed media with the emphasis still on oils to achieve more glow to the coats. Her finish and sculpture work has earned hobby championships all around the country and at NAMHSA Nationals (NAN).
Morgen has a small boarding farm and works for a hospital’s therapeutic riding program (poop cleaning, as she's not certified to work with the disabled in any way).
Morgen Kilbourn’s website is www.artbymorgen.com and her blog (where topics range from rambling thoughts to actual studio work), is at http://mksculpt.blogspot.com .
Photo credit
Above: Headstudy, ceramic Deputed Duke.
Unpainted Atlas
Unpainted Atlas resin.
Name unknown
Pinto mustang stallion, customized by Chris Jolly from Morgen Kilbourn Baby Sondae resin; created 2007.
Name unknown
Mohagany Bay Warmblood, customized by Chris Jolly from the Morgen Kilbourn Deputed Duke resin; created in 2007.
Name unknown
Bay Warmblood, customized by Chris Jolly from the Morgen Kilbourn Dinky Duke resin; created in 2008. Chris describes this piece: golden
mahogany undertone with the darker overlays.
Name unknown
Bay sabino mustang stallion customized by Chris Jolly from the Morgen Kilbourn El Embosco resin; created 2006.
Name unknown
Unpainted copy of Kiger mustang stallion customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Bitty Bosco resin; released 2009.
Name unknown
Palomino mustang stallion customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Bitty Bosco resin; created 2010.
Name unknown
Black roan tobiano mustang stallion customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Bitty Bosco resin; created 2010.
Name unknown
Comparison of 2006 resin "Flitwick" with 2009 Fenwick resin.
Name unknown
Chestnut semi-leopard American Miniature Horse gelding; customized from the "Flitwick" SM scale resin sculpted by Morgen Kilbourn; created 2010. (Released 2006)
Morgan le Fey
Dark dappled buckskin Morgan mare, airbrushed, mohair mane
& tail, metal horse shoes, customized by Faye Cohen from the Morgen Kilbourn Godiva resin, created 2007. Photos provided and owned by Colleen Brown.
Hazel
Bay Thoroughbred stallion, customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Hazel resin. Released 2008.
Name unknown
Dapple grey Thoroughbred stallion, customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Hazel resin. Oils. Created 2010.
Name unknown
Black roan pinto Warmblood
stallion, customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Hazel resin. Oils. Created 2010.
Name unknown
Bay Thoroughbred
stallion, customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Hazel resin. Oils. Created 2010.
Name unknown
Flaxen chestnut Arabian mare, customized from the Morgen Kilbourn Iaret resin. Oils. Created 2010.
Little Man Mango
Lying foal; created 2011. Morgen recounts the creation of the piece.
Bravo - medallion 2010
Serendipity - medallion 2010
Name unknown
Dappled chestnut. Deputed Duke.
Name unknown
Bay Arabian mare, customized from the "Farasha" resin by Pamela DeMuth (2005).
Name unknown
Bay grade draft, customized from the "Ravishing Ronald" resin by Kitty Cantrell (2004).
Name unknown
Brown American Saddlebred stallion, customized from the "Applause" resin by Kitty Cantrell (tail shortened by Morgen) (2004).
Name unknown
Dapple liver chestnut Morgan stallion, customized from the by Mini Morgan Stallion resin by Carlee Balling resin; 2005.
Name unknown
Dapple grey Thoroughbred mare, customized from the by "Edgar Allen" resin by D'Arry Jone Frank; customized by Morgen to mare with braided tail and heavier belly/haunches (2006).
Name unknown
Dapple bay pinto Warmblood stallion, customized from the Breyer Keltic Salinero. Shown as ‘Lightening Strikes Twice’. Painted a gorgeous bay pinto, Lightening has striped hooves, four white stockings, a spotted blaze, and a black and white tail. Set on a realistic sand-base. Created 2010. Image provided by Morgen.
Name unknown
Bay pinto mustang stallion, customized from the Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig Taboo resin; 2006.
Name unknown
Bay pinto mustang stallion, customized from the Sarah Rose Cheveyo resin.
Danny Boy's Moon Spirit
Dun mustang foal, customized from the by "Churchill" resin by David Mayer (2004).
Name unknown
Grey leopard Appaloosa mare, customized from the by Mini Quarter Horse resin by Carlee Balling resin; 2003.
Stubbs
Chestnut Lusitano stallion, customized from the by Lirico Sarah Minkiewicz Breunig resin.
Name unknown
Bay roan Irish Draft stallion, customized from the by Ann Harris Candidus resin; 2004; with slight customization to leg feathers and tail.
Name unknown
Chestnut welsh pony stallion, customized from the by Horsing Around Welsh Pony resin.
Name unknown
Bay roan Irish Draft stallion, customized from the by Donna Chaney Hairy Dauntless resin; 2004; with customization to mane and tail.
Name unknown
Dapple grey grade mare, customized from the by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig "Feral Mare Medallion" resin.
Name unknown
Chestnut stock mare, customized from the by TBA Breyer; vintage (1980s).
Name unknown
Chestnut warmblood gelding, customized from the Breyer Hanoverian; vintage (1980s).
Name unknown
Bay Arabian, customized from the Breyer Proud Arabian Family; vintage (1980s).
Name unknown
Black grade horse, customized from the Breyer TBA; vintage (1980s).
Name unknown
Chestnut Arabian stallion, customized from the Breyer Proud Arabian Stallion; vintage (1980s). Tack by unknown.
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