WIP Critique Chasseur a Cheval- The Horse

[ChaosCossack]

Hey All
Back again. I've been working on the horse for my Chasseur a Cheval project and between the dapple grey and the leopard skin shabraque, this has been a real killer.
The horse still needs some shading and of course the mane, tail and hooves aren't done and the tack and trim of the shabraque haven't been touched yet.
I tried different backgrounds and lighting but the grey still looks blueish, though it doesn't seem to in the flesh. The dapples seemed to wash out a bit too.

Before I go any further with this part, any hints, comments or critiques are welcome and needed.

Thanks in advance

Colin

 

[bagelman1952]

It looks fine to me. This looks like another one of those situations where you have to do the surrounding work before the takes its final form

 

[Aveleira]

Hi Colin,

I never painted a horse and that shabraque, so I can't tell you much. However I think your horse is not that bad, but the light grey/white dots are not that visible.
The shabraque, I think the colours are correct, maybe a little more light on the edges and try to pass on the darker areas with small lines of lighter colour to simulate the fur, I guess is how it is done. The leopard dots of the skin maybe are to big, but again I can't tell you for sure....
Sorry I can't be helpfull but I'm a noobie on this matter...just expressing my opinion

Regards
Pedro

 

[ChaosCossack]

Thanks Ken... you're right, I thought the grey looked naffed until I started blocking in the shabraque. Hopefully when the tack and shabraque trim is done it will all tie together.
Pedro, the white dapples stand out a little better in person but they can be touched up further. I understand about highlighting the shabraque some more to make it pop... maybe I'll add a few more spots to fill it in better.... Thanks for the advice.

Another set of eyes is always helpful

Colin

 

[Aveleira]

We're welcome Colin. As I said, I've never painted that so it's just a guess based on what I've seen

 

[Mariner]

Colin, I think this is coming along beautifully! Kudos, my friend.
The only thing that jumps out for me is the horse's legs...perhaps touch up where the grey meets the black so it doesn't look the same on all four. Grey horses sometimes have grey knees with black 'stockings' and the same on the back hocks. I'd just play a bit til it looks natural.
From your photos the dapples look great, and the leopard skin is really popping. This will be well worth all your effort when it's done!
Mary

 

[Helm]

I hear you on the grey Colin I painted one for my wife and I swear never again it nearly drove me crazy, yours looks pretty damn good as Mary said I'd blend the lower legs in a fraction maybe ? but it looks great

 

[tiberius57]

I think that you did an excellent job. Of course, is not finished and you need to add some touches here and there, but overall looks very good. Can't wait to see it live.
Cheers,
Zeno

 

[MarquisMini]

Colin , what a magnificent work on the horse,looks very realistic and colors ae great.
As for the Saddle, i think the yellow top towards the edges need to be a little bit more "subtle" , it may be the light on the camera setting.
If not and you aggre on this, you may want to try some vallejo ochre glaze well diluted,it will probably help to blen or a sublte transition,but looks great my friend ,i follow!

 

[ChaosCossack]

Mary, Steve, Zeno and Daniel... Thank you so much for the kind words and advice. This is exactly what I needed! The shabraque is straight four colour layers, I think softening the transitions is the right thing to do.
As for the leg markings... I find the hardest thing for me is NOT making things symetrical. I will try to bring some grey down into the black and up from the hooves, washing right over the black so it's not so harsh.
I still have lots to do on the mane and tail to break them up a bit. There's still some detail work on the face... eyes, fleshing the snout and painting the mouth and teeth. Then there's the tack... that should be good for a few hours right there.

I wasn't sure how things were coming together... Very frustrating and disheartening... The kind words have encouraged me to keep plugging.

Thanks all

Colin

 

[Helm]

If it's any consolation Colin took me three years and at least that many total strip downs to get my grey done. Even now I'm not totally happy with it, but my wife who has a vast knowledge on horses says it's bang on (personally I think she's only saying that to stop me killing her by beating her to death with the horse ) I know exactly how you feel about symmetry though it took me ages to get my head round it

Steve

 

[Christosjager]

I like it very much Colin, well done.

 

[ChaosCossack]

I like it very much Colin, well done.

Thank you so much Christos... Much appreciated!!! How's the stonewall diorama coming? Haven't seen any new posts on it and I'm very interested in that project.

Thanx again

Colin

 

[Christosjager]

I left aside the dio for a while, August is near and my mind now is on vacations, on September we have the Euromilitaire so I will continue to work on the dio from October

 

[ChaosCossack]

Christos, I look forward to the next phase of the dio (impatiently)
Enjoy your vacation.... then back to work!!!!

CJ

 

[Huw63]

Colin

A late comment but it looks really great. Not sure how you are with getting Figurines but there's a related article in the latest issue.

Huw

 

[Aveleira]

Any progrees with this one Colin??? THanks by the comment on my figure, by the way

Regards
Pedro

 

[ChaosCossack]

Thanx Huw... that mag is around, I just don't chase it really.
Perdo, the horse is done, the fig is done... now I just have to do the reins and start on the base. Working on the reins as we speak. Will hopefully start working on the base later tonight. Without any disasters, I hope to be finished no later than the end of the week.
No one wants to see the end of this project more than me It's driven me crazy from the beginning

 

[Aveleira]

Ahahahah I know what you mean I know Keep up friend!
I think that with a bit of "luck" my figure is done by the end of the week also or maybe in the beggining of the next...
I have already 2 more figures on the way!!! Can't wait!!!

Regards
Pedro

 

[MarquisMini]

Thanx Huw... that mag is around, I just don't chase it really.
Perdo, the horse is done, the fig is done... now I just have to do the reins and start on the base. Working on the reins as we speak. Will hopefully start working on the base later tonight. Without any disasters, I hope to be finished no later than the end of the week.
No one wants to see the end of this project more than me It's driven me crazy from the beginning

Can't wait to see the finish product.
Keep at it my friend,i am sure it will be a stunning piece.