Horse dappling technique

[Blind Pew]

I have noticed that a few people in response to other postings have asked about techniques for horse dappling, especially on Greys.
Not that I'm the expert and I learn a little each time I do one, but I have done the following and have been happy with the results.
Paint the intial horse a bit darker than you would like - the dapples will be lighter and as such will lighten up the overall effect. When actually painting the dapples themselves, make great efforts to keep them random. To do this I use three different sized brushes that are knackered and I would normally throw out as they are no use for anything else.
And essentially, use a very good pictorial reference to 'copy' when actually painting - I have found that if you paint a horse 'blind' it usually looks rubbish in the end. I say 'copy' as I expect it to turn out slightly different as in nature, no two horses are probably identical...not that I've noticed anyway

Hope this helps folks.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanks for sharing Anthony!

But what is "knackered"?

Cheers

 

[Major_Goose]

I guess he means older brushes withhair splitted in gaps so it does the dapples effect . I use such brushes for my technique i call "The Tappered metal"

 

[billyturnip]

Originally posted by Uruk-Hai@Jun 20 2006, 10:40 AM

But what is "knackered"?

Quaint old British word for old & worn out.
Old horse would be taken to the Knackers yard for slaughter.
Other uses are,

" Dad will you come outside and play football?"
"No son I'm Knackered."

"The car needs to go to the garage it's knackered again."

Hope that helps :lol:

Roger.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Thanks for sorting this out for me fellows.

I had a picture in my mind of a brush that been cut and being used to stipple the pattern.

Cheers

 

[Blind Pew]

Roger & Costas thanks for helping me out there! You are both correct. :lol:

 

[billyturnip]

Your welcome Anthony, the two examples were ones I had used recently :lol:

Roger.