Painting Horses

[Lou Masses]

This question came up on another thread and I'm sure we've all been stumped by it before so here are some places or ideas you can use that might help.

This was already brought up but if you can get your hands on the Historex Collector's Guide (I think still available from Historex) it offers a decent color chart.

Collect picture books of horses - not hobby related, but those artsy photography books-they contain multitiudes of great color references for all types of horses. Think about it, we all probably have tons of "uniform Plate" books, these are sorta the same thing only for horses.

The best resourse I've found online (actually I think someone pointed me there years ago) is Rio ROndo Enterprises. Although a different type of model horse, much of the techniques and moethods used are identical. I purchased the "Color Formulas and Techniques for the model artist and it is a tremendous help. Essentiall a small binder, it covers everything from the different breeds (with color mixing charts for each breed) to eyes, hooves, manes, etc. If you click on the link for the book, you'll see a list of brreds on the left. Clcik on them and you have a full color photograph (of a model) that is very well done and an excellent resource.
http://www.riorondo.com/

Hope this helps....

 

[quang]

Hope this helps....

Yes, indeed IF ONLY it hasn't been already covered at length in this very forum some months ago:

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/index.p...st=0&#entry3110

Enjoy! :lol:

Quang

 

[Lou Masses]

I am sorry I have tried to offer something to the group. Considering I joined in February I was not aware, your grace, that the subject was already covered by the supreme master of all things miniature.

In future, I will of course pass all potential material through your office first to insure that it doesn't interfere with anything you have done, or plan to do.

 

[quang]

 

[Roc]

I think it would be a good idea to have a thread where we can all share and exchange our color mixtures and techniques on painting horses.

Roc.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Look at the samples along the left side:

http://www.riorondo.com/books/cft/index.html

Also, Rio Rondo book on painting horses is the best source I've ever seen.

Colin

 

[Lou Masses]

That's a great idea Roc.

I personally paint horses in a sort of reverse manner. Basecoat with the lighter color in acryilc (to avoid lift off), then cover the entire horse in the shadow color, the using a big (on 90mm) flat brush I "clean off" the highlight areas. I touch up here and there with any other needed colors and finally using a brush with uneven hairs, I dip it in turps and gently pass it along key areas. The effect becomes a very faint, impression of horsehair. It has to be faint otherwise it looks like hair which you don't want (unless a really hairy breed or donkey). You wan the impression of hair.

That's just a quick overview of my method. What's yours?

And Colin, mine is already shot from so much use! They even get into the hooves and everything. By far the best reference out there.

 

[Roc]

Hey Lou,
Very interesting technique.

This is my technique:
I - undercoat in acrylics
2- Base coat applied with large flat brush,sparingly.
3- medium shadows on upper half of horse.
4- deep shadows bottom half of horse.
5- medium highlights.
5- extreme highlights.
this is all done wet on wet.
When figure is dry I'll give it glazes of extreme highlights and extreme shadows where ever needed.
Let dry for two weeks than I mix 70% turps with 30% linseed oil and brush it on the entire horse,this gives the horse a light sheen.

Roc

 

[Lou Masses]

Thanks for sharing that Roc.

One area I've always had trouble with is the hoof. How do you do those?

Lou

 

[Roc]

For the hoofs I use a mixture of raw sienna ,white and a little burnt umber.
Shadows are burnt umber with a little ivory black.
High lights is white with some base color mixed into it.

Roc.

 

[Lou Masses]

Thanks Roc.

During lunch today at the local Barnes and Noble I stumbled upon one of those "great treasure finds" in the bargain section-"The illustrated encyclopedia of horse breeds by Susan McBane". Excellent reference for painting horses. I haven't had a chance to go through tho whole thing yet, but each breed seems to have it's own two-page spread with a large photo of the breed in the center of the bifold and then smaller photos of details such as the area around the nostrils, hair patterns, etc. Also I think I saw a scale for each breed (ie hieght of the breed in relation to others). I can't wait to go home and look through it. Overall though the color photos alone are worth the staggering low price of $10!

It's a 9x12 format book.

Lou

 

[Guy]

I have used this book for years on "The Color Of Horses", by Dr Ben K. Green. I picked it up years ago at a B.Dalton bargain table. 34 full page color paintings of the various colors and breeds of horses.

 

[Lou Masses]

Guy,

So when are you going to hit me with the inevitable "unfortunately it's now out of print" line? <_<

 

[Guy]

Not sure if it is Lou. I saw it here in Oklahoma back durring Christmas shopping time. Its published by Northland Press
Flaggstaff, Arizona

guy

 

[frank h]

Here is my horse painting reference,
lots of full colour illustrations, including facial detail
as shown on the cover.
Ideal for the larger scales
I found it in a second hand book stall

Horses of the World
by Maurzio Bongiani and Conncetta Mori
illustrated by Piero Cozzaglio
ISBN 0 491 03035 5

 

[frank h]

Here is the cover

 

[Lou Masses]

Cool Frank.

I wonder if there is any way we can build a Bibliography/library section here on pF. Something like what Augie used to have on Med Ren, but geared more towards reference material for painting, sculpting etc. I would bet that each of us has a great library and it would be great for everyone to share what books they use in case people need a place to start.

Gordy? Guy?

PS-Sorry if there is one and I haven't found it.

 

[Guy]

Lou,
I started months ago putting links that people posted into the link section. Not sure about "Book Titles" unless you use the search engine here on pf. Will get back to you on this.

guy

 

[Lou Masses]

Thanks Guy,

Here is a scan of the bifolds which appear in theis horse book-

The ISBN # is 0-7858-0604-0 and it is available at Barnes and Noble for $9.98

 

[Pete_H]

Lou,
This whole thread is reminding me of a discussion a bunch of us had a few years ago in Chicago about horses and online references.

Great idea about the bibliography.