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LEARNING TO DRAW HORSES
ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR BEGINNING HORSE ARTISTS
How do you learn to draw horses well, and what do you need to know? Find the answers to these questions and more.
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On a regular basis, I receive emails from young and not so young artists asking for advice on how to draw horses well. To give a proper answer would require writing a book, but since some very good books have already been written on the subject, I'll just give some basic advice and then list the books at the end.First of all, the bad news is that there is no quick, easy way to learn to draw and paint horses well. It takes a lot of practice and study and the development of "a good eye for detail" and knowledge of the horse's anatomy and movement. In other words, it takes a lot of hard work.
The good news is that it can be done if you're willing to put in the time and effort to learn. How do you learn, you might ask?
First and foremost, to draw or paint horses well, you must learn the basics of drawing and painting. That has to be the first step because without that ability, your art will go nowhere. If you can, take classes or workshops or lessons from professional artists. Start building a library of art books or borrow them from the library. A good thing to do is to borrow a book first, and if it's really useful, later purchase it. Amazon.com is a good source for new and used books, and another good source is Northlight Book Club.
In order to draw or paint horses well, you must know your subject well. Read about horse breeds, care, behavior, riding styles and sports. Study horses from life and also from pictures in magazines or books. Learn horse anatomy and buy good anatomy books to use while you work.
It's also most important that you draw on a regular basis using your reference materials (photographs, books, magazines, live horses). Natural artistic ability is only a first step to becoming a good artist. None of us was born being able to create wonderful drawings of horses, so training is a necessary part of the process. To improve, you need to practice, learn to really see every detail as well as the whole and learn whenever and however you can.
Finally, remember that real horses do not live in a vacuum. Build up your skills at drawing people, barns and landscapes along with the horses and your artwork won't show horses which seem to "float" in an empty space. Your drawings and paintings will have more life and more appeal.
Here are some resources to get you started.
HOW TO BOOKS: "Draw Horses with Sam Savitt" by Sam Savitt - a master horse artist gives excellent instructions to get you on the right track.
"Drawing and Painting Horses" by Barbara Oelke - a very comprehensive book for anyone who is serious about their art, and includes some instruction on painting.
Walter Foster Books:
"Horses; Learn to Draw Step By Step" H11 very basic instruction but not as good as Sam Savitt's book"Horses Heads" by Don Schwartz - beautiful instructions in oil and pastel
"Horses/Oil" by Cindy Larimore - comprehensive color instruction
There are many, many other books on drawing horses available, but so many of them are seriously flawed in one way or another. You cannot learn to draw a horse properly from a poorly drawn example, so stay with the books above, and you'll be better off.
HORSE ANATOMY BOOKS "Animal Anatomy For Artists" by Eliot Goldfinger
"An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists" by W. Ellenberger. H. Dittrich and H. Baum.
"Animal Painting and Anatomy" by W. Frank Calderon - Dover Publications.
"Animals In Motion" by Eadweard Muybridge. This is a classic. Muybridge's groundbreaking photographs of animals in motion changed forever the way animals were depicted by artists.
There are also many picture books of horse breeds and sports that are often available on the bargain tables of book stores. I have several that have been useful from time to time. I also save horse magazines and cut pictures out of them.
REFERENCE FILES It's very useful to start a reference file of your own photographs of horses to use in your drawings. You can store your photographs in photo boxes or albums and divide them by subjects such as breeds, foals, ponies, jumping, pasture scenes, etc. Don't forget to include background photos, too, of pastures, trees, barns, clouds and other animals. As time goes on, your collection will grow and will become an invaluable tool for your art.
You can also start what's called a SWAP file of photos you cut out of magazines or obtain from other sources. You can store them in accordian files or file folders. They are useful for finding details for your art such as how a leg looks from a certain angle at a certain phase of a gait or how the light looks when it's coming from a certain direction.
Keep in mind that any photograph taken by someone else is protected by copyright and cannot be copied directly but only used to give you general information; that is, unless you get permission. See the page on becoming a professional horse artist for more information on copyright. Copyright is important for artists of all levels to be informed about in order to protect themselves and their artwork .
THINGS TO REMEMBER Remember that there is no one correct way to draw horses well. As you advance as an artist, you will develop your own style. It may be loose or "painterly" or it may be highly detailed. You may prefer bright, vibrant colors or more subdued hues. Your art may be photorealistic, somewhat abstract or full of fantasy.
Don't fall into the common trap of comparing yourself to other or more advanced artists. It will only discourage you and lower your self confidence. Keep in mind that a particular drawing may be THE BEST YOU CAN DO AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, but remember that you will improve if you keep working at your skills and studying and observing.
If you take a look at the works of successful professional equine artists, you'll see a wide variety of techniques and styles. Study the works of those artists who are the closest to your own style, but don't hesitate to learn from other artists, too. Remember that you will never stop learning and developing as an artist.
Good Luck!!