Drawing Horses

By Suz

DRAWING HORSES

Allow me to introduce myself--my name is Suzanne Jessup. I have been drawing horses since I could first pick up a pencil. When I was younger, I was one of those

starry eyed little girls that you always see gawking at horses in the fields and at

horse shows. I bought my first horse when I was fourteen. That is when I began to

really draw horses! Hopefully, through this tutorial, I can help you to draw horses

as well!

I would like to add that none of the work on this site is available for clip art. =o) It

is all original art work by myself, and is copyrighted to me. With that said, let us

begin, shall we?

There are a lot of things you need to know before you can draw a believably

realistic horse. You will need to know about a horse’s anatomy, how he moves, and

how he acts. I am going to break this tutorial down into several steps for you. I also believe that it is fair to tell you that you will not be able to draw better horses

right away. Believe it or not, practice makes perfect! In this spirit, this tutorial will

give you homework. Hopefully, I can help you to draw better horses.

LESSON 1 – ANATOMY

I am of the school of thought that you can not draw anything well unless you know

how it is put together. Trust me, knowing anatomy really does help! I have only

attempted an understanding of it recently, and I can already see where the

knowledge has helped me to become better!

Understanding anatomy will help you to create a solid understanding of how a horse is put together, and it will help to give you a strong foundation to build your

horses.

The following is a sketch I made of a basic equine skeleton. I found it very helpful

to actually draw. That way, I remember where the bones are, which bones connect

to which bones, and it helped to give me a better understanding of how a horse is

built. I suggest drawing this a few times if you are serious about drawing realistic

horses. It can only help =o).

Lets get a little more in depth and take a look at a horse’s muscles. Understanding

the placement of the muscles will help your horse take on a more realistic look.

Placing muscle definition correctly in your drawing will help give a more life-like

touch to your horse. Good muscle placement also helps make action drawings more realistic and can help your drawing take on a sense of movement as opposed to a

simple pose drawing.

Horses have very large muscle groups. They are very powerful, and sometimes

complex. Muscles layer on top of one another as well, and thus create further

muscle definition. To keep things simple, and because I am still learning, I have

only included a basic sketch of muscle groups. I suggest sketching one or two of these as well. Familiarize yourself with muscle placement and become comfortable

with it. This should be more than enough to help with definition and your

understanding of function.

One of the biggest problems I see fellow artists make with their horses, is poor

muscle definition in the front legs. I will admit that I too have difficulty with them. There are so many smaller muscles in the foreleg, that definition can become

frustrating. It is also difficult when you do not understand where the bones lie

under the muscle, or where the tendons are. This sketch should help. I also suggest

that you make your own sketch of this. Like I said before, it can only help =o).

LESSON 2 -- BREEDS

Over the centuries, men have developed hundreds of specialized breeds of the

horse. We have bred the bulky and powerful draft horse to pull our carts, our

plows, and to carry our knights and heroes. We have bred swift Thoroughbreds to

race and jump. We have bred beautiful Arabians to drink the wind and dazzle our

eyes. We have bred tiny gentle breeds of ponies to look after our children, and we

have bred every breed and every size in between.

Each different breed of horse has been specialized for certain work. Large and

gentle draft horses were bred hundreds of years ago as powerful and obedient

steeds of war. They carried knights and heroes and, when they were not becoming

heroes themselves, draft horses helped us to develop our land.

Draft horses are usually significantly heavier in appearance than most other breeds

of horse. Even the bones of draft horses are larger than the bones of the lighter

breeds. Draft horses’ necks are thicker, their backs often appear shorter, and they

can be much taller than most other breeds. It is not uncommon for a draft horse to be so tall that the head of his master is level with the horse’s shoulder. Their manes

are usually thick and often appear almost curly. Draft horses’ tails are often bobbed

and the hair is often kept cut short. This way, their tails do not become entwined in

harnesses or riggings.

The quarter horse is a favorite of America’s cowboys. They are named such because

of their endurance. It is said that a quarter horse has excellent speed and

endurance, but only for a quarter of a mile =o). They have tremendous endurance, especially for long journeys. They would, no doubt, be an excellent choice of steed

for a long quest. Their hind ends are usually very muscular and therefor, very

powerful. Of all breeds of horse, the quarter horse is one of the fastest accelerating

runners. They maneuver quickly and gracefully and, as a general rule, are sturdy

and surefooted.

The Arabian is perhaps one of the oldest and most beautiful of all of the breeds of horses. Arabians originated in the desert, and have great endurance. Although they

are not the fastest breed, Arabians are often the favorites of riders who compete in

grueling endurance races. Arabians earn the name "drinkers of the wind" because

of their nostrils. If you were to compare the breeds, you might find that when working, the Arabian will flare its nostrils wide and take in great gulps of air. They

also have larger, well-shaped ears, bigger eyes, a "dished face," tapered muzzle,

and a more delicate appearances. Arabians are said to be very loyal. It has also

been said that their masters treasure them greatly, and in the desert, it is not

unheard of for an Arabian to share a tent with his master.

LESSON 3 – MOVEMENT

Most horses have four simple gaits: the walk, trot, canter, and the gallop. Some

specialized breeds of horses have special gates, but we will not deal with that here.

It is a good idea to keep in mind where a horse’s legs are going to be positioned for

each gait. This way, if you desire to draw a walking horse, you will not accidentally

draw one that has decided to amble on at a brisk trot! =o)

THE WALK

THE TROT

THE CANTER OR LOPE

THE GALLOP -- GIDDY-UP!!

Horses also have a wide variety of other movements. Horses rear, jump, backup,

they move side ways and diagonally, they buck, they frolic, and they like to goof off

just like we do. Horses can also be quite playful, graceful, reluctant, bored,

uninterested, uncooperative, afraid, and upset; their movement reflects that.

The best thing that I can tell you to do now is to spend as much time as you can observing horses in their environments. You will see how they interact, get a good

feel for their movement, and you will pick up a lot about their behavior and

expressions that I could never teach you. For those of you who are not fortunate

enough to have access to a horse, I suggest going to your local library. There are several books there that will help you to gain a better understanding of horses. May

I suggest: The Noble Horse, The Encyclopedia of the Horse, and The Ultimate Horse

Book. These books are excellent references.

If you have done your homework, chances are, you have built a solid foundation for

drawing horses and all of this will come to you. If you haven’t taken the time to

understand a horse’s anatomy, I am afraid the following sections may not help you

much. I can not say it often enough: understanding anatomy is crucial to drawing

believably realistic horses!

LESSON 4 – DRAWING THE HORSE

I would like to point out that the lessons that follow are aimed at those who already

have some drawing skills. I trust that you already know a little bit about basic

sketches and the like, so I will not go into too much depth about it. I suggest

reading the FARP article on drawing and sketching if you are a beginner. I would also like to take this opportunity to state that I have never received lessons of any

sort and I may not be up on the terminology behind technique, so I beg that you

bear with me!

Hopefully, you are a little more comfortable with a horse’s anatomy by now, and

you know what kind of horse you need for the job, so please, allow me to help you

put that brave steed on your paper?

We will start with the head. This is the part of the horse that will give your drawing the most character. As I said before, anatomy is priceless! In the spirit of this

statement, I feel the need to share a few more bones with you--specifically, the

horse’s skull. I suggest you draw this on your own as well. It can only help!

Pay attention to where the eye sockets are. Notice that the teeth meet at an angle, not parallel like people teeth. Please pay attention to the fact that the horse’s

jawbone starts under the ear and extends (in one solid and unbendable piece) to

the teeth and chin. A horse’s head is a lot of bone, and it appears harder in the

areas of the skull. A horse’s head softens where it is fleshiest (this applies to the body as well). The nostrils, lips, and chin are the softest areas on the horse’s face.

They are entirely moveable and are more than capable of expression—(we will save

expression for a later, more advanced lesson).

Now, lets get some ponies on your paper, shall we?

Horses are fairly round creatures. You can get away with sketching a pretty good

horse with only circles and ovals. That is how I always start. I like to sketch out a

basic form. It gives me a foundation with which to work.

THE HEAD (SIDE VIEW)

Step 1 In looking at a horse’s head from the side; you will notice that the cheek

and muzzle are both fairly round parts of the horse’s face. I start with these. First, I

sketch the circle that will become the cheek. I will then decide what angle I would like the horse’s head to be at. Do I want his nose high in the air? Do I want it

tucked gracefully at his chest? After I have decided, I will sketch the muzzle-circle.

The size of the muzzle circle should be smaller than the cheek by about half. How

small exactly will depend on the breed of horse you want. In this case, I am drawing an Arabian, so the muzzle is smaller than it would be for a heavier breed of

horse. Connect the muzzle and the cheek with what will become the jaw line and

the forehead. Pencil in the curve of the neck and position your ears. I like to

suggest the eyes with a small oval. The eyes are usually approximately 1/3 of the length of the horse’s head from its ears to its nose. Now, take a look. Are you

satisfied with it so far? This is the basic outline your horse will take. If you want to

change it, do it now, while it is still easy!

Step 2 From this point, I put a little more and more detail into my horse’s face. I

do it a little at a time, and I start with simple suggestions. This way, they are easier

to change, and they will become like guidelines for me when I complete the line

sketch. I like to suggest the nostril, the cheekbone, and the line of the mouth lightly. By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what your horse will look

like. Are you still satisfied? If you aren’t, change it. I have noticed that if I am not

satisfied with a drawing in its earliest stages, I will not be satisfied when it is

complete! Also, I have also noticed that most of the faux pas are committed in the

earliest stages: eye placement, mouth size and placement, nostrils, ears, etc.

Step 3 If you are satisfied with your basic sketch so far, then it is time to bring

your horse a bit more life. It is time for more detail. This is when I add muscle

definition, hair, and all of the defining lines that bring character. If you look

carefully, and remember you anatomy, you will notice that the parts of the horse’s face that are not fleshy still greatly resemble the horse’s skull. Notice the definition

around the eyes, the bridge of the nose and the jaw. This is our foundation showing

through.

Step 4 It is time for the final breath of life! =o) This is another area of the drawing

where we will use our knowledge of anatomy. Because the horse’s head is built on

his skull, and his muscle built on that, his outside body has the same shape. We know where his muscles are, so we can define them with shading. We know how his

skull is shaped, so we can give his harder forehead a realistically solid look.

Hopefully, now you see why I urge you to learn anatomy! Once you learn anatomy,

everything else is cake!

THE HEAD (FRONT VIEW)

Drawing the head from the front is a more complex angle to learn. It is an angle

that many, many artists have trouble with (including myself). Nevertheless, I hope

that I can help you to draw this angle.

Step 1 I usually start the front view off with a square oval. This is the shape that

represents to me the horse’s jaw. I then add a smaller squared oval to represent

the horse’s muzzle. With those in place, I draw a guideline for the horse’s eyes: this

should be 1/3 the ways down the "jaw." With the eye line in place, I draw the circle that will become the horse’s forehead and I pencil in the basic placement and shape

of the ears.

Step 2 I begin to solidify my lines. I will suggest the horse’s eyes at the sides of his

face. I will use ovals to represent nostrils, and I will give more shape to the head

and to the ears. I also like to draw lines from the corner of each eye to between the

nostrils and from the corner of ear eye to almost the center of the horse’s forehead.

The diamond shape that results will give you the area of the horse’s face that will

be like a flat plane and will require the least amount of detail.

Step 3 When I am satisfied with my outline, I begin to add my detail. Things begin

to take shape now. This horse has been working hard: I gave him flared nostrils.

He is also quite alert: his ears are both pointed forward. He looks animated and

interested. He is ready for finishing touches.

Step 4 I gave this horse a nice blaze on his face (the white area). I think markings like that give a horse a lot of character. Notice though, that in the "diamond" I

showed you earlier, there is little need for detail? This is the plane on his face. It is

a hard area (skin on bone). Notice also that the horse’s eyes are at the sides of his

head, not at the front, and his ears have a good space between them. I think we

are ready to move on! =o)

DRAWING THE BODY

As I told you before, the horse has a lot of round areas. We can suggest a lot of

him with circles and ovals. This applies to his body as well as his head. Starting

with circles also gives the finished horse a soft "live" look.

Step 1 I like to start with the part of the horse’s body that will be closest to me.

Because this horse is facing us, I started on his chest and worked from there. I

suggested each half of his chest with its own oval. I also suggested where his neck

would meet his chest and went up from there to his neck and head. I then placed

an oval to suggest the horse’s barrel (belly) and an oval for his hind end. When I

had the bulk of his body penciled in, I then felt comfortable enough to go for leg

placement. I wanted a relaxed look, so I spaced his front legs a bit. I suggest the knees and ankles first then fill in the leg with ovals. When you have the entire basic

outline, take a step back and look at it. Remember that most people goof up in the

first few steps of the drawing. Remember too, that if you are not satisfied now,

chances are, you will not be satisfied later. Feel free to play with leg placement and head placement. Don’t be afraid of your eraser. This is a loose sketch. There is

nothing permanent about it…. yet. =o)

Step 2 I move fairly quickly from step to step because I have been doing this for years. You may choose to take your time. Either way, you will work towards this: a

less basic sketch of what your completed horse will look like, complete with a little

bit of character. In this step, I simply give outline to a form that already existed. I

begin to suggest muscles and the facial expression. I also add a little hair, and sometimes, I will start to play with background (but not today). This is also a loose

sketch so far. Nothing is permanent. Feel free to work with it. Play with your horse.

Get the feel of him. Do you like how he looks? If not, change him! =o)

Step 3 This is where we get to refine the animal. I look at where I want my light

source and lightly play with shadow. I also refine all of the lines. I give him more

detail. He has better muscle definition now. At this point, if you do not like him, you

may as well start over, because shading him in might only frustrate you. You could always go back to step 2. The steps are not in stone. You are still free to play here.

Maybe move a leg. Maybe his head is in the wrong place. You might think his neck

is too long. It is still not too late to play.

Step 4 This is it! Are you ready to have a pony? Because like it or not, you got one!

=o) Muscle definition should be soft when a horse is relaxed like this. There is no

real need for harsh lines here. The shading should be blended softly on cloudy days like this….The highlights and shadows on a horse’s body are more than difficult to

explain. However, it you were to look back at your anatomy, you might recognize

that the horse has kept the basic form of the skeleton and the definition that we

saw in the muscled area. Understanding this and your light source will help you to

shade the animal realistically. Body shots from the front like this are difficult because complete anatomical references are difficult to find, and the muscles of the

chest are layered and complex. Your best bet is to look at a horse. Feel his chest,

and watch it as he moves.

I put the following sketches in the tutorial to give you an idea of proportion and

perspectives. Several people have asked to see horses from different angles, and so

I offer you these: Try drawing them =o)

I suggest that you draw many horses in many different poses to get a feel for

them. Do not worry at first if they are not perfect. Time and a lot of practice is the only effective teacher. I like to go out to a field full of horses with my sketchpad

and draw them as they graze and interact. You might like to draw pictures from

books or magazines as well. Either way, practice makes perfect, and no one is

perfect, so keep practicing! =o)

HORSES IN FANTASY

Horses are the foundation for several mythological creatures. I could never draw

them all, but I thought you might take interest in a few.

I know that the traditional unicorn is not a horse with a horn, but I am fond of the

interpretation. The horned horses are more powerful to me than the deer-like

creature they are rumored to really be, so I offer you these:

I know also, that horses love their mistresses, so I offer you this:

And then, there are the creatures that are part horse. We have the Hippocampus,

Seahorses, Pegasus, centaur, and many, many others. With this in mind, I offer

you these:

And now we have come to the end. I do not believe that I have much more than

this to offer you for now. .I am still learning a lot about art and about drawing

horses. I will, as soon as I am comfortable doing so, author a more advanced

article as a supplement to this one. I hope to be able to master expression and action. When I do, I will share with you what I have learned. Until then, good luck.

I hope I have been able to help you!