why draw horses?

1. I like the challenge. Even after over 35 years of studying and drawing them, there is always something new to learn and practice.
2. Horses are beautiful and I like the challenge of attempting to capture some of their beauty with my brush or pencil.
3. Drawing horses requires understanding of equine anatomy, movement and expression. Since I always secretly wanted to be a scientist of some sort, being an equine artist satisfies my need to combine art with science.
4. Horses have long inspired the artist. Horses are a noble and ancient muse.
5. Horses can be sweet, tractable, patient, kind and steady. They can also be spirited and strong-willed. I enjoy capturing the many moods of the equine.

And, a common question:

What is the hardest part to draw on a horse?

Every part of a horse is a challenge to draw and you need to study, practice, sketch and study some more (live studies are best, in my opinion) to get it right...but, legs and hooves are pretty darn tough and can take a LOOOONG time to master for so many reasons.

Legs and hooves present a tough challenge because they need to be proportional and posed correctly (weight bearing, lifted, at rest---all four legs and their hooves have a diferent "job" in every move the horse makes). With four different sets of legs and hooves combined with the incredible range of equine movement and network of muscle--legs and hooves can be quite challenging.

A great way to observe legs and hooves when real horses are not available? Pop in a dressage, jumping, eventing or any equestrian DVD and watch some of the action in slow-motion or frame by frame. You will really see the intricate network of equine muscles at work. VERY educational and highly recommended!

here's a great slow motion video of a horse and rider performing a "flying change" I found on youtube:



Notice the difference of angle in the weightbearing legs versus the non-weightbearing legs. Note the sequence of the movement of each leg and how the horse balances himself in each phase of the gait. Great stuff!

...and this-- a slow motion study of a horse in full gallop:


...and this--a great close up of the legs and hooves at work:


Now, draw some legs and hooves and have fun! If you get frustrated, I recommend chocolate. Lots of it.



(above images are some legs and hooves from past works)