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    Does this horse read as a horse?

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    • braden H
      braden H last edited by

      Horse anatomy is HARD. Since I have little experience with horses, I've sought out a ton of reference, but I'd like to know if the horse reads as 'horsey' immediately if you get what I mean.

      Thanks πŸ˜ƒ

      alt text

      NessIllustration BichonBistro Coley 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • NessIllustration
        NessIllustration Pro @braden H last edited by

        @Braden-Hallett It definitely immediately reads as a horse. But I think it looks a bit small in comparison to the rider? Maybe making the human a bit smaller would help?

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        • drawnbyshawn
          drawnbyshawn last edited by

          Yeah, I think it does. Really nice! I'd agree with @NessIllustration regarding the size of the horse compared to the human.

          One area I would possibly adjust is the curve in the back leg, where it juts back and then down. (How's that for trying to describe horse anatomy.) I think yours is anatomically-correct, but it's possible it may read just a bit better if it's exaggerated a bit. Yours kind of comes down gradually to that point, where it could be more of a definite curve. Something like this image.

          Screen Shot 2019-08-08 at 6.51.16 PM.png

          Kind of a minor thing really, but it's just something I noticed.

          Shawn Turek
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          • jakecrowe
            jakecrowe last edited by

            Definitely! The only thing I might adjust is the head. It’s looking a little marsupial to me, it might be too round in the nose.

            jakecrowe.com

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            • BichonBistro
              BichonBistro @braden H last edited by

              @Braden-Hallett which one πŸ˜‰

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              braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
              • drawnbyshawn
                drawnbyshawn last edited by

                @BichonBistro Oh, good point.

                Shawn Turek
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                • braden H
                  braden H @BichonBistro last edited by

                  @BichonBistro Mr. Bristle-britches, of course πŸ™‚

                  @NessIllustration That's a good idea. It could be more of a big ol' warhorse instead of a riding horse. Thanks πŸ™‚

                  @drawnbyshawn Most horse drawings do really exaggerate that curve between the joints, yeah. Good idea!

                  @jakecrowe Definitely not going for marsupial :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: Though a knight riding a kangaroo or wombat could be super fun!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • jakecrowe
                    jakecrowe last edited by jakecrowe

                    1807908C-AD8D-446D-BA18-C0085B452124.jpeg

                    My wife rides so I had her take a few photos of one the horses, Alex. Hope they are helpful! The file sizes are too large to add more from my phone. When I can get to a computer I’ll downsize and upload.

                    jakecrowe.com

                    braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • braden H
                      braden H @jakecrowe last edited by

                      @jakecrowe Thanks! More reference! Yay πŸ˜ƒ

                      I see what you mean about the nose. I'll see if I can't fix that πŸ™‚

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                      • ArtofAleksey
                        ArtofAleksey last edited by

                        Dont forget a nose πŸ‘ƒ

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                        • Coley
                          Coley @braden H last edited by

                          @Braden-Hallett I had horses for 30 years and studied them in college πŸ™‚ I think your horse is really fab! The muzzle might possibly might be a bit too pointy BUT it;s an illustration.....it did read as a horse to me right away. Mules have longish ears compared to horses so the one thing I might change really is possibly smaller ears but as I said I think it does look more horsish than mulish. Are those real words lol..... also the rider needs a lot of lessons lol, ha ha! He is sitting way too far back on the horse's back! I don't think 98% people would notice that so it;s probably ok really!

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                          braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • Aaron_T
                            Aaron_T last edited by

                            Personally, I saw it as a horse immediately. You have plenty of other visual cues in there to suggest it’s not some other kind of animal. Plus...I think you have plenty of leeway when it comes to illustrated horses:

                            8C2CD0CE-1BBC-4201-B894-AE5AF53EA8F7.jpeg

                            https://www.instagram.com/aaron_t/

                            braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                            • braden H
                              braden H @Coley last edited by

                              @Coley Good to know πŸ˜ƒ 'Reads as horse right away' is definitely what I'm goin' for!

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • braden H
                                braden H @Aaron_T last edited by

                                @Aaron_T Chuck Jones drew best horses :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: It's amazing how far you can stretch the boundaries of a shape and still have it read

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • TwiggyT
                                  TwiggyT last edited by

                                  @Aaron_T Ohmigosh, I love that horse. That's one of those images that sticks with you, lol.

                                  @Braden-Hallett Your drawing definitely looks like a horse! I think the head is a bit big, but otherwise it looks really good.

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                                  braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • braden H
                                    braden H @TwiggyT last edited by

                                    @TwiggyT Thanks πŸ˜ƒ I think I can live with the head being a bit too big (it does look a bit pony-ish)

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • MOO
                                      MOO SVS OG last edited by

                                      Yes, it reads as a horse πŸ™‚ I like it. It may be a little small and the head might eb a little big but, it doesn't really bother me.

                                      Marsha Ottum Owen

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • Ailantan
                                        Ailantan last edited by

                                        I think it looks like a horse but with what is called an ambling gait. It looks very refined.

                                        https://www.instagram.com/ailantanart/

                                        braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • KajsaH
                                          KajsaH last edited by

                                          I love this horse! It def reads immediately πŸ™‚ I've been riding my whole life, and sure, there are parts of the anatomy that are exaggerated but it's stylistic right, not realistic πŸ˜‰ I like it! Though as @Coley mentioned, the knight is sitting a bit too far back. He's in for a bumpy ride back there πŸ˜ƒ His heels are on point though!
                                          Great work!

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                                          • evilrobot
                                            evilrobot SVS OG last edited by

                                            No it reads as a broom πŸ˜„

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                                            braden H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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