Does this horse read as a horse?

jakecrowe

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.

braden H

@jakecrowe Thanks! More reference! Yay

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

ArtofAleksey

Dont forget a nose

Coley

@Braden-Hallett I had horses for 30 years and studied them in college 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!

Aaron_T

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:

braden H

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

braden H

@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

TwiggyT

@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.

braden H

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

MOO

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

Ailantan

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

KajsaH

I love this horse! It def reads immediately 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 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 His heels are on point though!
Great work!

evilrobot

No it reads as a broom

Your horse is amazing, you horse-drawing wizard you! I find horses the hardest thing to draw and make a character out of, but yours is fab! I don't think it needs to be 100% exact, as I like his nose and he has so much attitude in his body language Maybe he should be slightly bigger, but that's all I think you need to change in my opinion

braden H

@Ailantan I was googling for so long looking for the right term for the gait I was going for. I'm gonna have to remember that!

braden H

@evilrobot FINALLY someone's looking at the right horse :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: though I think @bichonbistro did, too.

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen I may fiddle with the head. Thanks

@KajsaH said in Does this horse read as a horse?:

the knight is sitting a bit too far back

In my mind, he's very bad at his job I think next time I have to draw a person riding a horse I may go take some riding lessons (fun AND informative!)

@hannahmccaffery I've always HAAATED drawing horses. They're so friggin' hard to draw. Attitude is good, though

Coley

@Braden-Hallett actually your horsie is doing a very good walk! After that is trot, canter, then gallop .....all different gaits! You did an awesome job. Sorry all us horsie people are getting all horsie on you LoL!

BichonBistro

@Coley Better Horse-ie than Horse-*it