Shirley

2024

Painting people is challenging due to the capture of both form and expression, and painting animals is no simple task either. When first drawing animals, it is advisable to start with simple, stationary forms, carefully observing the characteristics of a horse from these still shapes. For example, a horse has large nostrils and well-developed chest muscles, which indicate a significant lung capacity. Horses are adept at running, which is why they have long legs and flexible joints.

Once you grasp these characteristics, the next step is to advance to depicting the movements of horses walking and running. Through careful observation, one can discover that what seems to be complex footfalls actually follows a certain pattern. Understanding the relationship between the limbs comes next, followed by an understanding of the skeletal and muscular textures. Of course, one could also draw by replicating photographs, but that would lack a bit of personal interpretation; while the image may still look appealing, it misses a touch of charm.

When you convey the horse's expression and posture through your brush to the viewer, and can elicit a resonance with the observer, only then can you be considered a qualified artist.

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