I paint horse scupltures to learn about mediums and techniques, but more than that, to train my brain to see. I learn to recognize color shifts and patterns, gradients and textures. Not every horse I create is a profound lesson but these three were planned and executed with very specific goals in mind. It's surprising how much more you see when you start looking for details, shadows, and how to be purposeful.
Painting with Intent
My goal for this interesting fellow was a soft, fuzzy gray that would mature into a shiny white horse. Having a strong idea of how I wanted him to look, helped me place my brush with purpose and intent with each stroke. He taught me the lesson of intent and I continue to practice it.
Taking the Time for the Details (the whole horse is details)
I didn't have a particular vision for this unicorn, I had been playing around with a specific color of buckskin painted with oils, so the choice was made. Not only did this reacquaint me with oil paint but allowed me to play with the true lesson-how much detail could I put into a basic color without adding things to detail. I didn't add dapples or primitive marks, nor white patterns or sparkles. I spent the time (and it took a Lot of time) to shade the white markings, hooves, horn, mane and tail. He got lavender highlights in his mane and tail to match his lavender eyes. I wanted to be done and move on more than once but I had a lesson to explore so that urge was suppressed and I continued till I was satisfied I could detail nothing else.
Shadows and Highlights
Sarah Rose's Tiny was the perfect specimen to explore shadows and highlights. His muscle structure is well defined, there are wrinkles to play with, and all that hair! Normally, I do a fair bit of shading on my pieces but never with any real specific intent. Here was an opportunity to practice what I had previously learned about details and intent applied to shadows and highlights.
I learned so much from these specific explorations, but the biggest lesson is I have so much more to learn. Hopefully, my next project can help refine my process so I can keep going, start to finish, without my natural inclination to procrastinate.