HOME | DD
AonikaArt — Horse in pencils
Published: 2009-08-27 18:14:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 11285; Favourites: 573; Downloads: 1
Redirect to original
Description
Media: HB + 4B +6B pencils and some bigger piece of paper (A3 size) Reference: none Estimated time: ~4 hoursThis art is my first attempt in realistic shading in traditional media and I think that I failed and she does not look realistic in any way
I'd like to ask about some advanced critique about how could I improve my traditional skills! For sure I had no patience for drawing the neck, but in the other hand I didn't had any good idea how to do it X)
Notice that I know that the mane is really strange and nearly unshaded, but after failing at her muzzle I decided to give her hair this cartoonish and stylized look
Next time I'll try my skills with some good reference =]
EDIT: I resized this art on my own, somehow DA made the smaller view ugly blurred
Related content
Comments: 181
I really rather like it this way as it has a classical art feel to it. but as for shading try going using color waterpencils. Those were what I swore by before going directly to digital
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Color waterpencils is something I neever had in my hands, but when I only have an occassion I'd try to draw (paint? 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Very impressive!!!! VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!
im going try this too ^^
you have an amazing skill!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
to be honest i quite like the muzzle. the shading is really well, if you just made the cheek a bit rounder it ould look even more realistic.
otherwise I'm not an expert on shading, so the only thing I can say is that you did a good job on this one.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
To be honest the shape and form of the mane is very good, just as you say, it got stylised! Twists and frizzy/curly parts are good, because if you don't have a bit of variation it can look too sheet-like and unnatural - I'm sure you know this anyway. If you want to go for realism with manes and tails, it helps to tackle in in sections - sketch in the twists and the areas where highlighted sections overlap dark ones, the gaps in between sections, etc. And don't be afraid to use the blackest black shade that will come out of your pencil, especially for a black mane. And keep your pemcil sharp for small hair details (I always block in a layer of shading all over with a 2b, then go over the mane/tail in sections with a sharp mechanical pencil, then pick out highlights at the end with a putty eraser)
For the horse itself, in terms of realism, the shading is nicely done, and the anatomy/muscle placement is pretty much correct (apart from the muzzle is a little on the large/droopy side, but horses with large droopy muzzles do exist!) to pish for more realism, I'd suggest two things (and I know at least one of these has already been suggested...) One, the outlines. I understand you probably added those in once you realised the drawing was going down a stylised route. Two, the contrast/range of tone is quite low. For a black horse you can use a nice dark pencil like a 4b to an 8b. Again don't be afraid to get the most out of the heaviness of the pencil... for a black coat, dark darks are needed along with light sheeny highlights to make him pop. Also go slowly and try to avoid the cross-hatching method of shading... although you've done it to good effect, for a more realistic look it would need to be a little smoother. You need to give the overall shading some body and depth, and think of it as a form in itself rather than something to fill the outlines... then you can leave the outlines out
You have some nice detail starting to emerge on the muzzle, you can push it even further by taking a sharp or mechanical pencil and further defining things like whisker bumps, wrinkles around the muzzle, a few whiskers, etc. Not always all at once, mind, but a little bit of detailing along with definition of darks and highlights really adds something.
I love the definition of shapes in the face - this is something I always struggle with if I don't have a ref (even now!) so I'm admiring the fact you managed that successfully without one! Also the eye is lovely with lots of life and depth, to be honest if you have that down, you can get away with a lot of things because realistic shading etc is nothing if the eye is dead and one-dimensional.
One last point - it's commendable to go without a reference, but when it comes to really convincing realism, most mere mortals get the best results by using a good solid reference, especially if you're having trouble. Even if you only use it for shading/colour ref and not for a pose. No matter what people say about working from refs being 'uncreative' - by taking in that information and recreating it on paper, you're helping yourself in the long run and will be better prepared in future for non-ref works!
I hope some of that helps. You should definitely do some more!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much for this big comment
I feel that you really know what you're suggesting and after taking a look at your gallery I can be sure that I should use your advices.
I have a set of pencils with 6B and 8B but somehow I'm a little scared to use all - drawing with them give so strong effect and moreover they're so soft that it's easy to destroy the thing you already drew. I saw that the traditional artist are used to draw from the left side (I'm right-handed so it will be okay for me to) and draw every little detail of this side of drawing. Then go a little more to the centre itd itd. Because I'm mostly digital artist it's hard for me to know how my traditional art should look by drawing only a part of it... I'm used to drawing nearly all art at one time adding more and more details here and there. Doing it with pencils can made the whole lines messy and blurred... There is a way of putting a clean piece of paper under the hand but it's somehow troublesome for me 
Thank you again for the tips I'll try to use them (and the good reference) next time
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah the different methods with traditional and digital can be difficult to switch between. I used to draw the whole and then work over it in 'layers' much the same as most do digitally... but now I use the little-bit-at-a-time method. I think personally you can get either way to work just as well for you, it depend what suits you best!
No problem at all 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I really don't mind the late reply, do not worry ^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Pięknie
Ta falująca grzywa i oczy bardzo mi się podobają
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Dziękuję
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I think it's lovely.
The only thing to me is the muzzle looks a little narrow compared to the rest.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes, you're right
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
The eye looks great, very expressive, and you may not seem to like it too much but I love how it turned out. And I think the stylized look of the mane works quite well
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
pięknie pocieniowany 
ołówkowa praca 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Zabawne, że o to pytasz, bo akurat mam jakieś zboczenie pod względem temperowania ołówka - nie znoszę rysować, gdy końcówka się stę
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
o, a ja odwrotnie 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
It's beautiful!
He he, that is true, but not in a realistic way.
I think one of your problems is that you have created very strong outlines in this image, almost like a line art. Try to lose these harsh, dark lines and attempt a more realistic edge to your drawings. Use tonal balance and range, and trick the eyes, instead of darkening the outlines.
I truly like this, though — it's wonderful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Someone already told me that, and if you're the second person who think in this way it only made this fact more true. I'll try to work in some other way on the outlines next time. Thank you for the comment and advice
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Bierzesz ołówek i rysujesz na kartce, to cała teoria jaką znam XD Po lekcje proponuję udać się do RedIzak ^.^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Whaat, she looks as realistic as can be! I'm stunned
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Woooooow! 
I honestly can't see why you're worried about the realism - this looks really good. You sound to be your own worst critic
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm not worried, but really I would like to draw in both ways - stylized and realistic. I always adored artists that was able to do this ^^ Anyway thank you, I'm glad that you like it
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I think you did brilliantly with the shading. The shading isnt why she doesn't look realistic. It's the drawing itself. Her ears are too small for a horse and I only knew of 1 or 2 horse breeds that have curly hair.
But not to worry! She looks amazing as she is. The slightly unrealistic look about her leaves room for the imagination to create some fantasy. She looks like she galloped out of a persian miniator painting, it's an amazing drawing, well done. ^_^
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
| Next =>