There’s no excuse for this story, except to draw horses.
Comics are notorious (no, not “infamous.” Look it up), for the artists not bothering to learn to draw animals. Even gorgeous historical series, where draft and farm animals appear in 1/3 of the panels, feature stupidly-observed and -drawn joints and bad heads. Let’s not even go into those half-paw, puffy hooves. Now that’s infamous.
I prefer to draw organic things, but if I have to draw a tank or plane, I at least look it up on the Webs or play with a little plastic model. It’s not always terribly successful, but at least I try, and I try to improve. I’m even kind of happy with my progress with airplanes.
These days there are some gorgeous comics horse artists. Mine just come from a history of falling off a lot of horses or getting stepped on by the devious antique brutes. No, I don’t think they’re sweet, nice animals. Their closest living relatives are the tapir — and the rhinoceros. When they’re not sneaking around behind you, they’re running you down. I adore them — but I wouldn’t turn my back on a horse any more than I would on the ocean; for both of them, it’s just too tempting.
Nothing beats drawing from life. Makes you think on your feet, because they won’t stand still. When I went to a friend’s small ranch in April specifically to practice drawing horses, I think they had as much fun as I did. Two mares were prima-donnas (‘That’s not my good side!’), another was moody (‘I vant to be alone’) but her big Arab/Warmblood mare wanted to take the sketchbook and do her own drawing. (With her I got good sketches of muzzle and lips.)
When I was coloring Don Rosa stories I wanted to tear my hair sometimes. He put a lot of anality into his research–except when it came to horses. He would draw hocks facing backwards, bridles that stopped in front of the ears, and bits that were nowhere near the mouth. And when these things werepointed out to him he’d do a written shrug and say “that’s the way I want to draw it.” Then he’d jump all over me for coloring something the ‘wrong’ shade of brown. $%#@!!
How about the mares who discover their owner doesn’t like to see tongues hanging out i photos? Or rude tail positions? Did you give the artistic type a pencil? Or at least an oil stick?
I know Don’s “I want to draw it that way,” answer, but he’s doing really cartoony style, and the goofiness is part of it. But now, they don’t get horses. They’ve never had one step on them — and then BEAR DOWN. Pain kinda gets an artist’s attention.
Yep — I had my ‘trial of foot’ at the tender age of 13 and never forgot it. Losing toenails will do that to a person.
Next time I visit the herd I’ll see if I can bring along some sturdy brushes and poster paint for the equine Picasso.
You’re teaching your horse to paint?