Dun

The following tutorial was written in 2012.

The model used is a Breyer Classic Ginger.

The paints used were a mixture of vallejo, citadel and humbrol acrylics. Approximate costs are based on you buying all the items needed for this tutorial, it is assumed you will use hand painted acrylics for the costing although the horse was completed using an airbrush. This tutorial will also work for pastelling.

Difficulty Level: Medium
Approximate Cost: £40.00

Shopping List

Base Colour Paints

Pale Yellow
Ochre
Ginger
Dark Ginger
Black
Dark Brown

Detail Paint

Red
White

Tools

Paint Brushes
​Optional: Airbrush/Pastel Brushes
Prepped Model Horse
Sealant
​Gloss

Base Colour


Step One

Add a layer of light yellow paint across the barrel of the horse and top of the legs (you can cover the whole horse if you wish).

Step Two

Add a layer of ochre across the entire horse. Allow the base colour to show through on the stifle and elbow.

Step Three

Use ginger paint on the barrel, head, neck, back and croup. Use reference to help see where you need to add shading. Also add some within the muscles and at the top of the legs.

Step Four

Add dark ginger (if you don't have a dark ginger add a little bit of red brown to the same ginger paint you used in Step Three) to the head, top of the neck and belly.

Step Five

Mix together black with a small amount of dark brown. Now paint the horse's points (legs, tail, mane, muzzle, eyes and genitals).

​Use some dark brown paint with a little bit of black to paint the dorsal stripe along the horse's back.

​Step Six

Use some of the paint mix used in Step Five to add subtle leg barring to the horse's legs. You can add as much or as little as you like, look at reference to see how the stripes should look and how much you think would look realistic.

The horse's base colour is now complete. You can now add white markings and finish off the details such as the eyes and hooves.

The Details


Step One

Paint the eyes black

Step Two

Mix some white with a little bit of red and paint the whole eye this colour.

Step Three

​Paint the iris in a dark brown. Now add an oblong shaped pupil in black.

​Now paint your hooves using a dark grey for legs without white markings or a pale shell colour for those with white markings.

Finishing Your Piece

Finish your model by sealing with a good quality sealant. Now gloss the eyes, nostrils and hooves.

If you have followed this tutorial we would love to see a picture of your completed piece. Email it to catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk and we will feature it in the gallery below.

Completed Horse Gallery

 

Completed by Catriona Harris in 2012