Light Bay

The following tutorial was written in 2011.

The model used is a Schleich Tinker Mare.

This tutorial was completed using airbrushed acrylics (Citadel range) and hand painted acrylics for details. For the price estimate it is assumed you are using hand painted acrylics or pastels. It is assumed you are painting a Stablemate model horse but this tutorial will work for all scales.

Difficulty Level: Medium
Approximate Cost: £30.00

The Basics

Set of Paint Brushes
Prepped Model Horse

Paints

​Ochre
Ginger
​Medium Brown
Black

For the details

​White
Light Tan
Red
Dark Brown

Step 1

Start with a prepped model horse. I have used white primer but grey primer will also work. Add light ochre to the areas shown (muzzle, stifle, elbow and buttock).

Step 2

Now cover the whole horse in ginger leaving the muzzle and ends of the legs exposed. The paint should be slightly thinner around the areas where you added ochre in step 1.

Step 3

Add your first coat of medium brown to the neck, cheeks, shoulders, withers, back and within any muscle grooving as shown.

Step 4

Add a second layer of medium brown to the neck, base of the cheek and around the muscles on the quarters.

Step 5

Paint the points of the horse black. These are the muzzle, legs, genitals, mane and tail. Also add layers of black around the eyes and within the ears.

Step 1

With the mane and tail painted and the base coat complete you can now work on the horse's details. Add any white markings you want using thin layers of white paint. Whilst these dry you can work on the eyes.

​First paint a layer of white with a small amount of red mixed in.

Step 2

Add a wash layer of brown paint to the eyes with a small amount of red mixed in.

Step 3

Add the round iris using brown paint.

Step 4
​
​Finish your eyes by painting a black oblong shaped pupil. You can finish the hooves in either a light sand colour (where there are white markings) or dark grey (where there are no white markings).

Finish your piece by signing your name on the under side of the horse or one of the hooves. Now add a few layers of sealant (I like Army Painter but Testors and Citadel will also work well) to protect your model.
Finish your horse by glossing the eyes, nostrils and hooves. Congratulations! You have now got a lovely light bay model horse.

If you have followed this tutorial and would like to share your finished piece in our below gallery please email catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk with a picture.