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howlinghorse — how to make a friesian
Published: 2007-05-27 10:50:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 6570; Favourites: 165; Downloads: 113
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time for another little rant about referencing.I don't hate references. People should look at something when they draw. Photograph or the real thing, it doesn't detract from the skill of the artist in the slightest.
not like tracing or paintovers which I think do. but anyway.
The reason I don't use refs for most drawings is that I like not having them. when I copy body parts or even whole horses, I lose my thread. I can't then 'see' my own, the entire picture in my head. But the picture in my head is only there from observation of photos, reality, etc. The reason I put "No refs" is that when I don't people say "Where are your references, why aren't you linking to them?"
I'm not a thief but things being said like that and notes coming in from trolls etc are getting more numerous for some reason. I am not particularly bothered by them and hate drama BUT I thought I should say this just so its been said. And prove that there really has been effort put in to get it looking like it does, there isn't a short-cut that will ever give the same emotional satisfaction.
So. please stop sending me notes about how you 'can see the traced parts' or 'saw that photo last week' ... every single one that comes it gets more tiring! and it only takes one to make me think maybe there's more people thinking this but not saying it.
Ok that's all, rant over...
So these are the WIPs
hope my writing is legible!
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Comments: 33
Wow, great tutorial!!! You will be very successful
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Years of practice? Can I get that at an art store?? Lol!
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yes if you go every day to sit and draw
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lovely tutorial.
also, a note about people accusing you of tracing - people need to understand one thing. HORSES DO NOT LOOK SO STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER. horses use generally the same movements, and friesians of course look like each other because it's very specific how they should look. if two people draw friesians running, there's a pretty good chance they will look at least similar, and the same goes for images against drawings, etc.
so really. people need to calm the fuck down. if they're not exactly alike (as in, overlaying the painting over the image and it being barely different), IT IS NOT COPYING/TRACING/WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
god.
i hate that they're mean to you like that. =/
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Amazing. This has been a lot of help! Thank you so much!
~Sorrow.
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I'm still in that unfortunate position where without a solid ref, I suck. I actually am terrified of doing something like this with just a picture in my head. I have a photographic mind or whatever you wan tto call it... I can picture just about anything in my head. But transferring what I see in my head onto paper is where I have a problem. I actually prefer to rely completely on a reference and just copy most of it. Partly because it's safe, and partly because I suppose I want to see how close I can get it, and if I'm getting better at the whole realism/photorealism thing.
I would love to make the step into being able to come up with stuff that looks plausible out of my head, but it rarely works for me. Especially light and shadow (which you've handled excellently here) I just seem to have no grasp of it in my head. I know I need to develop my skills a bit and stop relying on just copying... I'll always defend it, but it's getting to a point where I want to be able to stand on my own feet!
so, if I could get to where this is at, I'd be happy. I love looking at these kind of things, I loved seeing how this developed.
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It's because visualising from scratch is sort of a different skill to draftmanship... and you have to practice it! you can't just get good at drafting a drawing from reference, and go straight into visualisation and expect similar results. If you draw a lot without a ref, you'll get used to it, just be prepared for it to be quite disappointing at first 
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I did used to do it a lot more but lately I've become very reliant on photographs. I'm going to try and make more of an effort from now on I think. The latest one in my gallery was entirely unreffed! Go me
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I actually work worse when I use references than when I don't O.O I'm just nutty like that. My dislike of direct reference ties with my dislike of drawing still life--they restrict me. I like to let my imagination and my somewhat-limit skill and talent flow, and to really get a feel of what I'm drawing--that's how I can get even the slightest bit of emotion or heart into my art. You just can't do that with an apple or glass, because they are just...there. Whereas horses--why, horses are so fluid and full of motion! I can draw then bucking or rearing or prancing or twisting, running or leaping or, when I fancy a break, just standing still. I can make my picture happy or sad, angry or peaceful, free or controlled...I mean, you can hardly make a plaster cube look sad.
Ahem, yes, now that that little ramble is donned and all, this is simply awesome. I just love your feel for lighting and shading--I can't say if it's just natural or if it came with years of practise and study, but blehwhatever, it's still uberawesome.
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I don't think very many people think you trace things. Only a select few who must not draw very often or really have no idea how to see an image for the talent and patient it is. You have a stunning gallery and the love of your artwork, skill, and dedication is very aparent throughout. For someone to assume and not consider all the time you have spent working on each idea is sadly pathetic. There are artists that can draw so realistic one would swear they where looking at a photograph. They did not trace either and shows what is so very possible to achive. I would have to wonder if these trolls are guilty of tracing themselves and thus assume everyone who has talent does? Its an interesting question.
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A reference is the key to making a picture of a realistic creature look...well...correct and realistic. Like they say, practice makes perfect, but drawing something wrong over and over again doesn't do anything. Oh, and you completely blow me away with your horse pictures.
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You know I don't know how you do it... 
You're colouring is just fablus! 
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Araceli's comment was awesome, so I shall just echo your TA-DA from the end of the picture. xD
"TA DA!!!!"
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References make the world go round o__o Even if you don't use them for every picture made, I'm sure most of not all people have used a reference at least SOME point in their life. Like people who draw horses, if they're talented enough to do poses and anatomy straight from their head without a direct reference, that's amazing, awesome. But at some point in their life they DID use some reference to be able to HAVE that knowledge of anatomy and lighting for horses. Whether it's just studying a book or spending time around horses personally. Most everything can lead back to a reference somehow...
But anyway 
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You make it look so simple. I know it's not though because I tried.
Nice work, I love it
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I don't like using refs for the same reason, but sometimes i do need them....esp. for people
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beautiful! you have great and simple and easy to follow instructions! thanks!
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Duh, of course someone saw that pose last week...how many poses ARE there that you can draw a horse? I've taken photos and then seen another photo of that animal in the exact same pose. In fact I saw a rabbit photo a while back I thought was mine except I knew I never posted it. People are so weird...I've drawn a sketch in front of them and then put it on the light table to trace it onto the good paper, and they said THAT was 'cheating'.
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Ooh incredible! You picked a wonderful breed for the tutorial indeed. -nod-
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i agree, i don't understand anti-reference people.
i love your sketches. very educational.
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awesome! i think that once I finish that other horse (never made it to the next step....) I will try to draw a this.
really helpful, thanks!
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wow, brilliant! U make it look so darned easy! lol yeh, i also agree about the references. I suppose its alright to use them when u learn how to draw a horse and stuff, but references sometimes only hinder your imagination!
Great wip, really fantastic!
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I agree completely about references, and I think you are MORE than justified to clarify with each of your postings. And you know what, the trolls can shove it. People always use and abuse the anonymity of the internet. They think they can say whatever they like to whomever they like without any facts or truth behind what they claim. *sigh* That anyone would devalue your incredible work makes me do dis: 
Anyway, back to the show. This WIP just proves to me that you are as awesome as I always thought you were!
Love it! I fav now!
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I've never had anyone say that to me!
Then again I'm not as popular/scrutinised as you.
Obviously there are photos of friesans in that position....because there are millions of friesians and that position isn't totally wacko/impossible
Normally if I use a reference it's if I get a vague idea like "I want to draw a pig." Or if I'm scrolling photos and see one I really want to use.
Whereas often if I...say...want to draw someone's hand reaching out or someone looking up or lying down profile with their eyes closed (and all of those things wouldn't be too hard to find...you'd think....) I have to look at a million photos and none of them are ever right so I just wing it.
Often it's better.
I find the more you look at photos the more you just have an idea in your mind so the photos become like a crutch, not your only legs to stand on. It's nice to have them there but often they can hinder rather than help
(sorry long comment.)
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I love your style
I think it looked cute at the pony stage XD and I'm glad I never get messages like that, I'd have quit by now if it was that bad. Or just ignored them all...
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