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PolarisAstrum — Feels Like Home
Published: 2009-05-28 12:54:38 +0000 UTC; Views: 602; Favourites: 32; Downloads: 0
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Description
Very belated birthday gift for ~unicorndreamsI felt so bad that I totally forgot when her b-day was, I'm really, really sorry hun.
There are other reasons for this piece too, but she's the only one who needs to know them.
Tara and I decided to make Saudade and Chase half-brother and sister. Their mother was an Arabian mare.
The tittle is up for interpretation, though I know what it means. If you know Saudade's story, then you'll know it too.
Now this was probably the most painful work I've done. I started it around 2 months ago and each time I picked it up to keep coloring it, I'd work for 5 min and then quit so I only finished it the other day. I blame my new pencils...
There's a lot more yellow on Saudade's body, but the scanner ate it. Oh well
Anyway, I'm sorry it took so long Tara! I hope you like it
Oh, btw, while drawing this I noticed something so funny about Chase. Compare his design [link] to my dog Angel [link] and [link]
Critics are very welcome! I need to renew my sub now.
Chase is © to
Saudade and image are © to me.
May 2009
Colored pencils, white pen(stars), black soft pastel(sky) and white acrylic paint(water splashes/foam).
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Comments: 38
Hi, I found this through the crtiqueable section so I thought I'd give it a go! :]
First off, this is a very striking picture and the feeling of freedom and friendship is very clear here. I love the way you made the horses look so silky soft! but in contrast - the water doesn't look very realistic in comparison to everything else and I think you could have used a wider palette for it - does water REALLY look all blue? plus you could have added more foam/waves where the horses are running, and more of an effect in the ripples to make it look like they're having an impact on the water. the sky is good - the gradient is perfect! however if this is a night scene your lighting would be very different and the overall colours darker and muted. the way you added shades looks very good, BUT it looks like the kind of thing you would see in a day scene.
Another thing you didn't quite get is anatomy - while you seem to have a good knowledge of some equine parts you are a little rusty in others, for example the one running behind's back legs and the front leg closest to us look very accurate, but the others look 'off'. the front leg that's extended looks floppy almost, try using sharper angles! the horse in front's legs look stiff, especially because (I'm assuming) they are supposed to be running. also their faces look a tad too long! other than those few bits they both look great - I especially like how you defined the bones and muscles with darker and lighter shades.
All in all, this is a beautiful picture! just getting your knowledge of how water looks up to your knowledge of equines would really make this wonderful.
hope you appreciate my critique. e.deviantart.com/emoticons/t/t… " width="15" height="15" alt="
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First of all, I really appreciate this critique. I asked for constructive critic on this one especially because of the water and night time coloring, since those are two of my big weak points.
This was actually the first time I tried to shade the picture adding more blues and blacks to match a night setting, so I know I still have a lot to learn.
But I'll start with the water:
I usually add some other tons and hues to the water, some green for example, I was really messy with it here, you can say that I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. Ha, I hate drawing water haha
I totally agree that it shouldn't look so blue and that I should have added some more foam.
The sky is actually the only part of the background that I think that looks halfway decent.
I think you can see that I tried to mute some colors and darken them with black, grey and blue here. It's the first time I tried that for a night time scene, it's especially difficult for me because my works usually include VERY bright colors. One thing I've been forcing myself to do lately is not to be afraid of going too dark(or too light). I see what you mean that I could have darkened and muted it some more.
Oh the legs! Equines are pretty much all that I draw, but legs have always been a problem. I think I'm too afraid of detailing them and do sharper angles like you said. Yup, shaper angles is the key word there, I'll keep that in mind. The heads, I didn't notice it, but now that you mention it, they are a bit long.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful critic! You really pointed out the things that I've been struggling with the most and gave me wonderful advice on how to get them better. I'm very grateful that you took your time to write this.
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aw lovely scenery. it goes really nice with the characters.
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My only critique would be on parts of Chase's anatomy: his raised looks looks a little bit rubbery because the knee joint isn't as well defined as it could be.
Overall I really like this peace: there's a great atmosphere and snese of moion.
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You know, I actually have NO ideia on how to shade horses' knees. I don't, I really need to study leg anatomy deeply.
Thank you Liz!
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I get obsessive over mistakes: especially if I only discover it when the basic lines of the drawing are almost ready: I tend to get very agitated and start erasing everything
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Just like me. The worse part is when I only notice the mistakes after I colour, then erasing doesn't help much. Well, it only does worse.
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Aw wow! Hun! 
Im spassing out here! XD I cant stop looking at it! Thank you, thank yoooou!
So what made you change Saudade into a stallion? Im glad you told me now before I finish my pic so I can give him is manhood! XD I will have to change it a little now too as it would not look right now hes a he! You will kno what I mean when you see the pic! ^^
Thank for being there for me and being a good friend!
I love this pic soo much!
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Oh no, no, no! Saudade's still a mare! Lol, where did you get that idea?
Haha, no it's still a she
I'm glad you like it so much Tara! I can't wait to see yours!
And you're welcome hun!
Thank you so much for the comment and 
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"Tara and I decided to make Saudade and Chase half-brothers" That to me says that its a boy? half brothers? XD
Still a mare, good! ^^ I dont need to change anything then! Heehee!
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OMG I didn't notice that haha XD I need to change it, thanks for telling me!
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Beautiful! I can't understand how you make those backgrounds I would give up half way
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Ah, they're a pain sometimes, especially if they have grass in them, but I cannot leave a work without a background.
Thank you so much hun!
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PS The sky=awesome. It's very pretty ^_^
And, is the green spot in the water algae? (Or however you spell it. XD)
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Ugh, no, it's a very failed attempt at drawing the reflection of the moon, but I guess if the equines don't have reflections, the moon shouldn't either. Oh well. I need to study when stuff has a reflexion on the water surface and when it doesn't...
Thanks again hun!
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No worries. ^_^ And fail is good... from fail, we learn aye? 
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Yup, it is very good, even if it's epic XD
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Nothing wrong with epic! ^_^
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Definitely! Epic is awesome!
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You're back! ^_^ *luffs and snweefles and platypusness*
This is really nice, Jo.
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Thank you so much Dylan!
Yesh, I ish back, for now anyways...
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Welcome!
*pokes slightly* I'll send meh platypus goons after you if'n ya don't stick around. 
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Oh, I'll probably be around more, I've some stuff to upload, I've been more inspired and Aika's doing way greater than I thought, I'm feeling much better. And it doesn't do any good to just cry about it.
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Yay!
I think I can guess why you fav'd those pics, hahaha.
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Hehe, I'm sorry I don't visit your gallery too often, I'm going to try and change it!
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NO worries, my dear.
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Thank you!
And thank you for the
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Such lovely scenery.
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Thank you so much!
They sure are, but they're also very rewarding when you get them right
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wauw! that's soo beautiful!
i looove the colours! amazing!
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