Painting Backdrops: Bucking Horses

Painting a bucking horse with a background can be challenging, but there are several methods to help you get started. One approach is to use a 'grid' method, dividing your reference image into squares and drawing each square individually on the canvas to ensure proper proportions. You can also simplify the design by using a solid colour for the background, such as black or Payne's Gray. If you're feeling adventurous, try a colourful abstract background by watering down 4-6 colours and applying them to your canvas with a splatter technique. For a sunset background, blend colours like ultramarine blue, deep violet, cadmium red light, medium magenta, and titanium white with wet-on-wet blending. When painting a horse, it's recommended to start with the foreground, focusing on one part of the head at a time and working on the smaller details later.

Sketching the horse

Sketching a horse can be challenging, but there are some techniques you can use to make it easier. To start, you'll want to create a rough sketch of the horse using basic shapes. Imagine a horse from a side view and think about what shapes you see. You can begin with two approximately equal circles joined by two horizontal curved lines to form the horse's torso. The head can be drawn using two smaller circles connected by simple lines to make the skull, then joined to the body with two straight lines for the neck. For the front legs, use rectangles and circles for the joints, ending with two diagonal lines that connect to an oval for the hoof. The back legs will be similar, but you'll want to curve the lines inward between the joints to give them a more natural look.

Once you have the basic structure in place, you can start to refine the shape of the horse's body by joining all the previously drawn lines. Use line weight to define the relevant anatomy, paying close attention to the curves of the legs and the shape of the head. Adding another circle below the largest one (the top of the head) will help you place the cheek, a crucial detail that gives realism to the drawing. Now you can add the eye, nose, and mouth, referring to your reference image as needed.

If you're struggling with proportions, you might find it helpful to use the "grid" method. This involves dividing your reference image into squares and drawing each square one at a time on your canvas. This ensures that your sketch will have the correct proportions. Another important tip is to make sure your horse is positioned correctly on the canvas. It should be mostly centred, but leave a good amount of area on the left side for the background.

Finally, when you're happy with your sketch, you can use a pencil or eraser to carefully remove any excess lines or mistakes. This will leave you with a clean silhouette that's ready for painting.

Choosing colours

When painting a bucking horse, choosing the right colours for the background is essential to complement the horse and create a cohesive composition. Here are some tips and ideas to guide you in selecting the perfect colours for your painting:

Consider the Colour of the Horse: The colours you choose for the background should complement the colours of the horse. If your horse has warm-toned coat colours, such as browns, reds, or yellows, you might want to continue that warmth in the background with sunset colours like reds, oranges, purples, and pinks. For a cooler-toned horse with greys or blacks, you could opt for a contrasting background with warmer hues to make the horse stand out.

Create Depth with Colour: To create the illusion of depth in your painting, use lighter colours along the horizon and gradually darken the colours as you move towards the top of the canvas. This technique will give the background a sense of perspective and make your painting more dynamic. You can achieve this effect by starting with a light colour, such as a pale pink or blue, and gradually adding small amounts of a darker shade to create a smooth transition.

Abstract vs. Realistic Backgrounds: Depending on your artistic style and the overall mood you want to convey, you can choose between an abstract or realistic background. An abstract background with a variety of colours, such as a funky, colourful backdrop, can make your painting pop and stand out. On the other hand, if you prefer a more realistic scene, you might opt for a sunset or landscape background, incorporating colours found in nature, like greens, blues, and earthy tones.

Use of Watered-Down Paints: If you're creating an abstract background, consider using the watered-down paint technique. Take 4-6 colours of your choice and water them down one by one to achieve a liquid consistency. Then, apply these translucent paints to your canvas, allowing the pencil sketch of the horse to show through. This method creates an interesting, dreamlike effect.

Experiment and Explore: Don't be afraid to experiment with different colour combinations and techniques. Try out various hues and see how they interact with each other on your palette before applying them to the canvas. Explore different painting techniques, such as blending, wet-on-wet, and dry brush, to create unique textures and effects in your background.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing colours for your painting. Let your creativity guide you, and feel free to break traditional colour rules to achieve a truly unique and expressive artwork. Happy painting!

Painting the horse

Painting a horse can be tricky, especially when it comes to getting the proportions of the eyes, ears and muzzle right. One way to ensure proper proportions is to use the "grid" method, which involves dividing your reference image into squares and drawing each square one at a time on the canvas. You can also find traceable images online, which you can print out and transfer directly to your canvas.

When painting a bucking horse, you'll want to start by drawing the tail and then painting around it to create the rear end and legs. Use a darker colour for the body of the horse, and a lighter colour for the neck and head. You can also add details like the eyes, eyelashes, eye crease, inner ear, nostrils and mouth with black paint and a small brush.

If you're painting a horse head, you can break it down into simple shapes. Start by drawing the outline of the head on your canvas with a pencil. Then, you can add the details of the face, mane, eyes, snout and mouth, using the right dimensions to make it look realistic.

To paint the horse's coat, mix raw sienna, vermillion and phthalo blue. Apply this mix with a round, natural-hair brush that has been dampened with a small amount of water. For a darker colour, mix ultramarine with sepia. Use a dry-brush-on-moist technique to keep the paint flow under control and create a velvety texture for the coat.

Finally, remember that you don't have to add a background. You can leave the horse on its own, or add another horse in the foreground to create a sense of depth.

Creating the background

To create an eye-catching background for your bucking horse, you can experiment with different colours and techniques. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, decide on the colours you want to use. For a sunset background, you could use colours like ultramarine blue, deep violet, cadmium red light, medium magenta, and titanium white. If you're feeling adventurous, try a funky abstract colourful background with 4-6 colours of your choice.

Next, prepare your paint. Water down each colour one by one to achieve a liquid consistency. This will ensure that your background will be fully transparent, and the sketch of your horse will be visible underneath.

Now, it's time to start painting the background. Using your paintbrush, blob the watered-down paint in different areas around your canvas. Remember to leave some white space on the edges of the canvas. Don't worry if you get paint inside the horse's outline, as you can paint over it later.

To add interest and texture to your background, try the splatter technique. Load one brush with the darkest watered-down paint, and use another brush to tap it, creating paint splatters on your canvas.

If you're painting a sunset background, here's an additional tip: start by painting horizontal strokes with ultramarine blue, going left and right but not all the way across. Then, blend in deep violet without rinsing your brush. For "wet on wet blending," allowing the colours to mix on the canvas. Rinse your brush and blend in cadmium red light, which will appear as an orange shade. You may need to add more deep violet to achieve a smooth blend.

Finally, if you want to create a glowing pink horizon, blend medium magenta just above the horse's muzzle, and then add titanium white to create a bright, glowing pink shade. For a subtle illusion of depth, make the pink lighter and brighter along the horizon, gradually getting darker.

Feel free to adapt these steps to your preferred colours and style, and don't be afraid to experiment!

Final touches

Now that you've painted your bucking horse, it's time to add the finishing touches to your artwork. Here are some tips and techniques to help you complete your painting:

Abstract background

An abstract background can add a unique and modern twist to your painting. To create this effect, prepare an assortment of acrylic paint colours (4-6 colours) on your palette. Water down each colour one by one, making sure they become liquid in consistency. Using your paintbrush, apply the watered-down paint to your canvas, creating blobs of colour around the sketch of your horse. The paint should be fully transparent, allowing the pencil sketch to show through. Repeat this process with different colours, covering the entire horse's mane and hair.

Splatter technique

To add interest and texture to your background, try the splatter technique. Load one brush with the darkest watered-down paint on your palette. Take another brush and tap the loaded brush, allowing the paint to splatter onto the canvas. This creates a unique and artistic effect.

Sunset background

If you want to depict a sunset sky behind your bucking horse, start by using a 3/4" wash brush and the following colours: ultramarine blue, deep violet, cadmium red light, medium magenta, and titanium white. Paint horizontal strokes from left to right, blending the colours as you go. First, mix ultramarine blue with deep violet without rinsing your brush. Then, blend in cadmium red light, which will create an orange hue. You can also add more deep violet to achieve the desired shade of purple.

Depth and detail

To create the illusion of depth, gradually darken the colours as you move towards the bottom of your canvas. This will make your painting more dynamic and give it a sense of perspective. You can also add finer details to the horse's face, such as filling in the eyes, eyelashes, eye crease, inner ear, nostrils, and the bottom part of the mouth with mars black using a small detailing brush.

Final adjustments

Take a step back and assess your painting. Are there any areas that need more detail or adjustments? This is your opportunity to make any final changes to ensure you're happy with the result. You can use this time to add any unique touches that you feel your painting needs.

Remember, art is a creative process, so feel free to experiment and trust your artistic instincts. Enjoy the process of bringing your bucking horse to life!

Frequently asked questions