Monday, December 12, 2011

Progress on the fily

Here is the newest pic of the thoroughbred filly:



She is finally starting to look like a racehorse and not just a thoroughbred. It has to be one of the most difficult subjects in equine art-dom. Not only should the sculpture be immediately recognizable as a specific breed, but a very specialized type within that breed.

I haven't done much with the off side yet, both off legs need to be reworked. At some point I focus on just one side, and when I am satisfied with it I take photos and flip them on my computer and use that as reference for the opposite side. The head is hard to judge from this angle, at some point I will get photos of just her head from the side. You can see all my scratch marks on her neck that are my way of taking notes as I work.

I feel her neck is a tad too long. Everyone keeps telling me 'longer neck, longer neck'. Is this what everyone was wanting? What I did was move the near shoulder back, which made the back look shorter and the neck longer. What I am learning with this girl is that what looks right to me might not be how a racehorse really looks. They don't look like 'normal' horses at all!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I think she looks much, much better! Sure wouldn't want her neck any shorter.

venny said...

Much, MUCH better! You've done a lot of work to her and I like her an awful lot better now. She looks more in proportion with the longer neck and shorter back and her shoulders and hindquarters appear less bulky. Her overall look is leaner and fitter. Well done!

Four Corners Tack said...

Excellent improvements, though I would still say the neck is a smidge too short. I reckon you're probably in stock horse mode! Please make sure her off raised fore leg isn't too short as well, I'd like to see a bit more swing, like she's loose and warmed up (http://www.oliverlehmann.com/photos/Race-Horses/Racehorse-08.jpg)

Xebeche said...

I think what is making her neck look short is that her head is turned to the left. In person her neck doesn't look short at all. I'll try to get some work done on the head/neck today so I can post pictures just of them.

venny said...

I'd love to see some shots of her from different angles.

Western Tack by Marilyn Fowler said...

Beautiful work, so life like!!