Sculptures of horses offer up some great subject matter, but they’re also really, really hard to make look good. Common pitfalls that even seasoned sculptors might stumble into:
- Getting the Proportions Wrong
The biggest mistake is overestimating how different body parts relate to one another in the first place. The solution? Use reference measurements. The length of a horse corresponds with its height – that is, the head makes up one-third and neck two-thirds. View your study from as many angles and photos you can get, measure those carefully before marking them on your sculpture.
- Ignoring Weight Distribution
When a horse is standing at rest, it will normally place one hind leg in a flexed position so that this natural asymmetry occurs. Novices are liable to compose stiff, symmetrical poses that look forced. Just look at the way real horses move when they change their weight. The corresponding shoulder readjusts, and the entire movement settles back to a smooth rhythm that makes the whole body seem unconsciously in tune. For Bronze Horse Sculptures, visit //www.gillparker.com/bronze-horse-sculptures-limited-edition-to-buy/
- Oversimplifying the Legs
Horse legs are composed of various joints, tendons and muscle groups. If you model the legs as just cylinders then everyone will recognise that this person has never modelled anything in their life. Learn where the knee, hock, fetlock and pastern are placed. Take a look at the cannon bone – it should be straight and clearly marked, whilst the thigh muscle has good bulk. The legs taper correctly with the narrowest part at the just above hoof.
- Neglecting the Underlying Skeleton
When the skeletal structure is not understood, all you get are anatomically impossible horses. The ribcage, spine and pelvis are the foundation for everything else. First start by creating a quick little bone armature or sketch of your character. Knowing where the bones are allows you to place muscles in the right location and makes your anatomy look convincing.
- Making the Neck Too Straight
A common mistake is to simply make the neck a straight line from head to shoulder. The shape of a horse neck naturally has an S-curve. This curve can differ from breed to breed but it is always there.
The Fix: Reference, Reference, Reference
So how to avoid all these mistakes? Use abundant reference material. Once again, read anatomy books and take hundreds of pictures; look at them to help you train the eye. Movement – watch videos on youtube if you can catch a horse in action it’s so much better! Sketch from real life if it is possible. A good knowledge of what horses really look like and how they move is the key to a successful piece of equine sculpture.