I decided I would start where I am most comfortable and that for me is drawing in graphite in a sketchbook. So for the start of this project I really want to build up some energetic sketches and I'm hoping that will help me flow into what I want to experiment with next.
The anatomy and action of the horse - Lowes D. Luard
Animal painting and anatomy - W. Frank Colderon
The art of animal drawing - construction, action analysis, caricature - Ken Hultgren
Reading these books has really helped to form my understanding of the action of the horse in movement, particularly the way the horse leans into each stride. It's interesting to see how differently each artists illustrations are. Ken Hultgren conveys each horses individual personalities in his drawings and in each there is a real feeling of freedom and raw natural horse. As apposed to other drawings in the book 'animal painting and anatomy' there are some George Stubbs illustrations where the horse is much more refined and finely tuned, this could be because the horses are thoroughbreds and therefore a more man made and sculpted breed but it feels like with his style there's almost too much realism with every detail of each muscle. His drawings and study's don't feel as raw and real as the wild, natural, flawed horse. The spirit of the horse.
