02-29 Horse

When viewed from the front, the horse’s head has subtle angles and curves, as you’ll learn when you draw this equine portrait. Occasionally rotate your paper upside down to check that the parts are balanced and symmetrical.

1 Draw a vertical line divided into four equal parts. Draw an intersecting horizontal line through the second mark from the top.

2 Add two more horizontal lines, one at the top and one at the bottom, and connect all three horizontals with diagonal lines.

3 Around the upper part of the shape, draw the main outlines of the horse’s ears and eyes.

4 Draw in the remaining shapes of the head with soft lines.

5 Erase any construction lines that are still visible, and draw the horse’s nose.

6 Draw the neck and shoulder.

7 Shade the horse’s ears and mane.

8 Shade the head except for the eyes and an irregular-shaped patch in the center. Shade the neck and shoulder.

9 Refine the shading of the ears and mane with darker strokes. Shade the eyes.

Fun Fact

The horse’s eye is the largest of any land mammal and helps it detect slight motions in a very wide field of vision.

10 Refine the cheeks and sides of the head with shading followed by light touches with a kneaded eraser.

11 Refine the neck. Shade the nostrils, and shape highlights with a kneaded eraser. Finally, add a few whiskers.