Few things rival the grace of a galloping horse.
Horses have been domesticated for 5,000 years. They were bred for different purposes, resulting in the many breeds we have today. The original North American horse became extinct. Horses were introduced again beginning with Christopher Columbus when he landed in Haiti in 1493. Horses are powerful and capable of running at great speed. Intrinsically beautiful animals in almost any circumstance, it is when they are galloping that their true power can be seen. To draw a galloping horse requires a good still image as a point of reference.
Instructions
1. Prepare your drawing station and the materials you'll need beside a good reference image of a galloping horse. Make sure you have plenty of light on the photo as well as your drawing paper. If it is a regular size photo, and you want to make the drawing larger, then double or triple the values that you measure on the photo, to scale your drawing accordingly.
2. Measure the length of the horse on the photo from the chest to where the tail starts. Measure the distance from the ground to the top of its shoulders. Multiply this by three to triple its size in the drawing. Draw a rectangle using those numbers. The square will contain the chest and hind section of the horse, including its legs.
3. Make more markings on the paper as you measure out remaining areas such as the head and the position of the legs. Depending on the image, the hind legs might go beyond the box toward the back, or be included underneath. The upper neck and head will be outside the box facing forward. Draw another rectangle to surround that area to make it easier for you to draw the outline points. Measure each extremity and plot those points within and around the reference boxes.
4. Draw the outline of the horse using the points you have measured and marked. Use these as a basic guideline to help you preserve the proper proportions. Draw the chest, neck and head outline and continue with the ears, top of the neck and along the back. Sketch in the tail using energetic, flowing lines to create a sense of movement. Sketch in the legs, including lines to indicate the bone structure and hooves. Double check your measurements if something looks off and correct the lines accordingly.
5. Use sandpaper to sharpen your pencil to create detail lines. Use parallel strokes to draw the horse's mane flying in the wind and draw its eyes and nostrils. You may only see one of each in a side-on view. Keep detailing the legs to make them look real by indicating muscular features. Draw the lines made by flexing muscles in the legs, chest, shoulders and hindquarter.
6. Shade in all the dark areas, including the underside, far side legs, along the bottom of the neck and head. Continue with shading the muscle features you have already defined with lines. Shading will add a lot of three-dimensional realism to your work.
7. Use a cloth to blend the darker area by gradually getting lighter. Create a smooth transition on all such areas until you see a certain depth evolving in your drawing. Use the eraser to lighten areas and to preserve the highlights.
