"What is it about horses" Topic

that you hate painting? They always seem to make the list of things painters hate doing.

Eyes, straps – those I get, but not horses.

For one thing, horses usually have a lot of straps themselves.

No, neither do I. Horses are easy to do. I wonder if it has to do with the 'non-combatant' thing – men fight, horses don't; when rolling dice you usually only count the soldiers 'head'. It seems to be the same with baggage, trucks, etc.

Excellent article on the subject of painting horses in the latest issue of MWBG.

Horses are a tough one if you want them to look right. I know that some painters just go with, "I will paint all my horses brown" and leave it at that. Well no not all horses are brown even the brown ones have different features. However there is almost nothing else on the war game table as stunning as well done units of cavalry. I will admit I probably spend too much time painting my horses as I want to show socks, blazes, spots all of that which any equestrian will note right off the bat.

I think one issue that inhibits painting horses is that any cavalry figure is really the equivalent of painting two or three infantry figures.

Very repetitive. Big areas of the same colours and then fiddly straps. More fun if they have armour or heraldic bards so I don't think it is non-combatant thing for me. Besides, they can give you a nasty kick or nip :)
Having said that, I usually bite the bullet and do 30 or 40 15mm horses at a time so I get them over with and can get on with the riders. Sometimes even more – I think I did about 130 horses for Persians before doing the men.

For me, I think it has to do with the fact that I hang out with other human beings all day, but I could go months without seeing an actual horse (except for the little figures of course!). So while I have an innate knowledge of painting people, painting horses realistically is more challenging. Or at least that is my theory…

Damon.

I agree, I put off painting horses as much as possible.

I Just paint them 'bit by bit'.

I Just paint them 'bit by bit'.

I guess if you want to game, you just gotta hoof it and get the painting done…

Damon.

If you make it easy, then it's not so bad.

The are huge, usually have lots of fiddly straps, and are just means of getting from A to B.

At least with a truck a bunch of blokes can ride in the back.

For those who hate painting horses, have you tried the oil paint method? Paint base coat, allow to dry. Thin down oil paint ( typically burnt umber or black) to the consistency of cream, slap on, then sponge off, though Ive used paper towel as well. You can add a quick highlight if you want, but usually no need. Job done! Quick and looks great, more realistic than most layering techniques I see which makes the horse look too cartoony for my taste.
I've tried using just acrylic and washes but can never get the same results.

I enjoy painting them, got my colour set for horses worked out and the only part I get teed about is actually the saddle. I mount my men first and it gets a bit tricky now and then. Otherwise I do em up and they roll off quite well no prob.

I don't mind painting horses so much. It's getting them to sit up on the tank that I find frustrating.

Painting 15 mm horses (looking good) is actually easy with acrylics. On 28 mm they will only look good with oils (unless you are a master with acrylics), and will allways be : easier, faster, nicer. In fact all of your models will look better if you painted with oils but you will have to master total tifferent techniques than the one wargamers are used to in General.
What I do not suggest is what JezEger proposes. This way of painting has been (a bit) popular since Foundry published the "Painting and Modelling Guide" of Kevin Dallymore where refered to technique was explained. Kevin, not being an oilpainter, goes only half the way.
If Kevin takes the time to get from acrylics to oil, then believe me, he has a good reason.
It is far easier to paint a horse completely in oils than to try to do it in acrylics, try it, you will be amased of yourself.
If you are really intersted I'm willing to give you a step by step explanation/medium on how to do it : just let me know wich colour you are thinking of.
The drying time being a problem you should always work in badges of the same type of horse. It is a lot easier than you think.
All straps/blankets/saddles etc are to be painted with acrylics, the horse comes last totally in oils.
What one should know is that certain horses did not exist on certain continents (or should I say Europe) at certain historical times. Therefore : no Pinto's for Huns for ex.

Oils and Horses were made for each other but, I have been playing around with a few different techniques lately using various paints and mediums and must admit I quite like the result so far. I'll post some pics over the weekend and let everybody else judge. I like painting horses, beats painting 48 collar and cuff facings hands down imo.

I don't know either, but I just dread them.

I will rein in my urge to paint horses with Zebra stripes.

I hate that I have to paint a whole horse, which I devote as much time to painting as I do anything else, and then I have to do a rider, or limber, or gun, or whole crew to go with it.

But then, I am out of most horse genres right now, save for some fantasy wargaming and the odd horse drawn limber for my WW2 Germans.

Olicana has it right: horses don't shoot, they just make the shooters move faster. Now if horses came with miniguns instead of saddle bags….
Bob

If you hate painting horses, you need to recruit a bunch of pony obsessed little girls to paint them for you. The downside is that you may end up with an army mounted entirely on palominos!

^ lol

These are a bit of an experiment and only just started admittedly but the technique is quite simple and I think they should look pretty good once completed.

Those look good Fizzy… I used to paint horses with oils, but now I'm using them as blending practice for acrylics. The large areas help with that.

Thx Jeff. For years I used the Oil paint and wipe method, and tbh I think the effect is great for anyone who dislikes messing around too much painting horses. These days I just try to do everything with acrylics, less mess, less smell, and I can never remember which brushes I've used in water and which I've used in solvent. Might be a sign of age creeping in.

The horses are a joy to paint. The tack is another story, and I hate it. Same as buckles, straps, slings and assorted kit.

Is there a market for 'horse coloured' spray paint? Spray 'em chestnut/brown and then dry brush on some highlights?

Of course, you'd still have to do the tack, hooves and eyes…

jAMES wRIGHT / Painting a horse really good (with oils) will take less time than the rider (with acrylics), whatever the riderd is to be.

It's not the basic coat, it's the damn markings. That and the highlights and shadows around the muscles. Trying to get them to look like real horses is not at all easy. At least not for me.

I have no problem painting civilians, etc, but horses are just not fun.

Yeah Dave, my markings almost always screwed up the rest of the horse for me. I saw this last week:
YouTube link

And a little light went on, and the first horse I did was completely acceptable. It took a little bit more time to layer the markings in, but it got rid of the sharp, unnatural lines I used to get.

The saddle blankets can have a lot of detail, and that can be a pain. The horse itself is fine. I enjoy painting horses slightly different colors so the unit stands out more. Give some horses stockings and others different color manes and tails. Little things like that make a unit unique. The bridles and straps are usually large and easy to paint.