Why the Long Face?

Lately, I’ve been drawing a lot of Yankee Doodle Dandy on his Pony for a show I’m working on for the Semiquincentennial. I’m having to learn how to draw horses, and I thought I was onto something, but yesterday’s drawing of St. George’s steed says otherwise! Part of my issue is my stubbornness in channelling the energy of something rather than looking and copying reference pictures.

When I was young, I had a friend who loved horses. She drew them all the time, and drew them well. I wasn’t a horse girl, so while I admired her drawings, I never really studied them. In fact, I’ve never really studied horses, save the 30 minutes before post time at the races. And then, I study their energy, not their physicality.

Maybe I’m testing myself to see if I am actually observing and paying attention. Maybe I’m idealistic that I know how to draw. As they say, back to the drawing board! Maybe on the drive home I’ll find some horses to look at.

Enjoy these horses. It is, after all, the Chinese year of the Horse!

(I misinked apples… so much for idealism!)