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Hello everyone, and welcome to “Horsin’ Around”, a monthly article that brings you the latest news in and around the dA Equine Community! I’d be grateful if you could give me feedback on what you think of it, and if you have any suggestions for future issues, I’d love to hear them. If you think that you, or anyone else you know, deserves a feature, let me know and I’ll feature them here! I hope you enjoy this issue, and thanks for reading!
*MichelleWalker
Issue 1/Issue 2/Issue 3/Issue 4/Issue 5/Issue 6/Issue 7/Issue 8/Issue 9/Issue 10/Issue 11/Issue 12
Love for the Underapppreciated
A selection of artists and some of their works that I feel deserve more faves and views! Please spare a minute, go check out their wonderful galleries and show them your support.
This very talented young artist has a gorgeous gallery filled with beautiful horses and stunning scenic backgrounds. Swing by her page to see for yourself!
This talented artist has a lovely gallery, with a mixture of cute chibi and amazing realistic work, which is just a joy to look at!
Another talented young artist who has a beautiful gallery full of interesting scenes and pretty horses! She also offers VERY reasonable prices/points for commissions too, so be sure to stop by and help out if you can.
Featured Digital Equine Artist
Actually, this artist is very talented in both digital AND traditional mediums, but I’ve decided to feature her digital work in this issue. Stop by her page to see for yourself how amazing her artwork is!
Featured Traditional Equine Artist
You will be amazed at the beauty of this artist’s work - his stunning pencil drawings are incredibly lifelike. Even though his gallery is small at the moment (he is a new deviant) he is definitely one to watch, as you can see!
Featured Equine Photographer
This promising young photographer has a gallery full of gorgeous action and portrait shots of horses! Beautiful work.
Featured Equine Photomanipulator
Once again proving that the art of photomanipulation is more than simply cutting/pasting, this talented artist effortlessly blends realism and fantasy to create stunning photos whilst still looking natural.
An Interview With…
Every issue of H.A, I will be interviewing one of your favourite equine artists! This issue, is is
Alice has been, for quite some time, a source of inspiration to budding young equine cartoonists everywhere! Her unique style and personality really shines through in her art, and is going from strength to strength with her interesting characters and storylines! Her new comic, “Trials of the Heart” is both well written and fabulously illustrated. Be sure to check it out! 
Hello and thank you for joining us! Could you tell us a little about yourself? Hey! And thank you for letting me be a part of the new issue -- I can't wait to read it! Well my name is Alice, most of you know me as Wild-Hearts and I live in Wales...Britain
Cool. How long have you been drawing horses for?I don't really think I can put an age on it! I would say that it was probably the first animal I ever drew, simply because we own horses and they have been such a huge part of my life since I can remember! And as a result -- I grew up drawing them, and I don't think I will ever stop!
Wow, really? Can you tell us why you enjoy drawing them so much?Oops, think I already explained that in the previous question! I don't think anyone can argue that, a horse is one of the most graceful and beautiful animals on the earth -- I've always enjoyed a challenge while drawing, and they are so difficult to capture too. I just love them, to sum it up!
Do you have a particular way of drawing horses?Well...I usually try to sketch it out in a blobby sort of shape to get the proportions right before going in to detail. I always have my reference image pasted next to my sketch in the programme I'm using, wether it be MS paint or Photoshop. It's always good to look at the skeletons too - to see what's actually going on under there!
Interesting. Can you share with us what your very favourite piece in your gallery is? 
I'd just have to say this one -- It's just a really heartfelt piece. I drew it for someone who'd lost their horse...and I love the image because of the meaning behind it
Looks amazing! Do you have an OC (original character)? Can you tell us a little about him/her? 
I have quite a few! Troy and Destiny being the most well known! I've finally started my comic on them which is supposed to explain Troy's life story. I've had them for about four years now -- and It's lovely to finally have enough talent in Photoshop to show you all the story I've been meaning to tell for three years!
Awesome! Is there any particular part of equine anatomy that you find difficult to draw?There is NO question about this! It's the back legs! X.X I can't ever get them right the first time - I have to go back and back about ten times to get them to work! I've sat staring at my horses’ back legs, their hocks for ages, but I still can't get it right the first time! I can't wait for the day when I can just draw them and be happy the first time!
Good to know we all have trouble, then! So what would be your favourite part of drawing? My favourite part is definitely the sketching! It's messy and fun - and it doesn't have to be accurate!
And where do you get your inspiration from?I get my inspiration from all over the place. A lot of the time, I get it from dA -- but I am constantly thinking up new things when I'm bored, Most of these ideas don't get put down on paper, but there isn't a day I don't think about what I could 'do' next!
That’s interesting. Is there any particular medium you would like to try? I've tried most mediums, and I stick with my favourites -- colour pencils, Pencils and Digital art! But one thing I've always wanted to do is oil painting, I've been told I'd be good at it! Haha, so that's encouraging!
You’ve been an inspiration to a number of budding equine artists out there – can you share some tips to those just starting out?Hmmm, tips....Well, Just be yourself and draw what YOU want. Don't ever feel you need to draw in a certain way to please other people. Develop your own style, weather it be cartoony or realism. And don't get discouraged by looking at 'better' art than your own - everyone has to start out somewhere! ^^
Thank you for your time. Any last pieces of advice you can give to your fellow equine artists?Practice, Practice, Practice! And don't make tracing a habit - I see so many traced images, and even though it's the easy route, it's not helping you improve your anatomy in the long run.
I don't think ANYONE has perfect anatomy without years of painstaking mistakes and scrapped sketches! I've still got loads to learn too! 
~Wild
Themed Features
October’s Theme: Halloween
October’s Colour: Black
October’s Breed: Appaloosa
Photography Corner
Showcasing some of the finest and most majestic images of equines from talented photographers and photo-manipulators around the world.
Contests
There’s always a contest or two going on within the equine community! I’ve listed a few current ones going on at the moment, and also ones running out before the next issue is released. Are you hosting a contest and want to advertise it here? No problem! Just drop me a note with a link to your contest journal, a brief description and a date for the deadline and I’ll feature it in the next issue!
Theme: Design a character for her comic, “Moonwhispering”
Deadline: 30th November 2010
Read full contest details here: [link]
Theme: Take photos of your Breyer horse model(s)
Deadline: TBA after November 13th 2010
Read full contest details here: [link]
Theme: Draw her character, Cathy
Deadline: December 31st 2010
Read full contest details here: [link]
This isn’t a contest, but it is a really exciting project being held within the Equine Community this Christmas! It’s the third annual “Equine Secret Santa”, and ~Equinus wants it to be the BIGGEST one yet! If you’d like to know more about the project, read all about it here: [link] but remember the deadline to get your note in is November 9th, so if you want to take part you need to hurry!
Help Desk
Helpful Resources
Having trouble with a difficult pose? Stuck on how to draw certain horse parts? Feel like you’ll never get the hang of drawing horses? Don’t fear! There are a number of wonderful stock accounts, Groups and tutorials that will help you on your way. When using stock, always abide by the stock photographer’s rules, and always remember to link back and credit the photo you used.
Featured Tutorials
Featured Stock Account
One of my favourite stock accounts!
There are poses for just about every occasion, and from all angles. Fantastic resource! Featured Group
Want your Group featured here? Just drop me a note!
This is a really helpful Group, which compiles a good amount of equine tutorials, as well as offering other helpful resources like requesting redlines and horse genetic guides. Definitely worth checking out!
I expecially love her my little pony's<3