Days 4-10 - White Markings

Now it's time to get the markings painted in. This part takes a lot of layers, and quite a bit of time. I may be working on this part all week. 

My white marking mix is made up of gesso, white acrylic, various shades of brown acrylics, a little red oxide (more in my pink skin mix), and water. I put this in a small jar and put a bead in it and shake it to mix (and before I open it each time I use it).You don't want to add too much of the colors that it is actually visibly tinted, but you don't want it stark white either (unless it's a bathed and chalked show horse, it's not going to be WHITE). Most horses have white that leans  slightly towards the yellow/browns. You want it to be thin enough that it does not leave any ridges or brush strokes. 

Sometimes if I am not certain how much white I want to add or if I am doing a portrait, I will draw the markings on with white watercolor pencil. These are easily wiped off. 

I start by blocking in the markings with a filbert. I will do the first couple coats with this, keeping the dark areas slightly larger than I want them to end up. Then I start using a small round brush and painting in the edges the direction of the hair growth. Start away from the edge and then as your brush gets a little less paint on it work to the edge. This keeps the markings from getting raised ridges along the edge. My white mix takes about 7 coats to get full coverage.

Next I will I go in with some of my pink-white mix and add it to the thin furred areas on the face, and underbelly. If he was a show shaved pony there would be a lot more pink. Since he's full coated, there won't be as much skin showing. These guys have a LOT of hair. I will use some very light browns and yellows to shade the white areas (they are not only hairy, but often dirty.. I could bathe my pinto stallion for hours and still not get all of the dirt off. lol). Skin tones and shading will probably be tomorrow.