5 Easy Steps to Draw a Simple Horse Head: A Beginner's Guide

Contents

Step 1: Preparing Your Tools

Step 2: Drawing the Basic Shape

Step 3: Adding Details

Step 4: Refining Your Sketch

Step 5: Finalizing Your Drawing

Getting to grips with drawing might seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. With a bit of practice and the right guidance, anyone can learn to create beautiful sketches. This beginner's guide will take you through an easy simple horse head drawing process in just five steps. So, let's get those pencils ready and dive straight into the exciting world of drawing!

Step 1: Preparing Your Tools

Before you start creating your masterpiece, it's important to have the right tools at your disposal. Here's what you'll need:

Choose a Pencil

The first step to any great drawing is choosing the right pencil. A soft pencil like a 2B is perfect for sketching outlines— it's easy to erase if you make a mistake and dark enough to see clearly. For finer details, a harder pencil like a 2H can be handy. Remember, the 'B' stands for 'Bold', and the 'H' stands for 'Hard'. So, choose your pencils wisely!

Gather Drawing Paper

Next, you'll need some good quality drawing paper. It should be thick enough to handle erasing and shading without tearing. Sketch pads are a great option as they come with many sheets, so you've got plenty of room to practice your easy simple horse head drawing.

Prep Eraser

Last but not least, you'll need an eraser. A good quality rubber eraser is ideal for removing unwanted lines. For those tiny adjustments, consider using a precision eraser pen. It's like the sniper of erasers— perfect for pinpointing those little mistakes without disturbing the rest of your masterpiece.

Now that you've got your tools ready, we can move on to the fun part—drawing!

Step 2: Drawing the Basic Shape

The key to an easy simple horse head drawing lies in breaking down the image into manageable parts. We'll start by sketching the basic shape of the horse's head. It might seem tricky at first, but remember, every great artist starts with a simple sketch.

Sketch the Head Outline

Begin with a simple circle for the horse's head. Don't worry about making it perfect—this is just a guide. Next, add a smaller circle to represent the muzzle. Draw two lines connecting the circles to form the horse's jaw. Just like that, you've got the basic outline of a horse head!

Draw the Ears

Now, add two triangles on top of the larger circle for the ears. Make sure they're pretty wide—about the same width as the eye will be. That's a quick tip to remember: horse ears are usually the same width as their eyes. Isn't that neat?

Shape the Muzzle

Time to shape the muzzle. Add a curve to the bottom circle to give it more of a horse-like shape. This will form the mouth and nostril area of your horse. With this, you've completed the basic shape of your easy simple horse head drawing. Great job!

Feeling good about your sketch so far? Excellent! Let's move on to adding some details to our horse head drawing.

Step 3: Adding Details

With the basic shape out of the way, let's get into the fun part—adding details to our horse head drawing. This is where your horse starts to come to life. Ready to give it a try? Let's go!

Draw the Eyes

To draw the eyes, make an oval shape on the side of the horse's head. Remember to position it halfway between the top and bottom of the head. When it comes to giving your horse some personality, the eyes are everything. So, take your time and make sure you're happy with them.

Add the Nostrils

Next, let's add nostrils to our horse's muzzle. Draw two ovals on the bottom circle, one on each side. Nostrils are an important feature in any horse head drawing—they help show the horse's mood and add realism. So don't skip this part!

Sketch the Mane

Now, let's add a mane to our horse. This is where you can get creative! Draw a series of lines coming down from the top of the horse's head. You can make the mane as long or as short as you want. After all, this is your horse, and it should reflect your unique style.

Phew! Look at the progress you've made. Your easy simple horse head drawing is really starting to take shape, isn't it? Now, let's move on to refining your sketch.

Step 4: Refining Your Sketch

Now that we've added the details, it's time to start refining our sketch. This is where we'll tidy up any rough edges and add depth to our easy simple horse head drawing. Ready to see your horse head drawing come to life? Let's dive right in.

Erase Excess Lines

First, let's clean up our sketch by erasing any excess lines. These are the lines that were necessary for shaping the horse's head, but are now just making the drawing look messy. So grab your eraser and gently rub away these lines. And voila! You're left with a neat and clean sketch.

Add Shading

Next, let's add some shading to give our horse head drawing a three-dimensional look. Start by determining your light source; where is the light coming from in your drawing? Once you've decided, shade the areas of the horse's head that would naturally be in shadow. This will help your drawing look more realistic.

Highlight Details

Finally, let's highlight some details. This could be the horse's eyes, nostrils, or mane—whatever you think needs a bit more attention. Use your pencil to darken these areas, then use your eraser to create highlights. This contrast will make your drawing pop.

Great work! Now you're ready for the final step. Let's finish your easy simple horse head drawing.

Step 5: Finalizing Your Drawing

Well done on making it this far! Now, it's time to add the finishing touches to your masterpiece. Here's how you can take your simple horse head drawing from good to great.

Check Proportions

First, let's make sure everything is in proportion. For a realistic drawing, it's essential that the size and placement of each feature are correct. So, take a step back and look at your drawing. Does anything seem too big or too small? Too high or too low? Don't be afraid to make adjustments. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Add Final Touches

Now, it's time to add the final touches. This could include smoothing out the shading, adding texture to the mane, or sharpening certain features. The goal is to make your drawing as detailed and realistic as possible. This is where your unique style can truly shine—let your creativity flow!

Sign Your Work

Finally, don't forget to sign your work. This is your masterpiece, after all! Adding a signature not only makes the drawing uniquely yours, but it also gives you a sense of accomplishment. So, grab your pencil and proudly sign your name.

And there you have it! You've just completed an easy simple horse head drawing. But remember, art is a journey, not a destination. So, keep practicing, keep refining, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. Happy drawing!

If you enjoyed learning how to draw a simple horse head and want to take your artistic skills to the next level, check out the workshop 'How to Sculpt a Skull' by Andrew Joseph Keith. This workshop will teach you the techniques needed to create a realistic and detailed skull sculpture, further enhancing your understanding of anatomy and artistic expression.