<sub>Hello everyone, and welcome to “Horsin’ Around”, a bi-monthly article that brings you the latest news in and around the dA Equine Community! Each issue will be packed full of articles all showcasing the work of our talented artists. There will also be interviews with your favourite equine artists, links to helpful accounts, contests and tutorials, and even a stamp for you to use! Since this is the first issue, 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. I hope you enjoy this issue, and thanks for reading!

~Boribaby</sub>


Love for the Underappreciated

_{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 artist has a very pretty gallery, full of mythical creatures and beautiful horses. Her work definitely deserves more faves! Stop by her gallery - you won't be disappointed!




A lovely gallery filled with beautiful pencil works of horses, as well as wolves and other animals, this artist is very talented! Take a look at her lovely gallery.




A fairly new member to deviantART, this artist still deserves more faves in my opinion. She is highly skilled with traditional mediums, and her gallery is stunning. Please take a moment to stop by!



Featured Digital Equine Artist



This artist has a very beautiful and unique style - one that has progressed over the years into something truly magical. Stop by her gallery to see for yourself!


Featured Traditional Equine Artist



A perfect example that you don't necessarily need colour to capture the beauty of horses! ~Fire-n-ash has some gorgeous black and white and sepia-toned drawings in her stunning gallery.


Featured Equine Photographer



Effortlessly capturing movement and grace, this photographer has real talent! Her gallery is full of beautiful photos of majestic Andalusian horses.



An Interview With...

<sub>Every issue of H.A, I will be interviewing one of your favourite equine artists! This issue, it is Her beautiful artwork is an inspiration to many – she is skilled in both traditional and digital mediums, and she captures the beauty and majesty of the horse with every portrait. She has a wonderful eye for colour, and her art is a joy to look at. Please check out her gallery if you haven't already done so!


Hello and thank you for joining us! Could you tell us a little about yourself?
--- My name is Amanda Drage, I'm 25 and I live in Northants in England. I work in a hotel.

Cool. How long have you been drawing horses for?
--- For ever! Lol. I doodled in class and stuff, then once I left school I got too busy and had a 2-year break. Started again in 04, and have been working at it in earnest ever since.

Wow, really? Can you tell us why you enjoy drawing them so much?
--- I have no idea. I think because it's one of the only things I'm reasonably good at... and also they're just inspiring animals generally.

Do you have a particular way of drawing horses?
--- Not really. I just do it! Although I'm always trying new materials (paints etc) and experimenting with looser styles. Some days I go for fast expressive stuff, some days I'm in a realistic mood.

Interesting. Can you share with us what your very favourite piece in your gallery is?

--- I'm not sure I really have a favourite, but if pushed I'd say Sanadik Ibn Estopa

Looks amazing! Do you have an OC (original character)? Can you tell us a little about him/her?
--- I do, but unlike most other OC's she's not from a comic/story, and I don't roleplay her... she's just intended to be a persona, and a subject for art (although I never seem to draw her lol!) Her name is Averylla and she's an Arabian mare.

That’s great. Is there any particular part of equine anatomy that you find difficult to draw?
--- Hoofs are not a strong point of mine, lol. You don't see many of those in my gallery!

Good to know we all have trouble, then! Do you own any horses? If not, do you ride?
--- I don't own any horses and never have, although my best friend has 3 ponies who I see sometimes. I used to ride but I was never very good. I'm actually not really a typical horsey person at all. I just think they are nice to look at and draw!

And do you have a favourite breed?
--- I can't really choose one. I love Spanish horses, and I also like Friesians and Arabians. The popular choices lol.

Awesome! You’ve been an inspiration to a number of budding equine artists out there – can you share some tips to those just starting out?
--- If you're just starting out, the best advice I have is practice! It's a rubbish thing to say but it gets you everywhere and anywhere. Full detail drawings are all well and good, but sketches are a most valuable part of the process.

Thank you for your time. Any last pieces of advice you can give to your fellow equine artists?
--- Support each other artistically. Give fair and constructive criticism when asked for, and receive it graciously when it is given to you. It is okay to make mistakes and learn from them. And never rest on your laurels - there is always room for improvement!

Also - don't stress if something isn't coming out how you want it to. Put it aside for a while. Go and browse art on DA or elsewhere for inspiration. Gather some refs from stock galleries. Start something new in a completely different style, or with a different subject. If you're having an off-day you can't force it. It will always come back to you when it's good and ready.</sub>


Featured Equine Web Comic

_{There are many wonderful horse-related comics around dA, and I hope this article will help bring them more exposure!}

From a talented equine artist comes "Calling Home", a colourful and exciting comic by *Equinus. Here are the front cover and first page:



Themed Features

<sub>August's theme: Mares and Foals.


August's colour: Blue.


August's breed: Arabian.</sub>



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 in the equine community! I've listed a few of the current ones going on at the moment, and ones ending soon. Are you hosting a contest and want it advertised here? Let me know!


Theme: Design a new fursona for her. Read about it here: [link]
Closing Date: August 31st 2009


Theme: Design a coat colour for her new Apaloosa mare. Read about it: [link]
Closing Date: September 6th 2009


Theme: Design a new devID for her. Read about it here: [link]
Closing Date: September 9th 2009


Help Desk

<sub>In this section you will find links to horse stock accounts and helpful tutorials.

Helpful Resources</sub>

Having trouble with a difficult pose? Stuck on how to draw from a certain perspective? Don’t fear! There are a number of wonderful stock accounts around dA with plenty of beautiful stock photos for you to reference. Always abide by the stock artist’s rules, and always remember to link back and credit the photo you use.



_{Helpful Tutorials}

Need help with drawing manes and tails? Can’t figure out how to colour in photoshop? Unsure how to shade? Then look no further! Here’s a collection of helpful tutorials for you to look at.




Letters

_{Got something on your mind? A question that needs answering? Any comments in general? Then send me a note, and I’ll try my best to answer!}

As many of you know, we recently lost a member of our community, *Winged-Horse (AKA ~Z1ven). He will be missed greatly, and his death has impacted both people who knew him well, and people who didn't. There are various projects going on around dA to remember him, and if you can help out with anything by means of giftart, please get in contact with the organizer(s).

is putting together a music video with fanart of *Winged-Horse's character, Kopano. If you have any pictures of him, please let her know.

And I recently got a note from asking for more people to help out with a collaboration piece herself, ~LittleHooves and *Katusia are working on. Read more about it here:

"I don't really know how to start this, so let me just begin with a little intro. My name's =Twilight-Realm-Child but most just call me Wren ( or twilight, I guess!)
I've loved and drawn horses since I could know what a horse was. DeviantART seemed like an awesome place for me to express myself and draw what I loved, and as I became familiar with the equine community here on DA, I met some amazing artists, and meet more all of the time.

Ziven was obviously well known throughout the equine community, and his passing was felt by many. I had the great privilege to have him as a friend, and to be one of his.

While I was talking with a friend, *Katusia, we came up with the idea for a collaborative tribute to Ziven. Apparently, another friend, ~LittleHooves had the same idea, so we three decided to head the project. You can read what we've decided to do here: [link] and here: [link] in our journals.

RIP Ziven Shirokii.