The following tutorial was written in 2011.

The model used is a Breyer Traditional Kennebec Count.

The paints used were citadel acrylics. This tutorial will work with airbrushed or hand painted acrylics, oils or pastels. For the pricing it is assumed you are using hand painted acrylics. It is assumed you are painting a Stablemate model horse but this tutorial will work for all scales.

Difficulty Level: Easy
Approximate Cost: £30.00

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The Basics

Paint Brushes (or airbrush)
Prepped Model Horse

Paints

Ochre (light ginger brown)
​Black

The Base Colour

Step 1

You will need to start with a prepped model horse. I use white primer as a base, the colour of your base primer will effect the final colour of your piece.

Step 2

The first step is to add ginger patches to the head, underside of the horse and top of the legs as shown. For a long mane and tail you may also like to add some ginger to this.

Step 3

​Cover the entire horse in black paint as a base coat. Now layer it up, you should still get a hint of the ginger paint showing through where it was added in Step 2.

Step 4

Hand paint the mane and tail in black acrylic for contrast. In this picture you can clearly shown the ginger paint showing through in places on the final coat colour.

Finishing Your Piece

You can now finish your piece by adding any white markings you want and painting the details such as the hooves and eyes.
​Once you have sealed and signed your horse gloss the hooves and eyes.

If you have followed this tutorial and want to share an image of your completed piece for our gallery then email catriona@chestnutridge.co.uk