How do you sculpt a horse head?

What armature do you use when sculpting a horse?

Nanning uses a standard armature with the post coming out of his belly. If there’s a need to elevate a piece so you have room to sculpt detailed things under him, or if you’re sculpting a human, you use a “back-iron armature” which comes out of the side of a horse or the back of a human.

What is the length of a horse’s shoulder?

For example, the length of a horse’s shoulder is generally one head in length, the femur (a horse’s thigh bone) is 2/3 head, and the body (chest to rump) is 2-1/2 times the head length.

What is an armature in sculpture?

( In sculpture, an armature is a framework, usually wood and/or metal, around which the sculpture is built.) Modelling clay was applied over the Styrofoam and all the musculature sculpted in. To help Kevin accurately sculpt the muscles, a small stall was constructed in the studio where one of his horses stayed for the duration of the sculpting.

Why is the wire wrapped around the legs of a sculpture?

Smaller wires are doubled and twisted to form each leg, or each pair of legs, or as in this case (for a larger sculpture), heavy wire is used instead, with wire wrapped around it because this is a large piece with thick legs. You need to do whatever works best for the piece.

How do you use a back iron armature on a horse?

For a back iron armature on a horse, I use a 90 degree angle iron to join the horizontal pipe to the vertical support that is bolted to the working surface. I use a special armature for humans where the joint that attaches to the vertical support is adjustable so I can make people of varying heights.

What kind of armature does Nanning use for this horse?

It’s a maquette (small version) for a life-size horse I was commissioned to sculpt. Nanning uses a standard armature with the post coming out of his belly.

How long should a horse’s shoulder be?

The shoulder’s length should just about equal the distance from the poll to the indentation in front of the withers. The shoulder should never be shorter than the head. Its angle to the ground should be parallel to the angle of a normal pastern.

What is the shoulder of a horse made of?

Shoulder: made up of the scapula and associated muscles, runs from the withers to the point of shoulder (the joint at the front of the chest, i.e. the glenoid ); the angle of the shoulder has a great effect on the horse’s movement and jumping ability, and is an important aspect of equine conformation

Is the top or bottom of a horse’s shoulder higher?

The horse on the top has a more ideal shoulder with an approximately 45-degree angle. The horse on the bottom has a much steeper, straighter shoulder, which can lead to more jarring movement and shorter stride length. When determining whether a horse is balanced, it is important to examine certain ratios and angles of the body.

What angle should a horse’s shoulders be when standing square?

When a horse stands square, they should have a shoulder angle between 40 and 55 degrees. At this angle, the horse’s elbow is directly below the front of the withers. The elbow should be parallel to the horse’s body. Horses with straighter shoulders and pastern angles tend to have shorter strides.

What is the function of the armature?

The armature holds the weight up. Some areas can be built hollow too. When you essentially have the look you want but just before finishing touches, hollow it out. The key to all sculpture is this: 1- Block out the form: decide the dimensions (height, width, length) including the base.

When to use a back-iron armature?

If there’s a need to elevate a piece so you have room to sculpt detailed things under him, or if you’re sculpting a human, you use a “back-iron armature” which comes out of the side of a horse or the back of a human.

How do you support a horse on a wire?

The heavy wire will support the horse’s head, neck, body and tail. Smaller wire is wrapped around it to give the clay something to “bite” so it won’t slide around on the wire.

How to measure a horse’s head?

(Horse measurements are based on head lengths – one head equals the length of the atlas to the front of the shoulder, equals the point of shoulder to the withers, equals the stifle to the point of hock, etc. For a complete chart, see my book, Sculpting 101: A Primer for the Self-taught Artist ).

Is your horse’s shoulder pain real?

Sometimes perceived shoulder pain is a symptom of real pain elsewhere. In a series of 59 horses presented to a specialty orthopedic referral clinic for suspected shoulder problems, only half actually turned out to have pain in the shoulder area. Severe pain in the lower leg, usually foot-pastern-ankle area, is often misinterpreted as shoulder pain.

How to measure a horse’s shoulder?

The shoulder plays an important part in the evaluation of the overall quality of the horse. The shoulder’s length should just about equal the distance from the poll to the indentation in front of the withers. The shoulder should never be shorter than the head. Its angle to the ground should be parallel to the angle of a normal pastern.

What is the normal slope of a horse’s shoulder?

The range of shoulder slope in the horse is 40 – 60 degrees, with the majority of horses falling between 45-55 degrees. 45 degrees is a “laidback” shoulder, 55 degrees is an “upright” shoulder.

What is the difference between shoulder and elbow disorders in horses?

Horses with shoulder disorders often have a characteristically abnormal gait, whereas those with elbow disorders do not. However, shoulder and elbow disorders cannot be diagnosed based only on the observation of a horse’s gait.

What are the bones in a horse’s hoof for?

The inside of the hoof is comprised of three bones: coffin bone, navicular bone, and short pastern bone. These bones work together to aid in weight-bearing and flexibility as well as forming the optimal angle for the hoof.

What is the shoulder angle of a jumping horse?

The horse on the left has a 90 degree shoulder angle. The horse in the middle has a 105 degree shoulder angle. The horse on the right has an 82 degree shoulder angle. Shoulder slope is important in terms of movement, jumpers look for a more upright shoulder and here is why.

Where is the shoulder on a horse?

Shoulder: made up of the scapula and associated muscles, runs from the withers to the point of shoulder (the joint at the front of the chest, i.e. the glenoid); the angle of the shoulder has a great effect on the horse’s movement and jumping ability, and is an important aspect of equine conformation.