Hi Everyone. I have been asked multiple times over the years to put together a tutorial on how I paint my manes and tails. I finally got around to doing so. >.<

I will do my best to try and explain each step.

I will preface this to say, that this is probably not the way for everyone. There are COUNTLESS ways to do something. This is the way that works for ME.

I also usually paint my hair all on one layer.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS

until you are incredibly comfortable painting.

So for each step, make a NEW layer.

Youre going to want to have your horse fully prepped.

Excuse the lack of quality in this one, I had used it for a piece earlier, and reblew it up from 500px.

I work entirely on 1000x1000 canvas and resize once im completed.

I like using a solid colored background when painting hair as it makes it easier to see.

https://imageshack.com/a/img921/4233/Orrheh.png

For this tutorial, we will be doing a black mane. I tend to pick 5 or 6 colors.

the first three colors you see is my base colors. You went them to all be relatively close to eachother, but enough of a difference that they dont look identical.

The next two colors are my Mid tone colors. These are usually quite a bit lighter than my base colors. When black hits the light, it gives off a bit of a blue hue. These two colors will have slight blue hues. I will be using these colors to add definition.

Lastly you see a very light color.

This will be my ultra highlighting color for the areas of the hair that are in direct light.

https://imageshack.com/a/img921/4950/DMklk0.png

This step is pretty important. It will be the main bases of everything else.

Have an image in your mind about how you would like your hair to look.

And make sure your hair works with the anatomy of the horse.

I use a fairly large 75% hard brush.

I have my pressure opacity and size turned on.

(I DO use a tablet, while it may be harder without one, if there's a will there's a way.)

Dont worry too much about being messy at this point, we will clean up the edges on the end.

TIP: Keep in mind, hair is RARELY straight. It is almost never pin straight. Keep your movements fluid.

https://imageshack.com/a/img924/1218/OWAOa9.png

From here, I make my brush smaller. 4px.

I leave everything else the same.

I make sure to paint strands around the edges of my base to start getting some definition.

TIP: Remember to add some flyaways. Hair isn't flat. :)

https://imageshack.com/a/img921/9286/q9tqGI.png

Next thing you want to do is go ahead and grab your second color.

Youre going to go and start painting strands.

While this step seems simple, its actually really important. This is the first step in defining the hair. Defining the shape.

It is really important you keep your movements fluid.

This is the first step in "shaping" your hair.

https://imageshack.com/a/img922/8966/Wq1CAC.png

Basically a repeat of step 5 with the next color.

TIP: Don't be afraid to leave some "blank" spaces. If you take a close look, you'll notice there are some areas that are still the base color.

https://imageshack.com/a/img924/4660/5Q0B2b.png

Next is your first mid color.

Here I Keep the brush at 3px but turn the hardness down to 25.

I focus mainly on brightening some areas.

You really want to start highlighting high movement areas to add more definition.

You can see im really starting to define the kind of swirling movement towards the bottom of the tail.

Tip: Dont paint your mid colors in shadowed areas. You can see I left right under the head/neck black.

https://imageshack.com/a/img922/2761/Xy6bi0.png

I leave my brush the same here. I am really even more focused on lighting / definition.

Less is sometimes more with this color. You dont want to overdue it.

https://imageshack.com/a/img923/3860/X9S2Li.png

For this step, you will use your lightest color.

I drop my brush size down to 2px.

Focus mainly on what is reflecting light.

On this piece, I used this color on the very top of the tail and forlock,

as well as lightly where the mane curves over the barrel of the horses body.

https://imageshack.com/a/img924/3275/jhAVyH.png

The last in final step is to use the Dodge / Burn tool and add some extra umpf where you need it.

You will also clean up your edges in this step. ^.^

From here you are good to go and start into lighting / background blending.

https://imageshack.com/a/img921/6361/cARr9r.png

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in this thread.

Try not to PM me.

It will be more helpful if everyone can read question and answer. ^.^

I do not think you need photoshop or a tablet to accomplish this.

<333

Hopefully it helps someone in their hair painting adventures. :'D

thank you for this, Jello

Thanks! <3