How to paint a horse eye in acrylics | Step by step tutorial

In this tutorial I'll show how to paint a horse eye in acrylics. I'll show how to layer the acrylic paint to build up as much depth and realism as possible. When painting a horse the eyes just like any portrait are so important. They can change the expression and the way that animal is seen for it's owner so when painting pet portraits this is a crucial part of the artwork. Horse eyes are very unique to most other animals so this tutorial will demonstrate how I prefer to tackle them :).
The real time, over 5 hour tutorial is up on Patreon. A step by step voice over with the reference photo, line art and material list making it a perfect one to follow along to :)
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Pastel & Acrylic Tutorials:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/zaratomsart
Would you like to see what tutorials I have on Patreon? If so, the link to the library is below :)
petportraitsan...
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Links:
Top tips for painting fur in acrylics: • HOW TO PAINT FUR IN AC...
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Social media:
Facebook page: Zara.Toms.Artist
Instagram: zaratomsart
Website & blog: www.petportraitsandwildlifeart.co.uk
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Materials used:
4" x 4" Ampersand panel
Liquitex Basics paint
Reference photo: Pixabay

[@leelanandaihalagamage8005]

Beautiful thank you

[@zaratomsart]

@leelanandaihalagamage8005 thank you 😊

[@huntsail3727]

Great video, glad I found your channel. I'm and oil painter, but I love how you paint layer upon layer and get a great realistic result. Subscribed.

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you 😊

[@mimisart]

Wow...I feel like I just sat through an hour lecture packed in 17 minutes! Incredible!! I just did a painting with a horse eye and boy I have lots to learn still...

[@zaratomsart]

So pleased this tutorial was helpful ❤️. Horse eyes are so lovely to paint. So expressive.

[@muzzy2662]

Beautiful

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you 🥰

[@JohnsonWildlife]

Thank you this is exactly what I needed to finish my project!!

[@zaratomsart]

So pleased it was helpful =)

[@daphnebenjamins]

Awesome information and work! Horses eye is one of the most important area in a Portrait. Thanks for sharing!

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you so much :)

[@dfiligree1]

Your video was so incredibly helpful and packed with excellent tips. I'm painting model horses (Which is basically a 3-D canvas) and this all applies to that. Thank you for sharing!

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you so much. So pleased it was helpful 🥰

[@joyellis3354]

Thankyou Zara beautiful portrait love your work and skills

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you so much that's really kind. So pleased to know the tutorials are useful :)

[@zafargul6982]

Hi zara.nice videos about the eyes of horse. Would you like to shows about black horse fur.

[@zaratomsart]

I have some horse tutorials planned so I can add that to my list =)

[@rachaelperkins.artstuff7283]

Wow that’s amazing! I’m having a go at painting a friends horse for the very first time at the moment and looking at yours I feel I have a long way to go 😢…

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you. Pleased to hear it was helpful 🥰. Breaking the layers down and only focusing on one layer at a time I find is the best way of adding depth and realism. Not rushing and taking our time =)

[@rachaelperkins.artstuff7283]

@@zaratomsart Thank you Zara! I’m struggling with the eyes more than anything the horse seems to have very dark eyes almost black with a hi-light on each but different shape… I’m just not happy with them and can’t seem to get it right… 🤯

[@AliAli-qu9zz]

Beautiful job! 🌹❤

[@fuzzydragons]

perfect highlights 🙂

[@zaratomsart]

:D

[@angelafitzpatrick2781]

Brilliant

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you ❤️

[@TravelswithLucky]

thank you.. ..

[@zaratomsart]

My pleasure 🥰

[@nicksan7263]

Bellissimo

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you =)

[@kelliworley1229]

I can't get acrylics to do anything I want. I can oils but would love to work in acrylics.

[@nadeemartist2954]

very nicework

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you =)

[@mandyennis]

Amazing. What brush are you using at the beginning? I need a brush like that for fine detail.

[@armaansneha9611]

awsome

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you 😁

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

What do you do about pet portraits of animals that have passed? I have a commission and the photo is absolute terrible and there's no way to take anything better. I have edited it, but there's only so much info you can pull. I have been trying to be more loose and i think this is going to force me not to paint every hair... since there are only pixels😂

[@zaratomsart]

If the photos are to poor to use, I'll unfortunately tell them I'm unable to do the portrait. If the photo is good lighting and there is some kind of fur detailing, even if it's minimal, then I'll look on sites like Pixabay to find a photo of that same animal, similar pose and use the detail in that photo but following the lighting and colour of the animal in the photo we've been provided.

[@dreamyideas]

Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@PENFOLD1962]

A nice tutorial but the bumping sound in the background was off-putting!!!

[@zaratomsart]

Hi Andrew, I've just listened to the video and I heard a few little noises in the background about 10 minutes or so but it only lasted a few seconds? Maybe my speakers are missing other noises but sorry if it was distracting. No idea what it was - Likely my dogs playing in the other room which I obviously didn't realise at the time my microphone was picking up🤦‍♀🐕😅

[@PENFOLD1962]

@@zaratomsart No problem, we have 5 cat's and two dog's so I know where you're coming from with the bumps. I have to wear sound cancelling headphones so I can listen to music and the KZbin... They pick up the slightest noise lol... I even heard a reviewers heart beat through his mic!!!! It's all part and parcel of being 60 lol. The bump's didn't stop me from watching your video, I was too enthralled in learning. Please don't think that I was being nasty with the comment, and I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. Thank you and take care 👍😷👍

[@zaratomsart]

@Andrew Smith oh no course not 😊. I would always appreciate being told if there was a technical blip to see if I could fix a potential issue. But I'm blaming my dogs on this occasion haha. I don't realise at the time how sensitive the microphone can be 🤦‍♀️

[@PENFOLD1962]

@@zaratomsart All this reminds me of when I was 17 (WORRA memory eh lol). I was an Apprentice Stone mason. During my work I used to listen to my Radio Cassette with music I'd previously recorded from the TV or radio! My favourite was TOP OF THE POP'S. I was in the house alone most Thursday nights so I used to watch TOP OF THE POP'S whilst recording it! One week I was chuffed because they had the current bands playing (1979..80s). So I couldn't wait until I got to work to hear the music. There was about 15 Apprentice masons all working so I decided it was time to listen to some music. About 5 mins into the taped music there was ..... GIZZA KISS.... WHO'S A PRETTY BOY.... PONCHO PONCH PONCHOOOOOOOO!!! I never even noticed my pet budgie talking away all the way through TOP OF THE POP'S when the music got louder so did he!!!!! my mates couldn't stop laughing and still talk about it but they ribbed me big time....for month's lol. I never taped programs again lol. But I saved the tape for year's until CD's came onto the market, always cheered me up listening to my budgie backing TOYAH WILCOX LOL.

[@catherinevangass4927]

Beautiful

[@zaratomsart]

Thank you =)