New graphics maker here...I've been trying to teach myself how to draw manes and tails well and have definitely made improvements but it's slow going. I watched this video which helped a bit but I'm interested in finding tutorials where the artist actually talks you through their process.

There are some seriously talented mane & tail artists on HP so I'm hoping maybe you guys can point me in the right direction or tell me what helped you to learn!

My biggest tip is to use a rough edged brush, not a smooth hard round. It will blend together and look more like natural, course horse hair. Anything that's designed as a "pencil" brush is good to use. 

Color pick like crazy if you're going for a natural look. Every few strands alt click for a new color. Work your way from dark chunks to highlight wispies. 

Link Tree

the video is very similar to how i do my hair.
i use a hard round brush, and depending on the look/color i'm going for depends on how many layers i use for my hair, but i usually always use 7-10 layers for the hair alone. 

for my first layer, i draw my hair in a dark color, usually a shadow from the OG horse hair, and then my second layer is a clipping mask to the first one, and i take a darker color and paint in some shadows on the base layer, and set it to a guassian blur that i think looks best.

i've looked at a bunch of tutorials and watched a bunch of videos, and they're great! but with hair, i found that it's one of things that you really just have to work on and develope your own style.

with thet being said! here are some great tutorials i've read over in the past:
https://www.deviantart.com/yewrezz/art/Mane-walkthrough-492961005
https://www.deviantart.com/eldafer/art/Hair-Painting-Tutorial-697164965

i think one of the best advices i can give right now, is that hair is crazy and wild. especially on horses! don't be scared to be free and crazy, and definitely add a long of flyaways!! 

If you are using photoshop I use the "Hard Round Pressure Size" Brush with about a 3px size.  But like Eph says hair is crazy and wild, so I suggest using a blank page and teach/start drawing out different lines and squiggles, to learn how to use the pressures!

I've never thought to use a clipping mask, so I definitely learned something new today!

@amberellie, it's a great way for me to figure out how i want my hair to flow!
like, is it straight down, or does it have waves, or super curly? shadows are amazing! 😁

-stalks this thread-

Thanks guys! I'm going to look over those tutorials and just keep practicing. Your stuff is SO amazing ephemira!!

ahh thank you!! feel free to shoot me a message if you need help with anything!! 😁

Ephe! I may shoot you a message if that is okay! I started working on a tail last night and I am losssst!