ABC: Aurelie Bid

HOLY CRAP, HOLY CRAP!
I am SO proud of this! I never thought I'd be able to complete a piece of art like this, but I have amazed myself. I just got the inspiration tonight and ran with it!
I even had Aurelie completely finished the first time over, and I hadn't saved anything but my original scan when Photoshop crashed and I lost everything. So instead of giving up, I got angry, and feverishly worked to redo my lines and coloring!

This is my first equine submission using my tablet!
*by far not my first practice though *

Aurelie is an American Bashkir Curly - draft type that I'm trying to win from ~chikajin's Curly Auction: [link]

Horse 1
16hh filly
Flaxen Chestnut Pangare
ee/aa/ff/PP


I used many techniques I have never used before. I'm kinda miffed about my lines... the damn background eraser ate them, along with part of a front hoof. This time I used a blank layer on top of my sketch to make my lines (used to make my lines ON the drawing). I also used the Diagonal Oval brush, preset size 7 for the coat and shading. I used the same brush with lower opacity and hardness for the 'curls'. I made lines where the muscles should be- and in all honesty, I'm not sure if some of those muscles should even be there. I just went with what I thought looked good!
Also made a point of featuring the cheekbone and back leg bones after I saw ~x-bonfire-x making them very pronounced, which I liked.
I used the amazing realistic-shading tutorial by *Leia-Luver again. The more I use it, the more I like it!!
Whew! enjoy, and goodnight!!