Basic Black

The thing about black is that it goes with everything!  It is found to be slimming and can make larger areas appear smaller - this is true of clothing, the dark color of a room, and also horse legs.  In nature, Black is never really truly black (as pigment in hair is reflecting light) and so we see brown and bluish hues in animals.  I am not talking about faded, sunburnt blacks, but rather the jet black colors we think of as raven black, blue black, or a more warm black.  It is often overlooked in models as being too plain, but a good black has depth to it and can be challenging to paint.  Black animals are also difficult to photograph well.  Some breeds come to mind when we think of this color, and sometimes markings and genetics affect it as well (an example is right next to me:  Phaser carries “ghost tan” so displays muted tan on his brows, muzzle and feet and passed this gene on to his offspring.  So now, let’s study some of this and remember that Black is Beautiful!

Solid OF blacks from the Marney Walerius collection

Cristina Riley created the lovely Black Stallion we knew from our childhoods!

Samantha  Kroese does amazing blue-blacks

Faye Cohen created a stunning black Andalusian

You’ll Float Too! Is a micro painted by Sara Runyan

Finally, here’s my buddy in the sunlight showing his “ghost tan” carried genetically

but not displayed phenotypically.  

His son Orbit is definitely Tan Pointed!