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Cloudrunner64 — Spring Forward
Published: 2012-06-23 17:16:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 934; Favourites: 24; Downloads: 0
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Trade with I've been working on this non-stop. All night.
First of all...I am SO SO SO SO SO sorry your half of the trade took this long. *checks date of submission* Good lord, it took me a year. GUYS. A YEAR. YEAAAAAR. I'm a horrible person. I'm sorry. This is her lovely character Willow, whom I love...but does not love me! I have...I guess this is the 4th file? all attempts to draw this pretty girl, but she just did not want to cooperate and for some reason I couldn't force it. Not sure why, but I'd always end up ragequitting before I could get it to work. So today I was sitting around wanting to do something, and Willow kicked me in the head and said "YO FOO, DRAW MEEEEE"
So I did!
Finally. I'm so sorry, I don't even know what to say about this. I hate when people take so long on trades so I feel even worse about it ._. I hope this makes you feel better! I put tons of love and work into it.
She was a huge challenge and I know I've got some stuff wrong somewhere, but I finally figured out how to make her coat shiny. Don't look too close at the background though. For as simple as it is, it was mean to me. 
I figure she's going somewhere...off to discover something new, although whatever's behind her doesn't seem to be that friendly. LIGHT RAYS OF DOOM, GO AWAY CLOUDS
Okay I'm done now.
Again, I'm sorry hun, you deserved better. Hope you like it anyway.Credits:
Reference is from *Colourize-Stock , I changed his pose a bit though. Yay. Photo here: [link]
Background reference is also from *Colourize-Stock ! She's awesome.
I put a pebble texture down in the river but you can't see it anymore, so.
Splashes are the devil. Also I realized that there should probably be a reflection and I covered up with shadow with a mysterious water color. Derp. It's 11:30 am and I haven't slept. I blame that.
Oh yes! Her half of the trade from LAST FRIGGEN YEAR is here:
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Comments: 25
OK, I admit, I have been staring at this in my inbox for ever and only just got 'round to commenting on it. Your shading is just so soft everywhere, which I do love. And once again the mane and tail are so swishy! SWISH SWISH SWISH!
I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.
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I am so sorry I haven't commented sooner! I have been away from DA for SOOOO LONG!
BUT OH MY GOD THIS AMAZING!
The effort you put into this is beyond what I expected!!! The water looks amazing, and the pose would of taken you ages!
And I know she is SO hard to draw but you nailed this! It's absolutely perfect and I love it
Thankyou so so sos much for doing a trade with me 
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Oh psh, don't even worry about it. I know the feeling.
I'm really glad you like it. I see so many errors in it that I wanna go back and fix Dx Willow is so gorgeous, but so hard for me to draw for some reason
Thank YOU for being such a wonderfully patient person. I can't believe it has been a year since you drew that gorgeous work of Nalani for me. Where does the time go, anyway? A million loves for you 
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owh wow the shading on the face is so delicate and beautiful <3
i love how you shade coats, they always look so metallic and shiny! c:
this one looks like a gleaming new penny!
HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD AT DRAWING HAIR SRSLY ;u;
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BECAUSE YOU ARE GOOD AT DRAWING EVERYTHING SO I HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S WHY D8
I'm glad you think that because for some reason I could never get her coat-color to work for me till now.
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Your shading is getting really nice! I'm liking the super defined edge of the cheek against the neck; it's very good! Your coat highlighting has improved a lot too!
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Hello~! Here from !
First off: WOW. The horse's muscles look very defined and realistic! They really drew me in here with this picture. I almost can't praise them enough. They give the picture a very 3-D feel. The mane and tail also look like they took a long time. The eye and face are completely captivating, and the water was painted very well. The splashes and ripples are nice, and the landscape is very smooth and aesthetic. The clouds and hills are also very nice because you remembered to shade them with various colors, something that many artists neglect.
I have just a few points to critique here, as there really isn't much to criticize. The main things that distract me are that the horse's legs seem just a little bit short and the fact that she doesn't seem to be in a natural running pose because her front legs are together. Do you still have the reference photo you used? Also, I know you mentioned it in your comments, but it might have been a good idea to create a slight reflection of the horse. It doesn't have to be an exact image, especially since the water is disturbed. It just has to be a vaguely close shape with the right colors. In addition, the sky seems to be getting darker as it approaches the horizon. Usually, the opposite action is in effect: it gets lighter. My final critical comment is about the horse's back hooves. They seem to be on top of, rather than in, the water. They should be partially submerged unless she is a magical horse (which appears plausible due to her mane, tail, and markings). In that case, there would be little to no splash (but still ripples), and possibly some sparkles or something to imply magic is at work.
Overall, I really do love the colors and dynamic pose of this picture. The character is charming and captivating, intelligent and beautiful but wild. Congratulations on creating such a beautiful piece, and I hope my comments are of some use!
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Whee! Thank you so much for all the thought you put into this critique for me. I appreciate it so much. And thank you for all the compliments!
I do have the reference photo and I think I'll actually go add the link to it in the description since it's hard to try and figure out what on earth I was trying to replicate. 
Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to fixing it and making it better.
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Not a problem at all!
Ah, I see now what you were going for with the reference photo. I think the main differences in anatomy between the photo and your horse is that your horse's back is slightly longer and her chest aimed more toward the side than the viewer. The motion of jumping or bucking like that would also pull the main and tail in a different direction.
You're welcome! I enjoyed this picture so much! Despite my pickiness with the anatomy, I'm really quite awful at horses and envy they way you draw them!
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you're very welcome
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Thank you! <3 They were fun and very irritating at the same time. xD I kept flipping my canvas around trying to draw the lines the way I wanted.
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Oh, this is awesome, Cloud! 
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Why thank you! I is glad you think so. <3
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I'm very impressed by this "tattoo" or hoever the mark on the rear hoves is called, and the shape of it. Very tribal like.
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Willow does have a pretty badass marking! It was probably the biggest pain in thebutt to duplicate (and I think I've got it slightly wrong at least) but I like the shape of it too. It's all swooshy!
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I don't know how can someone create outstanding tattoos without sketching on a skin (chuckles).
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Magic can be the only answer! And possibly alcohol.
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Thank you! I'm glad someone likes them because my hand certainly doesn't.
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Haha they're awesome and sooo soft
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You know, I like the style of the hard/realistic manes, with hair coming off everywhere and looking all real and stuff but...I think I'm good with what I've got. It's fluffy.
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I like that style too, but I don't even know what my style is, I make it up as I go along everytime
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