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Description

Featured:
Rowan
Mare
  Rowan exhaled softly, watching the cloud of vapor dissipate before him. It was surprising how quickly autumn had turned to winter. The temperature dropped steadily over the span of week until the last of the rain turned to snow. It had snowed heavily throughout the night, leaving in its wake a blanket of fluffy white flakes and clear blue skies.
  The change in the weather had been a bit of a challenge for Rowan to adapt to, but he was doing alright for himself so far. It helped that he was growing perhaps the thickest coat he'd ever had and his mane had grown dense and shaggy. Though, as he quickly learned, long hair was more work to keep clean. As Rowan pushed through the spruce boughs into a clearing, he could already feel the bits of twigs and needles tangled in his fur.

  Rowan shook himself out, sending most of the debris flying. Still, he was forced to twist around and pluck some of the sappier objects out, leaving a horrible taste in his mouth. Before grabbing a bite of snow to rinse his mouth, Rowan took a moment to scan the open area to danger, something he should have done originally. The coast was clear, his apparent streak of good luck holding, but for how long who knew. He would have to stop being so complacent, as he was alone and only had one pair of eyes to be watching for danger.

  Though, as he dropped his head to the snow, he noticed something he had overlooked. As he looked at the snow at his feet, he thought he could make out the shape of hoof prints. He sniffed them, but only caught the weak scent of another horse. They had probably passed through the area last night while it was still snowing, as the tracks were not that fresh. Still, the thought of another horse in the area was kind of exciting.

  As he chewed the mouthful of snow, he began to follow the tracks. He wondered who had made them, if it was a herd or just a lone horse. Looking at the trail, it only looked like one set of tracks. One horse then, usually only stallions were alone unless they had a herd. That thought gave him pause, making him a little hesitant to continue following the tracks in case he managed to find their maker.

  From what he'd heard, most bachelor stallions are decent fellows, but there are some who want to fight anyone they cross paths with. Rowan certainly didn't want to run into someone like that, but he wouldn't mind having some company. He found himself standing in the middle of the path, unsure what to do. Before he could make a decision one way or the other, he heard a twig snap in the trees ahead of him.

  He went on high alert, ears and eyes locked on the area where he could hear something moving. Rowan felt the cold prickle of the chilly air as he inhaled deeply, trying to catch a scent of the noise maker. No use, the breeze was not in his favor – if anything, it was blowing his scent toward whatever was in the trees. Rowan glanced around, assuring himself there was cover close by to run to if something chased him.

  Though, as Rowan turned his attention back to what was in front of him, all thoughts of running away disappeared. Emerging from the treeline was a mare, her expression that of curiosity. Rowan's mind had ground to a halt as he took in the beauty before him. She was painted not unlike him, her white legs and rump contrasting with her darker body – yet blending with the snow around them. Her face was half white half black, her eyes matching the clear sky above them.

  Upon meeting her eyes, he found himself unable to look away. He felt like he was drowning in her deep stare, the distance between them feeling like it was simultaneously growing and shrinking. Her stare made it hard to think, and he found himself forced to look away in order to begin to string together words to greet her with. Before he could think of an ice breaker that wasn't incredibly lame, she spoke first, her confident voice surprising him.

  “I suppose I win” she declared vaguely.

  Rowan frowned in confusion, “What?”

  “You looked away first, therefore I win” she reaffirmed.

  He realized she was referring to the foalish game of a staring contest, but it only confounded him further. “Alright then, what prize did you win?” He asked, curious of what she might say in return. If she was as playful as she seemed, she would likely play along.

  “Your name” She smiled.

  “Rowan” He greeted, returning the smile. “Yours?” Rowan asked hopefully.

  “We'll see if you get that far, Rowan” She said, flicking her tail in a clearly saucy manner.

  Something about the way she'd said his name sent a strange shiver up Rowan's spine. The mysterious beauty was nothing like any mare he'd met before, her catty nature only serving to draw him in further. He wasn't sure what she might want him to play, but if it meant getting to know her a little better he was game for it.

Artist Notes:
Of course there would be a blue roan among the raffle horses. Blue roans are my ultimate weakness... I just hope I get her. I know it's still up to RNGesus, but I can hope. I also have my eye on that few spot appy foal, but I don't think I have time to draw for her.
With this piece, I had originally started digitally sketching out the mare using a different ref. It didn't feel right, so I decided to set it aside and do the background. That way if I didn't get it done before the deadline I still had a background ready to use. Once I got that done, I tried putting the sketch in place, but it didn't fit. So finally I scrapped the sketch and searched my stock folders for something that would work.

In one day I got both sketches drawn, lined digitally, the bases done, and Rowan coloured up. My hand was not happy with me, but I was happy with me xD. I think in total it took less than three days, which is pretty good when it comes to me. I'm actually happier with how the mare turned out than Rowan, his pose and the perspective fought me throughout the process. He kinda looks like a tall shetland pony with that mane xD ah well. Overall I'm happy with it.

Word Count:888
Diamond Count:
Full Body: 20
Coloured: 2
Detailed Shading: 5
Detailed Background: 10
Story: 8
Total: 45

Rowan's Ref: i.pinimg.com/736x/5f/42/a9/5f4…
Mare's Ref: i.pinimg.com/736x/e1/fa/ae/e1f…
Background Ref: 3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvXFP4LWSbI…
Art (c) DaSassy

Description

Featured:
Rowan
Mare
  Rowan exhaled softly, watching the cloud of vapor dissipate before him. It was surprising how quickly autumn had turned to winter. The temperature dropped steadily over the span of week until the last of the rain turned to snow. It had snowed heavily throughout the night, leaving in its wake a blanket of fluffy white flakes and clear blue skies.
  The change in the weather had been a bit of a challenge for Rowan to adapt to, but he was doing alright for himself so far. It helped that he was growing perhaps the thickest coat he'd ever had and his mane had grown dense and shaggy. Though, as he quickly learned, long hair was more work to keep clean. As Rowan pushed through the spruce boughs into a clearing, he could already feel the bits of twigs and needles tangled in his fur.

  Rowan shook himself out, sending most of the debris flying. Still, he was forced to twist around and pluck some of the sappier objects out, leaving a horrible taste in his mouth. Before grabbing a bite of snow to rinse his mouth, Rowan took a moment to scan the open area to danger, something he should have done originally. The coast was clear, his apparent streak of good luck holding, but for how long who knew. He would have to stop being so complacent, as he was alone and only had one pair of eyes to be watching for danger.

  Though, as he dropped his head to the snow, he noticed something he had overlooked. As he looked at the snow at his feet, he thought he could make out the shape of hoof prints. He sniffed them, but only caught the weak scent of another horse. They had probably passed through the area last night while it was still snowing, as the tracks were not that fresh. Still, the thought of another horse in the area was kind of exciting.

  As he chewed the mouthful of snow, he began to follow the tracks. He wondered who had made them, if it was a herd or just a lone horse. Looking at the trail, it only looked like one set of tracks. One horse then, usually only stallions were alone unless they had a herd. That thought gave him pause, making him a little hesitant to continue following the tracks in case he managed to find their maker.

  From what he'd heard, most bachelor stallions are decent fellows, but there are some who want to fight anyone they cross paths with. Rowan certainly didn't want to run into someone like that, but he wouldn't mind having some company. He found himself standing in the middle of the path, unsure what to do. Before he could make a decision one way or the other, he heard a twig snap in the trees ahead of him.

  He went on high alert, ears and eyes locked on the area where he could hear something moving. Rowan felt the cold prickle of the chilly air as he inhaled deeply, trying to catch a scent of the noise maker. No use, the breeze was not in his favor – if anything, it was blowing his scent toward whatever was in the trees. Rowan glanced around, assuring himself there was cover close by to run to if something chased him.

  Though, as Rowan turned his attention back to what was in front of him, all thoughts of running away disappeared. Emerging from the treeline was a mare, her expression that of curiosity. Rowan's mind had ground to a halt as he took in the beauty before him. She was painted not unlike him, her white legs and rump contrasting with her darker body – yet blending with the snow around them. Her face was half white half black, her eyes matching the clear sky above them.

  Upon meeting her eyes, he found himself unable to look away. He felt like he was drowning in her deep stare, the distance between them feeling like it was simultaneously growing and shrinking. Her stare made it hard to think, and he found himself forced to look away in order to begin to string together words to greet her with. Before he could think of an ice breaker that wasn't incredibly lame, she spoke first, her confident voice surprising him.

  “I suppose I win” she declared vaguely.

  Rowan frowned in confusion, “What?”

  “You looked away first, therefore I win” she reaffirmed.

  He realized she was referring to the foalish game of a staring contest, but it only confounded him further. “Alright then, what prize did you win?” He asked, curious of what she might say in return. If she was as playful as she seemed, she would likely play along.

  “Your name” She smiled.

  “Rowan” He greeted, returning the smile. “Yours?” Rowan asked hopefully.

  “We'll see if you get that far, Rowan” She said, flicking her tail in a clearly saucy manner.

  Something about the way she'd said his name sent a strange shiver up Rowan's spine. The mysterious beauty was nothing like any mare he'd met before, her catty nature only serving to draw him in further. He wasn't sure what she might want him to play, but if it meant getting to know her a little better he was game for it.

Artist Notes:
Of course there would be a blue roan among the raffle horses. Blue roans are my ultimate weakness... I just hope I get her. I know it's still up to RNGesus, but I can hope. I also have my eye on that few spot appy foal, but I don't think I have time to draw for her.
With this piece, I had originally started digitally sketching out the mare using a different ref. It didn't feel right, so I decided to set it aside and do the background. That way if I didn't get it done before the deadline I still had a background ready to use. Once I got that done, I tried putting the sketch in place, but it didn't fit. So finally I scrapped the sketch and searched my stock folders for something that would work.

In one day I got both sketches drawn, lined digitally, the bases done, and Rowan coloured up. My hand was not happy with me, but I was happy with me xD. I think in total it took less than three days, which is pretty good when it comes to me. I'm actually happier with how the mare turned out than Rowan, his pose and the perspective fought me throughout the process. He kinda looks like a tall shetland pony with that mane xD ah well. Overall I'm happy with it.

Word Count:888
Diamond Count:
Full Body: 20
Coloured: 2
Detailed Shading: 5
Detailed Background: 10
Story: 8
Total: 45

Rowan's Ref: i.pinimg.com/736x/5f/42/a9/5f4…
Mare's Ref: i.pinimg.com/736x/e1/fa/ae/e1f…
Background Ref: 3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvXFP4LWSbI…
Art (c) DaSassy