HOME | DD
MatejCadil β Centauress on a Meadow
Published: 2011-09-14 01:13:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 9158; Favourites: 131; Downloads: 216
Redirect to original
Description
ballpoint pen and watercolour pencilsAs you can see, I continue to practice figure drawing.
Centaurs are my favourite mythologial beings, I really like them, so I decided to draw one this time. It's nothing to go together with my usual Middle-earth-themed pictures but I always wanted to do that..
(I do have two older centaur photomanipulations in my gallery β [link] & [link] β but this is my first publishable painting, so I hope it's not too bad 
)Now about the anatomy. Although I don't consider myself very skilled neither in human figure nor in horses, I have to explain something. I really don't like the way centaurs are usually depicted: half-human half-horse, which look just like a human torso stuck to a horse torso. I don't mind if someone sees them this way but I just don't find it aesthetically the best way. (Funny think is that I didn't always have this opinion and my above-mentioned older centaurs are just of the kind I wouldn't draw now. I just came from "realistic" stance to more "artistic" one.
)I like to think about centaur as a natural being with all of its parts fitting together the best way it's possible. Some people solve this problem by drawing the upper part of centaurs with horse-like or furry characteristics, but I'm not satisfied with that way either, because I think centaurs are (at least in my imagination :-P ) definitely more human beings than animals (or better to say they are (a kind of) people and not animals), so the human features should prevail. To make the long story short, I decided to draw the "horse" part more human-like in order to make the whole anatomy fit together the best way.
Greatest inspiration (and partial reference) for me was this picture: [link] where the author describes just the same problem as me. But I also used a dozen of other centaur pictures as inspiration.
Anyway, I hope you like it and I'm looking forward to your comments!
Related content
Comments: 46
To continue with centaurs & kenturides (female centaurs) - again there should be consideration of the underlying anatomy of a species that is more human than animal, while maintaining the strength and abilities of a horse. So hooves instead of feet, and a more refined horse 'chest' below the human waist.
Think of the human torso as the horses neck, with all main organs - lungs, heart, stomach etc - the horse body.
What do you think?
π: 0 β©: 1
Again, thanks for your thoughts! I have seen several interesting pictures here on dA, exploring hypothetical centaur anatomy with quite different approaches. I'm not quite sure what is my opinion on the centaur anatomy (as I'm no expert on horse anatomy either), but certainly I agree most main organs should be in the lower ("horse") torso, while part of the internal organs might be in the human torso too.
Of course I take as a basic premise that centaurs exist as mythical beings in a fantasy setting, so their anatomy and viability of such anatomy isn't all that much important to me (and saying that such beings could not possibly exist in our world is no argument for me), but I certainly think such speculations and consideration are interesting and it is always better when even mythological beings are well thought-out, if only for help with depicting them, both in stories and in art.
π: 0 β©: 0
I agree with your comments! Depicting trans-species "creatures" should be done with a serious consideration of anatomy, and how such a creature could exist as a viable entity. I see many depictions of mermaids, for instance, with their tails bent at their 'knees" and sitting on the bottoms. If they were real mermaids, their backbones would be continuous from their necks to their tail flukes, and therefore would not be able to bend like they had a 'bottom' or 'knees'!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for your comment (and sorry for delayed answer).
Yes, I agree with your thoughts about mermaids. I too do not like the depictions with tails bent at "knees" (which are so often)). Sure, it looks as more natural position for a human, but with mermaids I like when their difference is apparent and their tails are bent gradually, so they look like real mermaids and not just humans in an elaborate mermaid costumes. I'm more tolerant with bending at "bottoms", because it may be quite useful artistically to depict mermaid sitting, so I'm willing to imagine mermaids with flexible spines allowing them to somehow sit on their bottoms.
π: 0 β©: 0
first off background is amazing! Then also the centauress! You're very good at colouring!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much for your comment, I'm glad you like it!
You have some great centaur pictures in your gallery too!
π: 0 β©: 1
I say this, and instantly though "Narnia" <3 Love it, especially the colors, background, and the shading!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much! It wasn't intentional, but I love Narnia and I'm really honoured that it made such an impression!
π: 0 β©: 1
You said it right, this picture has such a positive impression on me <3 Almost seems magical! x3
π: 0 β©: 1
^^ Don't be, because I'm not flattering you x3 ^^
π: 0 β©: 1
I like it. However, fun fact, I'm not sure how it is in Middle-Earth, but in greek mythology, a female-centaur is called a kentaurid, though the spelling may change.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for your comment!
This is not from Middle-earth (there are no centaurs at all), it's just some general fantasy.
I know about that name, I've already encountered it, but I've got an impression that the most frequently used English word for female centaur (at least here on dA
π: 0 β©: 1
As long as everyone understands what you mean.
π: 0 β©: 0
If you removed her hind legs it woul look like a huma. I like your thoughts behind that
π: 0 β©: 1
Her hind legs look a little strange. The lower part of the legs are too short and the middle portion of her legs are too long. Other than that she's a very lovely centaur.
π: 0 β©: 1
Well, as I said I don't want her lower part to look just like an ordinary horse, but I admit it may not be ideal and when I draw another centaur I'll learn from this one.
Anyway, thanks for your comment!
π: 0 β©: 0
I really like this drawing. I like how the gradient between her human skin and her horse skin isn't linear, yet it curves around her midriff. Also, bonus points for matching bracelets and matching hair/tail colour. A very nice piece.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes, I thin these are just the little details which are so important...
π: 0 β©: 0
Wonderful, as always ^o^ !! Her body is amazing, and colors awesome !!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks, Inès! 
I also love the cute centaur drawing you have as your avatar!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank youuu, I'm very happy you like it ^///^ !! But yours is better than mine U_U She's really awesome !!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks! It's easier for me to draw a background than a figure...
π: 0 β©: 1
You're very welcome and that is unique but wonderful. I have a very hard time drawing backgrounds, though I have found that I should probably use a reference more often. Again, very nice work!
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes, it's good to use a reference.
π: 0 β©: 0
She's lovely! The softness of the shading is so beautiful and the background is amazing!!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks my friend, I'm glad you like it!
π: 0 β©: 1