Horse Study (2025)

This study was created as part of the preliminary research for Soft Apocalypse, serving as both anatomical exploration and emotional calibration. The horse has long existed in art as a symbol of grace and endurance, but here the focus lies on restraint — a still moment before motion, a quietness that anticipates the larger themes of transformation and vulnerability within the main work.

The subject is isolated against a textured ground, its pale coat emerging from a muted crimson background. This compositional simplicity allows attention to rest on the interplay between structure and softness: the musculature implied rather than described, the gaze steady yet distant. Through this, the piece becomes more than a study of anatomy — it’s an attempt to understand stillness as an expressive state.

In painting this, I was drawn to the way light skims across the contours of the neck and muzzle, defining strength without aggression. The study captures the threshold between calm and tension, a recurring motif in Soft Apocalypse, where beauty is always edged with unease.

Painted digitally using layered brushwork that mimics the tonal modulation of oil on linen, this study employs a limited palette of ochre, sienna, and muted rose to achieve warmth and harmony. The background was built through broad, gestural strokes to contrast with the careful modelling of the head. Fine glazing techniques were applied to soften transitions and preserve luminosity. Though modest in scale, the piece retains the structural precision necessary for its role as a foundation for a larger, more complex composition.