Hey art lovers! Today I'm excited to take you behind the scenes of my latest digital painting, "Dim Sum" - and yes, that's actually the horse's name! For those of you who love watching the creative process unfold, I've got a treat: both a condensed highlights version and the full four-hour plus journey are available on YouTube. But first, let me walk you through how this beautiful equine portrait came to life.

The Journey Begins: Sketching and Planning

Every great piece starts with understanding what makes it unique. Dim Sum isn't just any horse - they're a character with personality, and capturing that essence was my primary goal. I began with a light sketch to nail down the proportions and composition. You know that feeling when you're trying to draw a circle and it looks more like a potato? Well, thankfully, horse anatomy is much easier than that! (Just kidding - it took years of practice to make it look easy.)

Building the Foundation

Once the sketch was in place, I dove into rendering the base details of the horse's head and neck. Think of it as building a house - you need a solid foundation before you can add all the fancy decorations. I used low opacity to create subtle tones, avoiding the temptation to jump straight into stark contrasts. It's less about drawing specific features and more about capturing the play of light and shadow across forms.

The Magic of Layers

Here's where things got interesting! I experimented with different background colors - including a temporary red backdrop that probably made poor Dim Sum look like they were having quite the adventure - to better visualize the shadows and highlights. The marking process was particularly delicate, requiring careful attention to how the patterns would flow across the horse's form. It's like trying to paint stripes on a balloon - they need to curve and flex with the surface.

Adding the Final Touches

The English bridle was next on the agenda, requiring precise attention to detail. And for the backdrop? We went with a sunset theme that I think really makes the whole piece sing. There might have been some slight technical hiccups with recording this part (computers, am I right?), but the end result was worth every minute of work.

Want to See It All Come Together?

If you're curious about how this all looked in real-time, I've got two options for you:

1. Head over to MooreArtByLucy-Digital Art on YouTube for the condensed version - perfect for those of you who want the highlights reel

2. For the art process enthusiasts (you know who you are!), check out the full 3+ hour journey on the main MooreArtByLucy YouTube channel. Grab your favorite beverage and settle in for some serious art time!