How to Paint a Leopard Appaloosa Model Horse

A complete tutorial with all the tools and color recipes needed to paint a leopard appaloosa on a Breyer, Schleich, CollectA, artist resin or other brand of model horse.

Color Recipes

These color recipes are a guide to help you replicate what I created for the video, and take out the guesswork in mixing paint for model horses. It's not full-proof, as every brand of paint is a little different and everyone sees color differently, but it will help give you a leg up in the process that you can refine to your taste as you develop your skills. In the video I am using Golden brand acrylics in Fluid and Heavy Body. Feel free to use the same, or to find the below named colors in other brands. Bear in mind that the more you change from the tutorial, the more likely you will get a different result.

Pearl White

the very first layer and the base for everything else. In the video I airbrushed this layer, but you can thin it down and apply thin washes to build up the color if you are painting it by hand. An airbrush is faster and easier, but absolutely not required to follow along with this tutorial. Mix the following colors of paint:

• 1 part Titanium White in fluid body
• 1 part Pearl White in fluid body
• 1/16 part Titan Buff in fluid body (about 1 drop if airbrushing for stablemates)

Warm Pearl White

The color used to give your model depth and realism. Mix:

• ​1 part Titanium White in fluid body
• 1 part Pearl White in fluid body
• 1/8 part Titan Buff in fluid body (about 2 drops if airbrushing for stablemates)
• 1/4 part Interference Gold in fluid body, or 1/16 if using heavy body paint

Cool Pearl White

The color used for shading. Mix:

• ​1 part Titanium White
• 1 part Pearl White
• 1/16 part Titan Buff
• 1/16th part Pearl Black
• 1/4 part Interference Blue in fluid body, or 1/16 if using heavy body paint

Medium Grey

If you are painting dark to light spots as I have down in the video, this is your first color for the spots. Mix:

• 7/16 Pearl White (7 drops for stablemates)
• 7/16 Titanium White
• 1/16 Van Dyke Brown (1 drop for stablemates)
• 1/16 Carbon Black

​If you are painting lighter to darker spots instead, add more white until the grey matches the lightest part of the spots in your reference.

Warm Black

The color you will use for the darkest centers of your spots. Mix:

• ​1 part Van Dyke Brown
• 1 part Carbon Black

Mottling Base Color

To follow along with the method I showed in the video, mix:

• ​1 part Titan Buff
• 1 part Pearl White

If you are opting to paint the pink layers of the mottling instead of using the earth pigments, then mix a tiny bit of Burnt Sienna with a larger portion of Titan Buff to taste.

Tools & Supplies You Will Need

• Gloves for painting and priming  https://amzn.to/2J3QPxl
• Paint in the following colors
  • Golden Fluid Titanium White  https://amzn.to/2WsBN7I
  • Golden Fluid Titan Buff  https://amzn.to/2Y1D9GO
  • Golden Fluid Van Dyke Brown  https://amzn.to/2V1TU2O
  • Golden Fluid Carbon Black  https://amzn.to/2VfbyVKy
  • And optional paint colors good for details:
    • Golden Interference Blue  https://amzn.to/2VRPkbW
      
    • Golden Fluid Raw Sienna  https://amzn.to/2H3HUsj
      
    • Golden Fluid Burnt Sienna  https://amzn.to/307zsBk
      
    • Golden Fluid Burnt Umber Light  https://amzn.to/2Wryzkz
      
    • Golden Fluid Raw Umber  https://amzn.to/2ZTThfj
      
• Painters mask  https://amzn.to/2LyeZT4
  • ​Replaceable cartridges  https://amzn.to/2vEKf88White, off-white, grey and black pastels (optional)
• Raw sienna earth pigment (can substitute pastel)
  • Sennelier Dry Earth Pigment in Burnt Sienna  https://amzn.to/2GXGWy2
• Black charcoal pencil
• A liner brush with a very fine point, preferably sable if painting in acrylics
  • Master's Touch Round 0  http://bit.ly/2VhjZzN
  • Windsor & Newton Cotman 0000 Round  https://amzn.to/2VNiYiq
  • ​Select Artiste Princeton 18/0 Round  https://amzn.to/2WlulLo
• Airbrush (optional)
• A brush for applying a base coat, if not using an airbrush
• A matte sealer
• An illustration of hair growth pattern on a horse

Videos Mentioned this Tutorial

​Pinking Video: https://youtu.be/FpKsp1JzAZI
Details Video: https://youtu.be/DZzL2GMEcOI
Striped Hooves Video: https://youtu.be/MNeUC6iwCho

Credits and Resources

MORE FROM BLUE MOUNTAIN STABLE ON WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA:
- Website:  http://www.bluemountainstable.com/ 
- Blog:  http://www.bluemountainstable.com/blog 
- Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bluemountainstable/ 
- Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BlueMountainStable/ 
- YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/BlueMountainStable 

SCULPTING TOOLS & CLAY:
- Aves Apoxy Sculpt epoxy putty https://amzn.to/2V2wbPO 
- Magic Sculpt epoxy putty  https://amzn.to/3aPbyQD 
- Milliput Superfine White epoxy putty  https://amzn.to/2Ttu6O3 
- Clay shapers firm  https://amzn.to/32MvXDB 
- Clay shapers soft   https://amzn.to/2RJhPoh 
- Clay shapers affordable mixed set  https://amzn.to/2RLiLIK   

PAINTING TOOLS & SUPPLIES:
- Sennelier Dry Earth Pigment in Burnt Sienna  https://amzn.to/2GXGWy2 
- White Charcoal Pencil  https://amzn.to/2vDe6h1 
- Gloves for painting and priming  https://amzn.to/2J3QPxl 
- Painter’s mask for airbrushing and priming  https://amzn.to/2LyeZT4 
- Replaceable cartridges for painter’s mask  https://amzn.to/2vEKf88 
- Temperature and humidity gage  https://amzn.to/2IZWTXN 

MY PAINT BRUSHES:
- Nicpro detail brush set https://amzn.to/3hMJlfa 
- Affordable detail/hairing-only brushes great for small scales https://bit.ly/3hVNEFj   
- Silver Brush Monza filbert 0 https://bit.ly/3izgoWv 
- Silver Brush Monza filbert 12  https://bit.ly/3izgoWv 
- Master’s Touch filbert ½ inch – discontinued 
- Grumbacher Goldenedge filbert 2 https://bit.ly/3xW7poZ 
- Rapheal Kaerell pointed round 1 https://bit.ly/3BuwvgQ 
- Escoda Versatil synthetic Kolinsky pointed round 1 https://bit.ly/3kHhvWQ 
- Rosemary & Co Evergreen filbert 7 https://bit.ly/3f1fQYL 
- Rosemary & Co Evergreen angular 1/8 inch https://bit.ly/3wZ1nm5 
- Windsor & Newton Cotman round 0000 Round https://amzn.to/2VNiYiq
- Windsor & Newton Cotman round 1 https://bit.ly/2TrzJQV 
- Windsor & Newton Cotman round 3 https://bit.ly/3eGeFxs 
- Windsor & Newton Cotman round 5 https://bit.ly/3kIZ18g 
- Select Artiste Princeton 18/0 Short Liner https://bit.ly/36YPVMx 

GOLDEN ACRYLIC PAINTS & RECCOMENDED COLORS FOR PAINTING MODEL HORSES:
- Titanium White  https://amzn.to/2WsBN7I 
- Titan Buff (aka, unbleached titanium)  https://amzn.to/2Y1D9GO 
- Raw Sienna  https://amzn.to/2H3HUsj 
- Burnt Sienna  https://amzn.to/307zsBk 
- Burnt Umber  https://amzn.to/2Wryzkz 
- Raw Umber  https://amzn.to/2ZTThfj 
- Van Dyke Brown  https://amzn.to/2V1TU2O 
- Carbon Black  https://amzn.to/2VfbyVK 
- Iridescent Gold Deep (Fine)  https://amzn.to/2VLj8GT 
- Iridescent Gold (Fine)  https://amzn.to/2DQaZqy 
- Interference Blue  https://amzn.to/2VRPkbW  

BRANDS OF OIL PAINTS I USE:
- Sennelier
- Daniel Smith
- Williamsburg
- Winsor & Newton Artist
- Grumbacher Pre-Tested
- Gamblin Artist
- M. Graham
- Rembrandt 

MY OIL MEDIUMS:
- Winsor & Newton Liquin Original https://bit.ly/3hVc7Of 
- Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium https://bit.ly/36PKjo3 

TOPCOAT VARNISHES/SEALERS
- Winsor & Newton Professional Picture Varnish Satin https://bit.ly/3iybVmY 
- Mr. Super Clear UV Cut Flat https://amzn.to/3y37VSc 

PREPPING & PRIMING TOOLS/SUPPLIES:
- Files  https://amzn.to/2YeVuAr   OR   https://amzn.to/2H2Gmz1 
- Sandpaper  https://amzn.to/2DRGyjE 
- Goggles for protective eye-wear  https://amzn.to/2ZZEu2w 
- EZ mask for prepping  https://bit.ly/2FM2tNl
- Duplicolor Sandable Primer https://amzn.to/3xVSJ9a 

OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE
- The Ultimate Guide On How To Paint Model Horse White Markings 
   https://youtu.be/HQyB-aF4Ahs 
- How to Paint a Bay - Model Horse Customizing Tutorial 
   https://youtu.be/k5RsgSn0I_w 
- How I Made My Drastic Custom Breyer Lady Phase Into a Criollo 
  https://youtu.be/3zpyZpCf5fY 

MUSIC:
"Remember" by Anno Domini Beats, YouTube Audio Library.