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

Credits and Resources

​HELP SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL:
- Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/bluemountainstable
- Teespring Model Horse Merch:  https://bit.ly/30jWXcY
- Redbubble Model Horse Merch:  https://rdbl.co/30hGaag

VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
- Ultimate Guide to Painting Markings: https://youtu.be/HQyB-aF4Ahs
- Painting Details: https://youtu.be/M_VbsjYW7CI
- Pinking Model Horses: https://youtu.be/FpKsp1JzAZI
- Painting Striped Hooves: https://youtu.be/sAJVW_rUE4I

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

Follow me on social media for tips, WIPS and behind-the-scenes looks into how I paint and sculpt model horses and Breyer horses. Thanks for watching! 

OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE
- How to Stay Safe Customizing Model Horses | Ultimate Safety Guide
   https://youtu.be/OxVEXHNl8HY
- How to Paint a Bay - Model Horse Customizing Tutorial 
  https://youtu.be/Yw7NX8bXyjc
- Prepping and Priming Artist Resin Model Horses 
  https://youtu.be/VUScmPllCr4
- Sculpting Stablemate Ears Part 1
  https://youtu.be/LT9dtM5TpN8
- Sculpting Stablemate Ears Part 2
  https://youtu.be/YucQ2wJCApg
- How I Made My Drastic CM Breyer Lady Phase Into a Criollo - VIDEO TOUR 
  https://youtu.be/3zpyZpCf5fY

MUSIC:
“Vast Chant” by Oshóva on Soundcloud. Creative Commons License (reuse allowed). https://soundcloud.com/osh-va/vast-chant
“Acoustic Waves” by Oshóva on Soundcloud. Creative Commons Liscense (reuse allowed). https://soundcloud.com/osh-va/acoustic-waves