Horse Skull and Vertebrae Commission
Here is the finished Horse Skull and Vertebrae commission. It was completed as a gift for a daughter who works with horses, specializing in the teeth and upper cervical vertebrae of horses experiencing discomfort related to their teeth and vertebrae.
The two vertebrae from left to right are the Atlas and Axis, the number one and number two cervical vertebrae.
Special Request
I’ve been asked to do a lot of different types of commissions, but I can honestly say no one has ever presented an idea like this, nor been able to provide an actual skull and vertebrae in a box to help make it happen!
To get myself up to speed with horse skull and vertebrae anatomy, I completed this preliminary anatomical sketch of the major features to familiarize myself with both the general shape of the skull, but more specifically, the major landmarks that my reference photos might not accentuate enough in the final piece.
Around one-third of the way through the commission. The drawing was completed on Strathmore 400 Series Smooth Bristol paper which has been my favorite paper for around twenty years! I am really glad that Strathmore still produces this paper to the same quality as they did when I started drawing again back in the mid-2000s.
A close-up of the vertebrae portion of the drawing.
A close-up of the dental portion of the drawing.
The finished drawing ready for delivery. I framed the piece in a barnwood frame made in Oklahoma. I would love to find a source for Montana-sourced barnwood frames so I could keep the entire piece as local as possible.
It was truly an honor to work on this piece and produce a surprise gift for a special daughter trying to do good in the world. Helping animals in distress and keeping healthy animals stay well-adjusted is a gift not just for the animals themselves but for the owners who love these magnificent animals with all their hearts. I am happy the drawing was well-received and I hope it can serve to bring her a bit of joy.