In this article, I reveal the key steps in creating the anatomical flayed figure of the rider, an illustration that highlights the horse's anatomy, the horse's muscles, as well as the human anatomy of the rider.
👉 Discover the anatomical rider poster here, designed to shed light on equine and human anatomy.
Step 1: The draft – Simple geometric shapes
Before depicting the horse's anatomy and that of the rider, it is essential to build the foundation of the drawing.
Using an inspiration photo, I lay out the volumes using simple geometric shapes, which are essential for then approaching the equine and human anatomy accurately.
Step 2: Establishing the muscular structures
In this step, I start by drawing the rider's muscles, having mastered human anatomy perfectly.
For the horse's muscles, a more complex field, I sought the expertise of Chloé Aubry, a paleontologist specializing in animal anatomy.
Her precise work allowed me to ensure the accuracy of the horse's anatomy in this illustration.
Step 3: Creating the clean lines
After sketching the muscles and skeleton of the rider and horse (notably the horse's left forelimb), it is time to finalize the lines.
Every line must reflect the precision of equine and human anatomy.
Step 4: Filling in with red
Once the outlines are finished, it's time for color!
Flesh red is used to better highlight the horse's muscular structures and those of the rider, while maintaining a clear and striking look.
Step 5: Shading to add depth
At this stage, the drawing comes to life.
Shading serves to emphasize the muscular volumes, for both the horse's anatomy and the rider's, reinforcing the realistic effect of the flayed figure.
Step 6: Adding anatomical labels
To remain faithful to the spirit of the great masters of anatomical illustration, such as Leonardo da Vinci, every muscular structure of the horse and rider is labeled.
The labels enhance the educational dimension of this anatomical flayed figure.
