How to Paint Expressive Horses Using Layered Mixed Media

Sometimes the most expressive paintings happen when you start with no plan at all. This horse painting process begins with pure color exploration and builds toward recognizable forms through layered responses - exactly the kind of authentic development that creates powerful expressive work.

👉 Discover more mixed media painting techniques in my Mixed Media Hub

Layer 1: Pure Color Exploration

Start with an 11x15 piece of watercolor paper and put down random splashes of color. Not horse colors - just colors that feel good together or create interesting interactions. Let the paint do what it wants to do. Let colors mingle, run, and blend together naturally.

This isn't about planning where horses will go. It's about creating a foundation of authentic color relationships that will inform everything that follows.

👉 Four Studio-Tested Ways to Start Loose Paintings - explore more uniques ways to paint expressively

👉 Actually Makes Painting Expressive - good read for anyone that wants to paint loosely

Layer 2: Finding Forms Through Negative Space

Once that first layer is completely dry, look for where horse-like forms might emerge. You're not drawing horses - you're painting around where they might be using white gouache or white watercolor.

This negative space painting approach is loose and gestural. You're suggesting rough outlines, creating breathing room around forms that are still more felt than seen. Let this dry completely before moving forward.

Layer 3: Building Form Through Value

Now you can start adding darker values with thicker watercolor paint. Look for areas where shadows might naturally fall, where forms might turn away from light. You're not copying horse anatomy - you're responding to the shapes that have emerged and giving them just enough dimension to feel solid.

This is where your drawing foundation really helps. Understanding basic form and light allows you to suggest convincing volume even in very loose, interpretive work.

Layer 4: Calligraphic Definition

The final layer uses a needle brush or liner brush for loose, calligraphic line work. These lines flow around and through the forms, sometimes defining edges, sometimes just adding linear energy to the composition.

The lines aren't trying to create perfect horse drawings. They're adding the kind of confident, gestural marks that give the painting its final expressive character.

Why This Process Creates Authentic Expression

Each layer responds to what came before rather than following a predetermined plan. The color exploration creates authentic relationships. The negative space painting finds forms organically. The value work builds on what's actually there rather than what you think should be there.

The final result is a contemporary-looking painting with horses running in random placement across the paper - not lined up in a predictable composition, but distributed in a way that feels natural and unforced.

The Foundation That Makes It Work

This layered approach only succeeds when you have enough basic understanding of form, value, and animal structure to make confident decisions at each stage. Without that foundation, the layers just become muddy rather than building toward authentic expression.

But when you understand the fundamentals well enough to respond intuitively, this kind of organic development creates paintings that feel alive in ways that careful horse portraits often don't.

Want drawing lessons? Visit the Free Drawing Tutorials & Courses hub

The most expressive animal paintings aren't about perfect anatomy - they're about capturing the energy and spirit of the subject through confident, layered responses to what emerges on the paper.

Want to go deeper with collage & mixed media?

👉 Explore the Mixed Media Hub
👉 Browse Collage Painting Ideas
👉 Dive into the Garage Collage Barrage

Supplies I Use All the Time

These are my go-to materials for almost every mixed media project I create. Do I add new ingredients occasionally? You betcha! But these are the go-to materials I rely on most. I know how they behave, how they layer, and how to get the best results from them.

• Acrylic Paints – I only buy heavy body for their thick texture and thin them with water for fluid glazing and washes. See my favorite set →
• Watercolors Paints – Great for transparent layers and unexpected color effects. Exact colors are below.  Shop my watercolor picks →
• Acrylic Inks - Excellent way to add transparent layers to mixed media artwork. Mixes well with everything! See the inks →
• Synthetic Acrylic Brushes - You need a variety and I have listed my go-to's below. I use Princeton brands, very dependable! See the brushes →
• Watercolor Brushes - Get a decent grade but avoid all-natural as synthetic blends have come a long way. Shop my picks →
• Collage Papers – A mix of pattered, and printed paper you see me use is from Hobby Lobby, and it's usually found in the scrapbook section. Browse paper packs →
• Palette Knives – Good to have around for scooping paint and smearing techniques. See what I use →
• Blick Super Value Canvas Packs - Comes in many small and medium sizes up to 20x16". Love em'. Best bulk stretched canvas →
• Mixed Media Paper – Sturdy enough to handle wet and dry techniques. Strathmore is the way to go! Best paper for mixed media →
• Watercolor Paper - Top choice is 140 lb. cold press by Fabriano Artistico. Cost effective and crispy white. Best watercolor paper →
• Caran d'Ache Water-Soluble Crayons – Perfect for adding scribbles and linear interest to mixed media art. Check them out →
• Gator Board - Best firm boards you can find! Buy a large sheet and cut out down. These are used as backing for my paper when I paint. Check it out →
• Mod Podge - Reliable and affordable adhesive for paper, thick and thin. And get the Matte! View the glue →

My preferred hues; Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light (or Medium), Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White

My preferred acrylic brushes; #12 Large round, 2x Medium rounds, 2x Detail, or liner brushes, Large and medium fan brush, a few medium size bristles and old, small house painting brush for glue.