How I use Reference (Patreon)

I was talking with some good folks over on my discord about using reference. There are several reasons as to why you should be using reference photos, and there are right and wrong ways on using them. The example image above shows how I used a Google images photo as a point of reference. My characters are different sizes and wearing different clothes, however, I can still see where the clothes fold and pull. When you begin using reference in this way, your brain works harder to calculate and create. Copying a photo line for line is great too, but artists tend to zone out. Information doesn't soak in as well, so it's important to be conscience of every move you make. Why does it fold there? Why do the fingers look like that? Be curious, and then you can begin to draw without reference. Don't rely heavily on it. Look back at my. "Drawing Pokemon from Memory" video. Study, then draw what you learned without copying. Rinse and repeat. That is how you will become a master.