My turnaround on using references for digital art

I mean, I once hated using reference images for my digital art, thinking it wasn't original. My drawings often looked off because I relied only on memory. After seeing how other artists use refs, I tried it for a complex character design. Using animal photos helped me get the shapes and details right, making the art way more believable. Now, I always keep a ref folder open, and my skills have really improved. Maybe it's just me, but changing my mind on this made a huge difference.

3 comments

3 Comments

abbyr961mo ago

Wow, talk about a lightbulb moment! I used to be the same way, refusing to use refs like it was cheating. Then my art looked so wrong, it was embarrassing. Finally caved and tried references, and duh, of course it helps. It's like trying to build furniture without the instructions, just a mess. Now I have so many ref folders, my computer complains, but my art doesn't.

hayes.tara25d ago

Great artists definitely used references too though.

hugopark1mo ago

Sometimes going without references pushes your creativity further, honestly! Copying from photos can make art feel stale and unoriginal instead of fresh. Many great artists learned by observing real life directly, not through screens. Building skills through trial and error creates a stronger personal style. Relying too much on guides might stop you from developing your own intuitive sense of how things work.