CC September

[Zipfelzeus]

Sorry to basically stomp in as well but I just want to make it absolutely clear just how common reference and how NECESSARY it is.

Literally all master paintings you ever saw were not done from imagination. Here are some pieces from Mucha for example.



Cornwell (famous illustrator) basically had a whole crew of people pose for his illustration:
Cornwell's Studio

Ever seen this piece?


Just becaue you use reference doesn't also mean you have to be a slave to your reference. It essential for an artist to learn how to use reference effectivley.
Norman Rockwell for example took fotos for his sketch series but exaggerated the proportions:


And Dave Rapoza basically does the same thing.


He poses himself, his friend Dan and his girlfriend. For his He-Man series he made clay sculps.


I know that sticking to close to reference can make your picture look unorganic and stiff but reference doesn't mean just copying. Reference is a tool to help you make great illustrations if you use it correctly. It provides information that your and everyone's poor brain just can't remember all the time.

Sorry for the long post. Regardless of what I said. Nice work on the piece.