Art of Irreverence

How to Draw Better Using Reference (Photographs, Mirror, Nature)

Using (like , the or ) to produce artwork of professional quality is sometimes essential when we need our drawings to be accurate, look convincing and “jump out of the page.”

In short, using reference is a very good aid for any serious artist to produce .

Using reference is not cheating. It is neither tracing nor duplicating.

Using reference is observing a source that accurately depicts something or someone, and such source is used as a BASE to produce an ORIGINAL artwork that looks both convincing and very professional.

Many great artists, including comics legend , use reference to produce their master pieces.

If they do, then anyone who is serious about this and wants to draw better, will see amazing results by trying this.

Sad Jesus drawing produced using photo reference of actor Nicholas Cage

Sometimes using reference is a “no brainier.”

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If the task of the artist is to draw a rare flower from Belize, a specific Russian weapon from World War II or a particular castle in Spain, using reference is a must for most artists to produce an accurate drawing (except perhaps for experts in those matters.)

Then, most times, it may seem not necessary to use reference.

For example, the artist needs to draw the face of a beautiful woman or a super hero in an extreme action pose. He or she goes ahead and draws that without using any reference.

Now, the result could be very good. Most seasoned pro artists do this.

In that case the artist is drawing “from memory.”

The difference is that the source is in the artist’s memory and not in a photograph, mirror or nature.

Seasoned professional artists use their memories to produce great drawings because they have already memorized the sources thanks to a lot of observation of nature and other types of references.

Then again, seasoned pro artists also use reference when they need to.

Until any artist can depend entirely on his or her memory to draw “perfectly”, a very good habit is to use reference.

The end result will be artwork of a .

In other words, .

Using reference will allow the artist to:

depict human proportions (body and face) more accurately (from a live model or photos)
draw more beautiful faces (from photos, there are countless beautiful people in the world to choose from)
cast shadows and shades in a more dramatic and convincing way
show body poses that look more natural
draw facial expressions that seem funnier or more dramatic (use a mirror, Disney animators do)
create monsters that look more horrific (from a mix of photographs of animals and objects)
design better buildings or vehicles (from photos of your vacation or the web)
among other benefits.

The is the Internet.

Google and other top search engines can be used to search for images.

Search for topics you need and download the images that you like most.

TIP: Search using foreign language words to get photos most don’t.

Create an in your computer and keep it . Organization is essential to find your images quickly and the inventory must be practical or it won’t be used.

Finally, use a for drawing facial expressions. I learned this from the Disney animators. Then, the gestures in your characters could be priceless.

Happy drawing!

Source: ArticlesBase.com

Making the Most of Your References

When searching for employment, you will find that most employers will at some point ask you to provide a list of your references. This may seem like a simple request to fulfill, but in actuality, choosing references is something that should be done with care. So before you throw your own list out there to employers, let’s take a look at some ideas to keep in mind.

Why Provide References

Employers usually ask for references during the course of an application process for two reasons: 1) they want to verify previous employment, and 2) they want to know what they’re getting themselves into. Most likely, they have determined that you’re a great candidate based on your resume, cover letter and interview, but it always helps to have some additional sources step in to confirm your qualifications.

So when should you disclose your references? This can vary depending on who you’re applying for. Some may request a list of references in the job posting while others may have you list three or four while filling out their application. A good rule of thumb, however, is to hold on to your list until you’re asked for it. Just be sure to choose wisely the references you disclose, because while some employers may simply want to verify your employment, others may go further to ask specifics about the type of employee you were.

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Choosing Your References

One of the most important ideas to remember when choosing your references is making sure they will say good things about you. If you’re not sure what they might say, then you can have a friend call on your behalf and get a reference, asking simple, professional questions just to gauge the responses he or she might give.

Typically, the best people from which to request references include past or present supervisors, co-workers, professors, customers, vendors, and even coaches and friends. However, when the references are more of a personal nature and they were not specifically requested, you may want to list them after the most highly-regarded professional references. This is because, for the most part, the employee is more interested in your work ethic than your personal behaviors. And with additional resources available like social networking sites, many can do more “realistic” research without needing to gauge your characteristics from a personal friend.

Asking for Permission

One of the biggest rules of thumb when selecting references is to make sure that you ask their permission before submitting their names to employers. Failing to complete this task can offer unfavorable results all the way around. Think about it, if you don’t tell your references you’ve offered their names, when the employer calls they may be thrown completely off-guard, having to come up with specific details on the spur of the moment. This could result in you not receiving the thorough recommendation you’d hoped for. So to ensure that it goes your way, make sure ask your references if you can use them in this way.

Choosing the right references to offer to prospective employers can mean the difference in you being hired for a position. So choose carefully, making sure each reference is someone you have a good relationship with and who truly has your best interest at heart.

Source: ArticlesBase.com