Real Artists Don't Use Reference

I think there's a huge misconception among artists just starting out and amateurs; they think all those bigwig professional artists come up with everything straight out of their head.  The truth:

They don't.

The difference between a professional artist and a not so professional artist?  Professional artists actual use reference for pretty much everything.  Non-professional artists will only use what's in their head because they think that's how it's done.

Yeah, a little backwards.

Life is basically handing you all the blueprints to making all of your art look correct.  Even fantastical and made up realities should be based off real life things in order to be believable.  Your space elf has five stomachs and ten ears?  Yeah, it still needs to look anatomically correct.  Even Modernist artists who create figurative paintings and such need to have the foundation down and understand the workings before branching into the fantastical.

Once you've drawn a human body a million times you probably can pop one right out of your imagination, but in the end they're all going to starting looking alike.

So references.

I'll admit, I still feel weird using references.  It feels like cheating in a way.  Like the art isn't mine unless it comes 100% from my imagination.  That's bull, and I'm going to keep telling myself that until I believe it (and so should you).

Using references will make your art a million times better.  Once I started using (not drugs, just reference!) my art immediately shot upward.  Is it magically amazing now?  No! But probably because I'm not using enough reference :)

So here's a list of potential references (oh yay! another list, I'm sure you guys aren't sick of lists yet).  If you find you're having a hard time thinking of ideas or how to execute something, chances are your answer is somewhere in this list.

• Instructional "How to" books or tutorials
• Wanna learn a new skill or your High School teacher failed to teach you the basics? This is the one for you.

"How to"

• James Gurney Books/Blog
• This man is a genius and his writing is invaluable for any artist.  I have professors who have been illustrators all their lives and they still go back read James Gurney again and again.
• As you can see, I've got one of his books pretty well marked up.

James Gurney 

• Magazines!
• What great reference, plus they're literally everywhere!
• I especially recommend National Geographic as their world wide subjects are great for ideas.  I've marked the pages according to People, Environments, Animals, and Objects.
• (Courtesy of my sister who gladly dumped some of her unwanted magazines into my eager hands) 

• "The Art of" Books
• The movie and game industries will release books showing all their concept art and processes.  These are just chock full of inspiration and ideas.
• The one I'm showing is the art of Blizzard and I always come away with ideas and solutions to problems when I flip through this book

• Comics/Graphic Novels
• These artists have already done a load of research, so don't feel bad when a solution for them works just as well for you
• Plus comics/graphic novels have a way of inspiring ideas and motivation
• Other Artist's Sketchbooks
• You'll find that a lot of artists will sell copies of their sketchbooks as kickstarters and such.  They're a pretty good investment.

Jake Parker's Inktober Kickstarter

• Your Own Sketchbook Studies
• Go out and draw people, places, pets, architecture, anything!  It doesn't have to be for anything specific.  It's good practice and if you save them then later you have something to go back to for reference and ideas that are right at your fingertips (phew, was that a run-on sentence?)
• Teachers and Peers
• Chances are somebody knows more about something than you do.  People are generally helpful and would be willing to get you over your hurdles.

• Your Own Photos
• Go out and shoot pictures of that tree you're having a really hard time drawing.  Can't remember how water ripples over rocks?  Chances are you have a photo of that.
• The Internet
• A lot of what I've mentioned costs money and the sad truth is, is that artists are pretty poor.  One of the cheapest resources and references out there is the internet.
• Pinterest:  Holy mother of references.  You type in what you're looking for and chances are pretty good that you'll end up with an endless supply of examples
• Figure Drawing References.  Yeah, you need to be careful with this one, but there are some sites where it's legit references and not "Adult Entertainment"
• Muddy Colors Blog.  This blog is a collaboration of a lot of amazing artists who take turns writing a post and being awesome.  Answers and enlightenment abound.
• Other blogs.  A lot of artists have blogs.  It doesn't even have to be an artist.  Follow someone who specializes in woodwork or machines.  Answers may lie in there.
• Google.  The almighty search engine . . . 'nuff said.

Now using reference may seem daunting or fundamentally wrong and you are more than welcome to continue without it, but I guarantee that all the people killing it out there right now are using reference to some extent.  Do, or do not; it's really up to you.

Fin

(P.S. I'll be putting up a page of references and helpful links soon)

If there is any topic you wish me to discuss, or any questions that you would like answers to please respond in the comments and I will blog about them!

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Artist's Block

I might have a million assignments due in a few days, but you'll find me playing Mario Party, microwaving pizza bites, or looking at the latest cute cat meme.  Why?

Artist's Block.

The symptoms are very similar to the ones that you'll find in Writer's Block.  You've got plenty of ideas (or assignments), but how to execute them is giving you problems.  You keep slamming into this metaphorical wall (for some people the wall is very physical) and there's no crack or opening and it's fifty million feet high.

Solutions are eluding you and your creativity has flown the coup.  No matter how many times you touch that pencil tip to paper nothing comes to you.  Empty:  Mind, body, and soul.

"Nothing! No ideas!  Useless, empty brain!"

And when you do start to draw something is looks like absolute crap!  You wouldn't even show it to your five-year-old niece!

I'm currently going through such a spell.  I cannot tell you how hard it is simply to write this post.  I have the idea, but the execution of it is killing me.  I have plenty of art assignments to do, and plenty of personal projects that I want to do, but instead you'll find me playing Zelda on my computer, checking out geeky pictures on Pinterest, or eating yet another carton of ice cream.

How do you overcome this wall in your mind and bask in the creative juices as they flow through you and out your fingertips?

There are a hundred websites and blogs out there that will tell you how to overcome an artist's block.  Here are mine:

1.  Get out of the House

• Go for a hike, a drive, walk around downtown.  Just get away from your dwelling place!  You spend a lot of time there.  Their familiar walls may be stifling your creativity.

2.  Start a Completely Different Project

• Set aside your current project and start something that is completely different.  Different subject, different medium, different audience.  Just Different!  This one thing might actually be the step that snaps you out.  Instead of fighting the same problems, you have a whole different set.  You're welcome.

3.  Get Creatively Inspired

• Go to an art museum/gallery, look through some art books at the bookstore, watch some artist's vlog.  Others' amazing art will give you new ideas and fresh outlooks and inspire you to get to work.  I caution against looking at friends' art stuff during this time period.  Any other time we're all like, "Oh, that's so amazing, look how much you've progressed!  Oh, what number of commissions is this?  Loved the color palette you used in your last one! Ect". 

           I find that during Artist's block time the art of my friends is my worst enemy.  I know how bad            they were when they started out and from my point-of-view it looks like their skills are sky                  rocketing.  Any other time you would be ecstatic for them, just not during the period of time                where you keep hitting the same wall and you can't get past it.

4.  You Keep Drawing No Matter What

• I don't care if it looks like a piece of crap, you keep drawing.  Keep with the basics.  Keep drawing figures and shapes.  Draw still-lifes.  Just keep drawing.  You may feel like you're not breaking through the wall, but if you stop drawing completely your skills will retrograde.  They will get rusty waiting for that inspiration.  And we don't want that.  To stop drawing completely is a death sentence. Do. Not. Stop. No. Matter. What!

Trying to focus on my figure drawing

Did some silhouettes for a future project

Fin

If there is any topic you wish me to discuss, or any questions that you would like answers to please respond in the comments and I will blog about them!

4 Steps to Giving and Receiving a Good Critique

I know I mentioned critiques a couple posts ago, but I wanted to expand on the subject.  In my vast experience (note: sarcasm) as a human being on this planet I have noticed that the majority of the people I know or run into have a very hard time taking criticism.  This is for multiple reasons I'm sure, but one of the major problems, I believe, is that people actually don't know how to give good criticism.

So I came up with 3 steps on giving constructive criticism and 1 step on receiving criticism. (purely from an artists viewpoint)

Step One:  

List the positive attributes of the piece and tell the recipient all the aspects that you like or enjoy.  Even if it's just the fact that you think the idea is a good one or you like the color of the subject's shoes or something, always find the positives.

Having your work critiqued can be stressful, and hearing the good things you're doing can help the painful process.

I have a professor, Richard Hull, who I think is very good at this.  Your piece could be the worse one in the whole group (and trust me when I say that I turned in some pretty bad pieces) and he will always start out with the things that are working; stopping and really studying it and making sure you receive a full list of all the things that are good.

Then he eviscerates you with all the things you messed up on (but I'll touch on that later).

Step Two:

List the problems with the piece:  foundation, concept, composition, even color.

A person needs to know what's wrong in order to fix their mistakes.  If everyone says your stuff is good all the time then you'll never learn and your art will never get better.  This is important!  It may feel humiliating getting your art critiqued, but if you stay in your safe bubble you will continue making the same mistakes!

So if you find yourself in a position giving critiques of other peoples work, don't do the cruel thing and point out only positive aspects.  Have the courage to point out mistakes and have faith that the recipient will that the pointers to heart.

Step Three:

While doing Step Two, make sure you are presenting solutions to the problems you are pointing out.  Having your mistakes pointed out is nice, but not much help if you don't know how to fix them.  Multiple different views will help find the appropriate solution.

Don't be a jerk and just leave someone hanging.  You're smart, and if you can find mistakes, you definitely have suggestions on fixing them.  They may not follow those suggestions, but it's polite all the same to present them.

Step Four: Receiving

Don't take it personally.  It's really that simple.  I use to have a really hard time listening to other people pick over my art pieces.  My confidence in my art wasn't very high and I felt so personally connected to them.  I'm pretty sure a lot of people have this problem.

Don't take it personally.

When I first started taking illustration classes I had a professor who took me aside and had conversation about my art.  My stuff wasn't up to snuff.  He said it straight and honest.  What he said next changed my whole perspective on critiques:

It's not you that I hate, it's just your artwork that I don't like.

Seems kind of harsh, but think about it.  People aren't critiquing you as a person. Stop putting up those defensive walls like someone's trying to blow up your inner sanctum.  Art is just like any other discipline, it needs hard work, practice, and polishing.  There are rules you need to know and follow.  It not just about feelings.  It's about expressing those feelings in a legible way.  It's about telling a story and having people understand the story right away.

Don't take it personally.

You have to put some separation between you and your artwork because people will judge the work (that's what they're suppose to do!), but they're not judging your character.  It's about art, not about you.  If you have the most amazing, transcendental idea that's great, but it needs to be refined.

And in order for your most wonderful idea to be refined, it needs to be critiqued.

So don't take it personally and embrace all the wonderful advice and helpers you're receiving.

Exception:

There will always be the exception.  Some people are just jerks.  Their greatest joy in life is tearing other people down.  They're not trying to help you, they're trying to hurt you.  The best thing you could do?  Ignore them and continue pushing on.  What better way of showing the finger than moving forward.

Don't you dare let these type of people stop you from doing the thing you love.  They most certainly aren't worth your time or consideration.  Let it run off your back like water and (yes, I'm going to say it again) don't take it personally.

Those people live miserable lives, so let them squander in that misery while you shoot ahead and become even better.

That's my advice.  I guarantee that if you follow these steps you'll be a lot happier come critique time and you'll learn and improve so much more.  Never give up.

Fin

 If there is any topic you wish me to discuss, or any questions that you would like answers to please respond in the comments and I will blog about them!