BUT! Of course you can also use objects to make real life studies. You can use a plain background for your objects and make a photo with your phone or photocamera. Then you can go to paid stock photo websites like Shutterstock or you can make your own reference photos. If you need a specific type of reference, perhaps a pose or an object you can’t find on these free stock photo pages. These websites are great to find study material or specific reference photos you might need to bring your artwork to life. Doing this usually gives me way more inspiration than is good for me 😅 Or sometimes I use a search term or a categorie to scroll through specific stuff, like food or portraits. To find inspiration, I like to scroll through the trending or new photos on the websites. From food to landscapes, from portraits to abstract textures. When you’re having trouble finding reference, because perhaps the subject is too specific, then you can also make your own photos of course, or study from life! Sources for finding referenceįree stock photo websites like Pexels and Unsplash are great resources for finding reference of a variety of subjects. Where can you find these references and what should you be paying attention to?Ī good quality reference image can help you figure out anatomy, certain lighting set ups, textures, etc. In this article I’d like to give you some pointers on finding reference photos of a good quality.

Finding reference can sometimes be a challenge though. When making art it’s always a good idea to study reference material.

Flo procreate