How To Find Reference Photos For Art

Art References are an Creative person'south all-time friend. This is why I've compiled this postal service with over 27 resources for artists to use for their artwork!

Take y'all ever tried something new straight from imagination and the outcome wasn't nearly equally proficient equally yous pictured it in your caput? I know I accept.

This is why we every bit artists need to utilize Reference textile and resources to improve our art skills.

For example, have you ever heard nigh a Saola? Well if you haven't, how are you supposed to describe information technology if you lot never saw it before? Fifty-fifty if you saw it a few times it may non be enough to create a good drawing from imagination.

P.Southward.: A Saola is a very rare bovine that lives in the forest. And it was just discovered in 1992! Pretty interesting if you ask me.

Finding the correct reference cloth can be hard though, not only there are a lot of websites where the quality isn't very good. But at that place are problems with Copyright, download and usage restrictions.

So here are the best Fine art Reference Resources for Artists that I could observe around the web. Some likewise offline and extra info that you should know about using them correctly!

Well-nigh of these will exist costless (especially the websites listed) but I volition also include some high-quality paid ones in case yous want to invest a bit more in your art.

Websites with Gratuitous Stock Photos for Artists

I'll list all the websites with CC0 so you don't have to look for an attribution license for each photograph you lot like.

Here's a pretty big list of sites with free Stock Photos for artists and others.

Unsplash

Unsplash – I really like this one. It's ane of my favorites to go to. Unsplash has well-nigh anything y'all tin can think of! From people posing, to animals, to environments and a bunch of objects. If yous're interested in any of the above, practice check information technology out. I highly recommend information technology since it has a lot of photos, has a CC0 attribution and it'south simple (and free) to download. You can also make a gratuitous account to "Collect" photos that you relish, saving them to your account.

Pexels

Pexels – My 2d favorite website with stock photos. Information technology has a lot of diversity just like the previous i. And one thing that I peculiarly similar about this website is that y'all can download the photos in specific sizes that you want. No need to download huge files when you but want a small ane to reference, and and so have to resize them using some software. Merely select one of the premade sizes or enter your specific one and download information technology! Easy to use, CC0 attribution and completely free.

Pixabay

Pixabay – Really nice website with a wide selection of themes and subjects. This i also has an pick when downloading for you to select the size that you want. One matter that I like most this website is the Related Images actualization at the bottom, when you lot select the prototype you would like to download. This commonly shows yous a nice choice of other images that might interest y'all and that you could've missed otherwise. As well pretty easy to apply, uncomplicated and with CC0 attribution.

Morgue File

MorgueFile – Besides the somewhat dark name, this is a pretty great website! From my personal experience there is a mix of professional person and apprentice looking photos around, and then practise browse carefully. This is not exactly a bad affair though!

Sometimes is better to just get a pretty raw epitome of a discipline to study them than a perfect image in a professional environment. When this happens the subjects stop up looking too "plastic" and not organic or natural.

They do non have a CC0 license, but they exercise have their ain license. It basically says that as long as you don't claim it as your own and don't effort to rent it or sell it (the original) you're fine. So if yous're an artist referencing or doing derivative work, you lot don't need to worry about it.

Splitshire

Splitshire – Not as diverse equally the rest of the websites, with just about 1.000 images. The expert part about it is that the great part of them have a nice professional quality. And you lot can observe some odd gems here and there that y'all can't discover anywhere else. They are free for commercial employ so you're gratuitous to use them at will. I recommend this website mostly for cinematic landscapes and environments.

ane Million Free Pictures

1MillionFreePictures.com – Even though the photos here don't look every bit professional equally the other websites, there are some really interesting ones. You tin can find meshes, patterns and general designs that you lot most likely won't find anywhere else. The website has been running for over 5 years and still keeps being updated with interesting new photos, so do check information technology out!

Pinterest

Pinterest – A whole repository of photos that keeps getting added daily in huge amounts! I'm sure you lot've heard about Pinterest before, and yous've probably pinned a few things yourself. Maybe yous even establish this mail while searching through Pinterest!

It really has a very, very wide pick of photos of subjects from environments to animals, people and much more. But search it and yous will find it. Word of circumspection though, don't try to create Derivative work from the photos y'all find on Pinterest.

Stick to using it as reference textile and you're fine. This is because the images posted on Pinterest range from CC0 all the way to CC By-NC-ND. So it'southward a whole lot of trouble to find out which pictures belong to which attribution.

I also take a lot of boards on Manus References, Male Poses, Female person Poses, Dogs, Cats and much more. If you're interested, practice check out my Pinterest Profile at Don Corgi.

Allow'due south talk about more than specific fine art reference resources for each subject area and medium.

Art Reference Books

Some people prefer to come across books than to search online.

One option is to grab magazines with the subject your drawing (like gardening magazines for flowers and plants, gymnastic magazines for poses, etc). The other is to just get books for reference.

Here are the three peak books that I recommend

Art Models x: Photos for Figure Drawing, Painting, and Sculpting

A really great resources for figure cartoon, painting, and sculpting of the human torso. I especially like this one since y'all have the option to also buy the DVD where you have 360 degree poses that you can rotate.

Facial Expressions: A Visual Reference for Artists

If yous want to ameliorate your drawing of expressions, this is the book to get. Everything from smiling to dramatic expressions and crying. A actually nice repository of photos from different models to larn to describe expressions in a better mode.

The Nude Female Figure: A Visual Reference for the Artist

A more than specialized book for just the Female figure. If you lot actually want to become improve at drawing the female effigy, y'all have a very simple path. Buy this volume and describe every unmarried reference y'all find in that book. I 100% guarantee that if you follow my communication on using references and gesture drawing, you volition get a lot better in a pretty short amount of time.

Art References of Anatomy

I talk more than near these further beneath, but do consider getting an Artist Mannequin to help you with your anatomy!

Even though a reference image of a person tin can be better to study beefcake, y'all can pose a mannequin much more easily. And it'southward not as embarrassing to really go closer and checking all the details in the muscles, as it is with a real human being!

If you're looking for a specific body part like feet, easily or noses, for instance, I would recommend you to check out QuickPoses. You can also do a search through Pinterest for the specific thing you're looking for. Remember to only use them equally reference fabric and never every bit derivative work!

Specifically for Male Characters, I would similar to share with yous this Pinterest board that I've created for yous. (and for me too) – Male Anatomy References on Pinterest

And for Female Characters, I've also created a specific Pinterest board filled with unlike poses and torso types – Female Anatomy References on Pinterest

Fine art References for Poses

If y'all'd like to practice drawing poses, this is the section for you.

Here are my top 4 websites to use to practise drawing poses:

QuickPoses – lots of different images. A big number of options to choose from and one of the best things about information technology is that you can choose to show simply images of hands, anxiety, animals and other specific subjects!

Line of Activity – Very piece of cake to use and decent choices. You can choose to draw nude or covered models equally well.

SenshiStock Sketch – Done past 1 of the people with the near artistic stock photos on the net. This is a elementary tool where y'all can draw those photos in a timely way!

SketchDaily References – Based on the subreddit (sketchdaily), this is a great repository of photos that serve every bit a great tool to well… sketch daily!

Art References of Pilus and Hairstyles

If you're looking for specific art references for hair and hairstyles, there are a few different ways to get nigh it.

In my opinion, your best bet is only to go to Pinterest and search the proper noun of the specific hairstyle you're looking for. For example "Curly black hair", just search that on Pinterest and you will find enough of photos to apply as a reference.

Some other option is to buy a volume nearly Hairstyles on Amazon, like this one "The Ultimate Hairstyle Handbook" and use those photos. These are usually high-quality photos and y'all can even endeavour new hairstyles on yourself!

Finally, another option is to grab mode magazines and utilize those as a reference. In my opinion, this is a great alternative if you already have style magazines laying effectually.

Art References of Expressions and Emotion

Likewise the expressions book that I've mentioned above, at that place are 2 other ways that I advise you get art references for expressions.

The first one is to, once again, search Pinterest. But putting "angry face" on Pinterest will testify up a whole lot of faces that you lot can utilise equally a reference.

The second selection is to grab a mirror. Yeah, you've read that correct. Grab a mirror.

With a mirror, you lot can alter your own face and get beginning hand a reference to utilise. There's no substitute like it! This has been washed for ages since the beginning of the animation era.

Fine art References Apps

If you're looking for something "on the go", an fine art reference App is perfect for you.

Apps for Android

Handy Art Reference Tool – This is a Paid app. What started as a reference tool for Hands, now likewise includes different Heads that y'all tin rotate. A really "handy" tool that you can use to amend your mitt and head drawings!

Anatomy for The Creative person – There'due south both a free and paid version of this app. Keen for drawing muscles and bones. Do give a try on the costless version first and encounter if you'd like to upgrade!

Gesture Do Tool – If you want an app to practice some Gesture Cartoon on the go, this one does the play tricks.

Apps for iOS (iPad, iPhone)

Handy Fine art Reference Tool – Aforementioned as above, perfect for drawing hands and heads!

Magic Poser Art Pose Tool – Free tool that lets y'all pose your characters (and there are several unlike characters). Includes a variety of props to reference, a really nice tool, give it a try!

Beefcake Dolls and Art Mannequins for Referencing

Fine art Mannequins are an amazing help for an creative person. I've talked about them improve in this postal service virtually my Recommended Mannequins. Including a few specific ones that I recommend for different budgets, so exercise check it out if you lot'd like to acquire more!

Art References of Animals

QuickPoses if you don't really care well-nigh the particular beast that you are drawing, this one is a great reference tool overall.

Reference at SketchDaily only like the previous website, this is also an amazing tool if y'all want to describe animals in general. You just don't have the option to select which animal to draw.

Both sometimes accept the same images. But y'all tin can still give them both a go and see what works best for y'all since there will likewise exist different animals on each website.

Finally but search through Pinterest for the animal name and you're gear up with loads of photos that you tin reference!

Reference Photos for Landscape Painting

If yous're looking for mural photos to reference for painting, at that place are a few choices.

You can just search "landscape" or a specific type of mural you're looking like "mountains" in one of the CC0 websites I've listed to a higher place. For case in Pexels.

Another option is to get magazines and books most landscape photography. At that place's a lot of different materials that you can find!

Finally one time once again, Pinterest! Pinterest really is one of my favorite sources for finding good reference images.

Reference Images for 3D Modelling

Getting actually good reference images for 3D Modelling can be difficult. But I did find these 2 great websites that tin really assistance you out.

The Blueprints – is a great place to find specific blueprints that yous can use. Pay attending to run across which blueprints include side, tiptop, front and dorsum images. Every bit you know, this is essential and when doing a expert 3D Model, so information technology really should have all those images to help you.

The downside of this website is that the blueprints are paid. So keep that in mind before you start drooling over all those not bad blueprints that they have of cars, bikes and much more.

Textures – In spite of its name, the textures website does not only include some handy textures for you lot to employ on your 3D creations but also reference photos of animals, objects, and even Landscapes! Then do check it out and relish this great resource.

Art Reference Copyright – What You lot Demand to Know

When using photos as reference for your artworks, at that place are a few things you need to know.

Are y'all using it really every bit reference material, or is it a derivative?

A derivative artwork is when you take hold of a photo online of a child for case and draw information technology in your ain mode. This is not okay to do (and not legal) unless you lot have the direct permission of the photographer that took the photo to use it similar this. It'southward also not very well seen in the art community to practice and so ethically.

On the other hand, using it as reference materials is perfectly ok. Using photos as a reference material is mostly when you lot grab several different photos of a bailiwick and larn how to describe it through them.

For example, if y'all want to acquire how to draw the Saola that I talked well-nigh before, you could grab a lot of different photos and study them. Study the size of the limbs and the shape of the caput, how long are the ears, etc. Then draw them several times until yous got a feeling for the overall shapes and creature.

I know information technology tin can sound somewhat confusing, but that's why in that location's something chosen Creative Commons Attribution. This can aid the states artists a lot so we don't need to worry about this and then much. Allow's talk nigh that.

What is Creative Commons and How Does information technology Work

A Creative Eatables copyright license is basically a tool that protects copyright owners and helps other people use their work fairly.

What this means is that when creators (photographers, artists, directors, etc) create something new, they tin requite it a specific copyright license to protect themselves. There are quite a few to choose. Ones that other people have to link back to them, some that don't allow any changes to their works and so on.

You don't have to worry too much about which is used for what specifically in example you lot're just using information technology every bit reference material. Only if you're non certain if what you're doing can be labeled derivative work or not, exercise pay attention to the attributions.

Different Types of Creative Commons Attributions

When visiting a photography website, or a repository of photos website, in that location usually is a department talking about the copyright attribution of those photos. This is usually nether the F.A.Q. section, or something similar "Legal".

Allow's talk about the specific types of creative commons attributions that exist, and the ones that you should care about the most.

Word of circumspection, these CAN look like weird names and acronyms just practise not stress out. I'm going to write these equally elementary as possible so you know exactly which does what.

• Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND) – This is one that yous don't want to touch. The simply matter you can practise with this content is to download it and share information technology with others. Saying specifically the source (where you got information technology). You lot can not use this commercially or modify it in any way (including derivative work).
• Attribution-NonCommercial ShareAlike (CC Past-NC-SA) – With this attribution, the only thing that changes from the previous one is that you tin can remix (in case it's music) and alter the original cosmos. But y'all all the same tin't utilise it commercially and yous have to credit the creator when sharing it around. Furthermore, you demand to license information technology just similar the original piece of work.
• Attribution-NonCommercial (CC Past-NC) – This is super similar to the previous one. Just when y'all create a new (not-commercial) derivative work and credit the original creator, you don't have to license your new work on the same terms. So you can create a derivative piece of work and still share it and let others modify them, sell them and generally do any they want with information technology for example.
• Attribution-NoDerivs (CC By-ND) – For us artists, this particular attribution doesn't help u.s. that much. What this attribution does is that it lets us download and share the work, commercially or non commercially, but we tin can't create derivative work. And so you can only download it, put a price on it, if you desire, and redistribute it to other people. It doesn't actually assistance u.s. that much.
• Attribution-ShareAlike (CC Past-SA) – With this license, you can alter the piece of work however you lot want and use it commercially, but it must have the same terms as the original content. What this ways is that, for instance, if you grab a photo, modify information technology and post it online, you lot must permit other people practice the same to your creation. This license has its uses, but not amazingly helpful either.
• Attribution (CC Past) – One of the nearly open licenses (just still non the most). Creations labeled with this attribution tin can be inverse nevertheless yous similar, for derivative work or reference textile. And, it tin can be used commercially. You can sell these without a trouble. You must still give attribution to where yous got the original content. You must write a line somewhere in the description where it says something along the lines of: "The original piece of work this is based on was created by 'John Doe' at 'johndoethephographer(dot)com' "

Finally, we take the one that yous really want to expect out for, which is the CC0 attribution.

CC0 is the 1 yous're aiming for to be safe.

With CC0 there is a "No Rights Reserved" attribution and it's open to the public domain. What this means is that you can download the photos or other material, modify it as yous wish, use it commercially or non-commercially and you don't have to credit the writer. Amazing correct?!

Still, a lot of people tend to credit the writer for courtesy, but you're not legally required to practise so.

Using Reference Photos in Art

So at present that y'all're articulate about which Creative Eatables attributions and copyrights you have to lookout for, how exactly do you lot use reference photos in art? (don't worry, the reference resources are right beneath waiting for you!)

Here are some tips on how you can maximize using reference photos in your fine art.

Don't Re-create References Exactly

This isn't about the copyright problem, this is well-nigh improving your artistic skill. Even if yous take a CC0 epitome where you can simply copy it outright and post information technology without credit, that's not the all-time way to become if yous're serious nigh improving your art skills.

The best way to use reference photos and other material is to study each shape of the subject you're looking at. Think about how they behave in the surrounding space. Is the caput a circle or more of an ellipse? What does the overall lighting and shadows make it expect like?

Attempt to consciously think about each of these things when practicing from your reference photos.

Draw What You See

It might sound too simple, but people forget about this.

Artists end upward overthinking when drawing, and thoughts such as "A head is circular", "a horn is pointy" and the like, sometimes create a bulwark in our drawing process.

Forget what you think you know and but depict what you see. Look at the shapes and draw them. Don't overthink what they're supposed to expect similar. Depending on the bending, lighting and many other factors, things change drastically!

Exaggerate Your Drawings

Use exaggeration to assist you.

Instead of trying to, for case, do a pose exactly how you run across it in a photograph, imagine how you can make information technology improve. How about widening the bending of the artillery? Try twisting the legs and see if it looks more than expressive.

And then on and then forth.

Don't settle for what is right in front of you lot. Instead, consider new angles and opportunities from your references.

I could keep and on with these tips, only I've already written a lot of these in my consummate Guide to Gesture Drawing, so check that out if it interests yous!

Summing It Upward

Now you know where to discover everything you need to improve your artwork, become to it!

If y'all want a guided help, practice check out my online drawing courses (specifically the ane on Figure Cartoon) where we go step by step in video format.

And if yous'd like some exercises to improve your cartoon skills, do read up on my Gesture Drawing Guide, it'south really ane of the best exercises that I've done to improve my fine art.

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Source: https://doncorgi.com/blog/art-references-resources/

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