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HOW TO MAKE YOUR ART LOOK NICE: Reference n Style
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Published: 2014-06-08 22:37:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 147541; Favourites: 6753; Downloads: 0
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Description
To all my fellow artblocked, stumped, and confused artists, here's a kinda long guide on how to work around your stumps! And it's also basically the answer to why some artists are good/awesome and how you can work your way to become as good/awesome/even better than them!Some works used in this aren't mine and are used for reference purposes and are credited as such.
Keep practicing yo! and excuse my writing
EDIT: Holy man, thanks so much EeNii and Elandria !
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My HOW TO MAKE YOUR ART LOOK NICE Series:
Color and Harmony
Contrast
Flow and Rhythm in Lines
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Comments: 455
Oh! Thank you so much!! Haven't checked out Senshi in a looong while.
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she has a lot of neat stuff out now including more heavy angles and some pregnancy stuff
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I haven't seen a tutorial for referencing yet, and I'm very pleased with this. It helps other's understand it isn't a crime to reference. I think you could add to this how referencing a different style from yours can also prove helpful. Congrats on the Daily Deviantion!
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mmmmmm.... nah it's totally demonic sacrifice. Sorry man
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Hey, thanks for the tips! I'll definitely start creating a reference library!
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omgomgomgomgomg you make me trust in my way to do things. copy =/= taking references hum!
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As long as you do not copy directly! It is about adding your personal flair to it
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I still think it is cheating…lol. Plus it is boring. Who wants to draw things that look like real life? Not me. Nope. Real life + style doesn't help, either. The "real life" thing still applies.
...
Congrats on the DD, though. Everyone who isn't me will appreciate it.
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That's fair. However, it's not anything anyone should be ashamed of. When you have a stronger "visual library", you won't need to reference. Also, you can still reference something realistic and make it into your style. It'll help widen your understanding of different subjects. Taking things from different styles is also a great advantage.
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I understand it makes you a better artist~I am just weird. xD
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Oh no, I figured you understood. It makes sense why you think it's cheating, so you aren't crazy.
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:'D yay for not crazy! I sorta just can't believe there is an understanding person on this website.
Props.
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Aw, thank you! I try. haha There's a lot of understanding and great people here, it's just sometimes hard to find them.
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I have a pretty strong visual library 
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Thank for you for sharing! I agree, it's very refreshing. I used to feel bad for using reference as well so I stopped for a very long time. A couple of months ago I've picked it up again. You learn a lot of things when referencing that some tutorials can't explain.
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This is definitely true! I was completely stumped when it came to drawing landscape, and- surprise, surprise- references actually helped so much!!
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Ty! I always thought that even copying the SLIGHTEST thing/style from another artist was stealing... and maybe I should reference more to other things but thank you again!
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It really helps to study how other artists render, color, or draw things so as you go along, you can make up a style that you are comfortable with
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duddddddddeee that's what I've been doing and holy crap your right every time it works!!!
ah
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THIS. ALL THE YES.
I learned this just recently, but I'm faving anyway because it's so true.
Though sometimes it's a bit difficult to find the right references. My art teacher says to spend as much time searching for reference as actually making the drawing/painting.
Also, congrats on the DD!
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Exactly! Research and preliminary drawing is more crucial than the rendering i would say. Thanks a bunch!
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Thanks for the advice kind sir. But what if all our wonderful inspiration takes a break and decides to not come back for an untold period of time, and none of the many artists of the worlds masterpieces don't help us regain our lost friend?
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That would really be a dark time. But it is a good thing that we have nature all around us, which is the basic form for all inspiration!
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Such wisdom, Aritst-Senpai!
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Yup iHad to figure this out on my own and my art got better almost over night with other things included thank you so much for sharing this <3
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A well earned DD. Thanks for sharing this
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Unfortunately, I had to learn this the HARD way--
I failed an art assignment that I did n one night w/o reference, which even one picture could've turned the grade to my favor.
Thank you for showing this!
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mostly im loosing my consciousness in pride 
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Very helpful. I would have never even thought of that.
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and here few days ago I had so many bad comments because my chibi was "in the same position" as someone else chibi (it was just standing)!!! and sending sketches and all didn't prove anything to any of the bullies. in the and I had to block them >.<
hopefully thy will see it and learn that human body have a limited motion and position isn't necessary have to traced from someone else.
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Man even having similar poses is considered bad? Just focus on your artistic growth yo
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You sir, are based. Thank you for creating this. Well deserving for the DD!
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Always great references can be found in my iPod Photo Cache
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Ah yeah you caught that. Gotta keep those handy dandy references on my ipad
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Heheh
By the way, this is a really amazing contribution!! I agree with what you are sharing. In fact, it is something I have been implementing in my 'craft', if you can call it that haha, to improve my drawing. The 2D art medium is one I have dabbled with for fun, and while that is where I most likely want to keep it, there is still a hunger to improve. When I see something and I am like "Dang, I wish I could be that detailed" or "that awesome", I tend to feel discouraged. I noticed that I never disciplined myself to improve and instead thought the most amazing art was mainly talent, and the amount of time you put in to your craft (and since I mainly do it for fun, the time I do spend is sporadic at most). However, taking cues from fighting games, I noticed that anything can be achieved with discipline and dedication. So I have sought out to find references and decided to draw them once every day or every other day -- point being I mean to stay consistent, as I feel that is important. And by doing this exercise will undoubtedly help me in surpassing the self-imposed plateau I had. I'll continue to do it this why until I feel I have strengthened my skill in details and perspective angles, my weakest spots, and then I'll start working on the things you suggested here: building a reference library for original creations, and enhancing my style.
Long comment. Sorry
Thank you for reading, and for this awesome guide
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This is amazing
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Yes, just use it properly and smartly!
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Congrats on the DD and thank you for the awesome tutorial
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I love how exciting you sound in this tutorial <33 It really helps motivate me and thank you so much for such a wonderful tutorial! <3
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That was an amazing tutorial, thank you. XD 
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ehhhh i totally understand the point of this tutorial but i just want to mention that there are some artists who use references so much that they use them as a crutch to make up for artistic abilities they don't have and it's to the point where they can't draw without references. i don't know how many times i've seen people say "i'm great at drawing things from reference or things i see in front of me but as soon as i try to draw without them i get lost and confused and my drawing comes out horribly"
so yeah i hope people don't take this tutorial the wrong way and overly depend on references.
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Petition to feature your comment.
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Thanks for making this! Before being introduced to observational art in school—And still today, to a lesser extent—I had an aversion to making art using anything other than my own "visual library" (never heard of it before, but it's a good term!). But now I see that it is silly to try to create anything from nothing (can't have a strong visual library without referencing the real world at some point) and am trying to branch out a bit.
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I have a rather serious disconnect from not using references, it's good to train your brain to absorb references by drawing it and then taking it away and drawing it from memory or else you get stuck relying on them too often and lose the idea behind the image.
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Thank you for making this. I often feel shameful for using references or looking at other artist works for guides or inspiration. I mean I am artistic, so it should just come straight out of my head right? But Im glad to know im not the only one who does this and thinks its almost necessary at times to complete a piece.
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