As an artist, chances are you’ve had the desire to draw something at some point but not known how. It’s at times like this that referencing can be a very powerful tool, vastly improving our abilities and content. However referencing incorrectly can also be a very quick way to get you into trouble.

“What is Referencing?”
In terms of art, referencing is most commonly used when talking about resources an artist uses to inform and improve how they draw. A ‘reference’ should not mean a picture you reproduced in its entirety. While that is considered by some to be an appropriate teaching method, in my experience it leads to unsavory experiences and practices. There are far better and more beneficial ways to develop your skills as an artist.
Lets explore a few of these together.

For example, let’s pretend I want to draw a person waving goodbye. I’m not very good at drawing people, and I have no idea what the arm of my person should look like.

1. I would first look at my own arm in a mirror or the arm of a friend, investigating how it bends, where the limitations of the joints are, the length of the sections, and what it looks like in the pose I want.
2. I could collect stock images of arms in various poses, either taking my own photographs of myself/friend or using images from stock image sites (be sure your art complies with the code of use for these images!).
3. I could look at anatomy books to see how the bones and muscles of the arm work, how they change the shape of the arm when in use.

So, what’s the difference between doing the steps above and simply copying a reference image? By properly referencing I would develop a solid understanding of how the arm works and how it looks under various conditions. This means I can potentially draw the arm in whatever pose I need. Copying something will not teach you very much about what you are drawing. You might be able to draw the pose you copied again on your own later, but you lack a deeper understanding of what it is you have drawn. By understanding what you are drawing, you are on your way to drawing from imagination, instead of from memory.

“What should I avoid doing when referencing?”
Usually I take a ‘whatever works for you’ stance, but when it comes to referencing there are several things that can get you into trouble.

1. Taking a piece of art you like and copying it without permission, either by tracing, photo manipulating, or drawing freehand.
2. Taking a photo you like and copying it without permission, either by tracing, photo manipulating, or drawing freehand.
3. Copying a part of a picture, like a face or hand, without permission.

When in doubt, ask the artist or owner of the image if they mind you using it to practice your art. You would be surprised at the number of artists who are ok with this, as long as you ask them beforehand!

The three things listen above are not correct reference techniques. Sadly, some high school art teachers will use some of these methods to teach students how to draw. They do this because it is easy for students to understand and is acceptable to the high school art class standard. The standards held by online communities, other schools, and most especially art universities are vastly different. What was ok in your high school art class is not necessarily ok everywhere else.

“How could improper referencing get me into trouble?”

1. The original artist might be very upset or offended by what you have done.
2. If you reference from a copyrighted work without permission, you can face legal action.
3. Copying an image and not crediting the original artist goes against the terms of use for many inline art sites, meaning your work could be taken down, or your account deactivated.
4. If you try and sell something you’ve made by referencing a copyrighted work, you can face more serious legal action such as fines.
5. If you copy an existing artwork for a project in an art university, it is considered plagiarism and can result in a zero for that project, and in very serious cases, expulsion.
6. You could be labeled an art thief, a title that carries a very strong stigma especially online.

That being said, referencing should not be avoided! It is a necessary tool for almost all artists.
Like all art, it just takes a bit of effort to be done right. The above resource is aimed at people who are looking to get more serious about their art and want to be taken seriously as an artist. Not everyone is willing to put this level of preparation into their art but taking time to do things correctly and responsibly is a sign of pride in the art you are producing.

Making something that is 100% yours is part of being a responsible practicing artist.

If you have anything to add to this blog, please comment and share tips, good stock image sites, books you have found helpful, or just general pointers for other artists in regards to referencing. Thank you for reading.