Have you ever been so excited to sit down and make art only to find yourself staring at the blank page or screen wondering what the heck to draw? Artists block is a real thing, but over the years I’ve figured out a few ways to help me combat it.
One of my favorite ways to beat the blank page is by using reference photos. I use reference images all the time as a professional artist. Using a reference can help give you a clear direction with your illustration, help you with proportions, spark your creativity, and help you start drawing when you’re not sure what to draw.
The key with reference photos is to make sure you’re using an image that you have legal permission to use. This means using royalty-free images from sites like
Unsplash and
WikiMedia Commons, taking photos yourself, and using references from things that are really, really old.
I love to go to museums for reference because all unpublished works created before 1883 are in the public domain making them perfect for getting inspiration without worrying about copyright violation.
Though pro tip: Even if you’re using a royalty-free image, it’s important to still infuse your own style when using a reference image so that the end result is uniquely yours!
