Getting the right reference is key in creating a great final art piece!

Though we some times don’t know how to get our figure drawing exactly right… we can sure see when it has gone wrong! Poor drawing is one sure way to ruin a great idea.  So, lets get the right reference so that we can do out best work!

NOW of course the BEST thing to do is go and draw a REAL LIVE PERSON… but you may not have access or may not be able to get just the right pose for your visual concept.  FEAR NOT!  there are some great resources out there!

ART POSE APP

Art Pose and Art Pose Female Edition are perhaps the most practical and intuitive artist anatomy reference applications for iOS and Android.  You can pose your figure, see musculature and move your camera all around it.  You can even go to a silhouette view.  Pretty good stuff!  Learn more! 

Pixelovely Is probably my favorite reference site. It has figure great drawing poses, choose between kinds of models, clothed or nude male or female etc.  Plus animal poses!  MEOW! Within each category are sub-categories. For example, under the animal category, you can choose the species of animal – and whether or not to time the session.

Quick Poses is a great figure reference site. You can choose between gesture drawings (timed poses) or random pose studies (not timed). There is a healthy selection of both clothed and nude models to choose from.  The site also includes tips to improve your study.

Though there is NOTHING like drawing from a live model, there are some really great online resources to help you practice and improve your craft.

Line of Action forum is a wonderful site designed to provide the student artist FREE resources to find the knowledge, inspiration, and ideas to keep improving.

Familiarize yourself with this site as you will be assigned homework from it in the coming semester.

Since we are in New York City artists have many options to improve their life drawing skills by drawing from a model outside of this class.  Drawing from a model outside of class is REQUIRED.  Practicing our craft is VITAL!  Take advantage of the resources in our city!

IN MANHATTAN:

The New York Society of Illustrators is an incredible resource for up and coming commercial artists.  The sketch night is a great way to get to know this institution.  Its lively with great models, live music, pro illustrators, and often comes with FOOD!  This one is wonderful and is the cheapest option I’ve found for students!

IN BROOKLYN:

Shoestring Studio is a membership-based art studio serving painters, draftsmen, illustrators, and other artists in need of workspace, community, and shared resources. Their primary mission is to provide affordable, accessible workspace for artists in Crown Heights and the greater Brooklyn area.  They host figure drawing sessions several days per week at a very affordable rate.  You do not need to be a member to attend.  Be sure to ask about student discounts!