References (and) Benchmarks



Project Description:

  1. Find methods of getting references

  2. This is an overview and not a specific assignment

  3. You will be using references for the rest of the course

2D References

Use Photos before doing your drawings

You can take your own photos, use stock photos or photos in the creative commons lisence


Susan Bonner - Cowgirl studies

Claudia Pimentel - Exaggeration from Photo Using Liquify tool she is able to really push the action!

Claudia Pimentel - Liquify Method Example 1

  • Use a reference photo with great action

  • Gesture your reference

  • Use the liquify to push proportions

  • Use the liquified version as the base for a new pose

Claudia Pimentel - Liquify Method Example 2

Use Photos after doing your drawings, then revise your drawings

Sam Pentces drawings in blue with references for poses and costumes.

Redraws by Keegan Moore in Red pushing the poses to be more shape informed.

In this exercise, students did redraws on each other's work

Audrey Stratton

Redraw by Susan Bonner looking for flow in the shape design and exaggeration of proportions, references were pulled in to help move the characters towards entertainment industry standards.

Original Line Drawings by Fischer Mancilla on top and in blue grey

Benchmarks pulled from various sources to inspire the mushroom theme.

Redraw by Susan Bonner in the bottom right pushing pose and concept of the glowing mushroom character

3D References

Drawing from 3D Character

Fuse is the 3D Character Reference software

here is a link to a tutorial on bringing your Miximo character to PSD in 3D and then working in 2D

How to download DAZ 3D

Pin a section of a figure so it does not move in Daz 3D -see tutorial

Colin Winchell - Amazon

Susan Bonner - Proportion Study in Daz 3d which allows you to exaggerate the proportions - this figure was inspired by Disney's Incredibles Elastigirl


Darian Papineau - PoseManiacs Reference - then sketch of Character

Process of Character Design by Tarah Condell with Redraws by David VanTuyle

Character Design - Using Daz 3d as reference - by Tarah Condell