/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

It depends on what your goal for a drawing is. What people like >>3993318 don't get is that, yes, there are artists that draw largely (not entirely) without reference, but they rely on "tricks" to make up for it. They stylize the proportions in a less realistic way, for instance. Or the drawing might be a less important part of a series of drawings (comic panels).

If you want to do your absolute best work, do a very involved composition, or use an unfamiliar pose/angle, you'll use some form of reference. This idea that reference ever becomes "obsolete" is so laughably ridiculous and will only hold you back in the long run. Comic book artists draw the human body in every configuration imaginable, and they still use reference.

Anyone who thinks differently, provide one (1) example an artist who draws at this level without using reference. Otherwise you're just talking nonsense.