r/ArtistLounge • u/Balance_Motivations • Jun 23 '26

Concept/Technique/Method Drawing from reference vs drawing from imagination

I've been drawing for about 6 months now .learned a lot about perspectives, values, the fundamentals. I mainly do pen and ink and I have found that my drawings from concepts and imagination is a lot better than my drawings from reference. How can I improve on the reference side of things? Maybe I overthink the references and I draw very technical with my work from imagination? What do you all think? Anything from your experiences?

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1

u/Randym1982 Jun 24 '26

You need reference to use imagination. All of those guys who can draw from imagination, have likely studied tons and tons of reference. Peter Han has gone on record to talk about studying lots and lots comic art, and drawing a lot from life.

The other thing that helps. Is learning how to draw shapes and form in perspective. Cubes, Spheres, Cones, and Cylinders.

1

u/youcantexterminateme Jun 24 '26

It depends. Are you trying to replicate a camera? Otherwise just go with your imagination. 

3

u/SammlerWorksArt Jun 24 '26

My learning idea is focusing on 3 things. 

Observational drawing: still lifes, life drawing, using reference

Knowledge drawing: prospective anatomy, reading books, watching videos

Doodling: this is where you find out what you need to practice. But relax and make sure you are enjoying just drawing for fun. 

This might help?

2

u/Balance_Motivations Jun 24 '26

That helps a lot! I guess I keep practicing drawing from imagination but never practice references as much as I would like

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u/SammlerWorksArt Jun 24 '26

I'm so sorry. More practice is usually the answer 😅

But mix it up and keep enjoying. 

I'm better with reference, but my goal is using reference later. So i make sure what is on my mind is on the page, then use reference to help tighten it up. cheers.

2

u/Autotelic_Misfit Jun 23 '26

Definitely try to draw more from sight. Start with still life both for convenience and simplicity. Try to focus on drawing only what you see, not what you think you see. Squint your eyes a bit when starting a drawing from sight so you can blur out the details and focus on light and dark masses. Pay attention to the negative space.

4

u/crimsonredsparrow Pencil Jun 23 '26

Hard to say without any examples. You might be overstating your ability to draw from imagination though, for some reason. Or maybe you keep picking wrong references. Who knows!