Life Drawing vs. Photo Reference: Pros, Cons, and Best Practices
When it comes to learning figure drawing, artists often wonder whether they should draw from live models or photographs. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding how each impacts your artistic growth can help you decide how to use them effectively.
Drawing from Live Models
Pros:
Improves Observation Skills: Drawing from a live model forces you to observe carefully. You learn to see subtle shifts in posture, lighting, and perspective.
Captures Movement and Energy: People don’t stay completely still, so you practice capturing the energy and flow of a pose. This adds life to your drawings.
Offers a 3D Perspective: Seeing a figure in real space helps you understand depth and form in a way photos can’t.
Cons:
Limited Time: Poses in life drawing sessions are often timed, giving you less time to focus on details. Don’t get me wrong - sometimes, this is part of the experience in a good way. But every now and again you’ll see a pose you absolutely love and not have enough time to do it justice.
Cost and Accessibility: Attending life drawing classes can be expensive or hard to access, depending on where you live. Online options are increasingly available but don’t quite replicate the experience.
Model Movement: Even small shifts in the model’s position can make it tricky to capture exact details. For long poses, it’s not uncommon to be sure of your placement of a feature only to note that it’s a tiny bit off later because the model moved.
Drawing from Photo References
Pros:
Convenience: You can draw anytime, anywhere. No need to travel to a class or hire a model. The internet makes it easy to find references 24/7.
Unlimited Time: You can take as long as you need to focus on details, shading, and textures. You can still do timed poses but also save favourites for later study.
Wide Variety: Photos give you access to diverse body types, poses, and lighting conditions. Poses that would be impossible for models to hold for a long time can last eternally in a photograph.
Cons:
Flatness: Photos are two-dimensional, so it’s harder to understand depth and form. The camera is doing some work for you by transforming a 3D image into a 2D image.
Distortion: Camera angles and lenses can distort how the figure actually looks. We also need to be mindful of photo editing, touch-ups, and, increasingly, AI “photos.”
Permissions: A photo is also a piece of art, and the photographer holds the copyright. Some may not like you referencing their photos, especially if you copy them directly. You may need to look for image sources that allow referencing. (I have a suggestion in my post about illustration resources and my post about a daily drawing practice)
Best Practices for Balancing Both
Both life drawing and photo references have their place in an artist’s practice. Life drawing sharpens your observation and brings energy to your work, while photo references help you refine details and study at your own pace. You can become a more skilled and versatile artist by blending both methods.
Start with Gesture Drawing: Whether using photos or live models, begin with quick sketches to capture movement and flow. This builds a strong foundation.
Mix Your Practice: Use live models to improve observation and energy and photos to practice details and anatomy.
Study Anatomy: Understanding basic human anatomy helps you fill in gaps when drawing from both sources.
Be Mindful of Photo Distortion: Choose high-quality references and be aware of how lenses can change proportions.
Take Your Own Reference Photos: You know your own body and face well, so if you use references of your own body, you can always refer back to how the post felt if a detail is missing from the photo. Keep a mirror on or near your art desk for quick checks.
Happy drawing!
