/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

I mean what I say, I actually do each and every one of these things, I am speaking with integrity. This is who I am, what I do:

I do anime so I have to use ref when it's a character I don't know. I like to use my old sketchbooks as either hard or soft ref - very inspiring stuff. Sometimes I'll look at a friend's character, but usually it's one of my oc.

I always used to glance through my previous works as soft reference to get me going, but I've learned to rely on it less because it's much more convenient this way. I've developed alternate methods of getting me going - focusing on something good to draw. I often use soft reference, but I try to work without it sometimes. I avoid looking at other peoples work, especially on /ic/, only a little and I get frustrated, saves me an unnecessary downward spiral. Most times I don't use hard reference unless I need to, like in a high quality finished work. It's mainly for things I don't understand at all. I do use it sometimes.

I use reference in studies; but less these days. I don't find it helps much unless it's something I'm new to, often I find it better to remember what I've already studied. Because I've done it so much, doing it again rarely leads to anything new. Again, I do use reference in studies sometimes, foolishly hoping I'll get lucky this time. Obviously I will spontaneously reference something if it seems helpful. I save things in a reference folder for later use, but I haven't used it recently, I'm doing lighthearted work nowadays. Used it much more before.