/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

I got kicked out of last thread for using reference on a non- essential part of the image. So here's something I've been working on, no ref. And it shows. This project will probably be scrapped.

referenceless is great for sketching but the moment you get to rendering something out, it all goes in the shitter. There are so many things wrong that are just piling up, and If I don't pick out reference for specific shapes and species, this painting will crash and burn. Since the painting's strength lies more in it's potential than anything I've actually put there.

There seems to be an undercurrent of elitism when it comes to this. If I'm aware I don't have an eidetic memory, why intentionally gimp myself and my work just to have the personal solace that I didn't look up how a hawk wing works

just a weird thought I had, reading through responses in the last thread