11 Best Pose References For Artists: Top Figure Drawing Sites (2024)

Contents

• Art Poses References Compared
• 1. Proko Figure Drawing Models
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 2. New Masters Academy
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 3. Line of Action Figure Study Tool and Reference Photos
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 4. Quick Poses App and Reference Images
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 5. Sketch Daily Drawing References
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 6. Croquis Cafe
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 7. CharacterDesigns.com Artist Resources
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 8. AdorkaStock
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 9. Pinterest Figure Drawing Reference
  • Pros:
  • Possible Cons:
  • Our Rating
• 10. Free Stock Photo Websites for Figure Drawing Skills
  • Pixabay
  • Unsplash
  • Pexels
• How to Get Better at Drawing People and Gesture Drawing
  • 1. Figure Drawing Fundamentals Course by Stan Prokopenko
  • 2. Constructive Figure Drawing Course by Steven Huston
  • 3. Figure Drawing Books
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Is It Okay to Use Pose References in Art?
  • How Do I Find the Perfect Pose Reference?
  • How to Practice Figure Drawing?

• A plethora of photography packs to use as a pose for artists who prefer to study independently.
• You can download packs specifically for action poses, casual poses, or a variety of poses.
• There’s a daily sketching bundle to make it easy to get your minimum practice in – it has over 2,500 high-resolution photographs with a variety of poses.
• They offer nude models to get you comfortable with lighting and anatomy – they also have clothed and armored options.
• Dozens of courses to help artists establish drawing fundamentals such as portraits, human anatomy, shading, and more – several of these courses revolve around figure drawing.
• You can supplement your knowledge with their Photoshop master pack – it offers dozens of brushes, smudge tools, and paper overlays to transform your pose references.

• The copyright usage is complex and lengthy but still provides several details on what artists can or can’t do with the references. If you are planning to sell your artworks, be sure to double-check the copyright.

Check Out Proko Figure Bundles

• New Masters Academy has a high pedigree – their instructors have working experience in animated films, AAA games, and teaching university students.
• A strong option for artists interested in a commercial art career – the ability to study from working professionals is priceless.
• Their courses come with an online library containing thousands of high-quality references that help you polish fundamentals like anatomy, lighting, and design.
• You can stream these art courses from the comfort of your home or wherever you’re traveling to.
• One of their standout figure drawing resources is their 3D model tool – this program allows you to manipulate the model to get the precise pose and angle you want before studying.
• They offer drawing sessions with a time limit.
• It is accessible to beginners and has tonnes of content suitable for intermediate and advanced artists due to its course variety.
• New Masters Academy has group coaching and live classes. Their group coaching sessions come in different tiers depending on how much feedback you need and whether or not you want to exhibit your work.

• Copyright license is long and complex (though still clear on what is or isn’t allowed). If you are planning to sell your artwork, be sure to do your due diligence.

Check Out New Masters Academy Here

• Their drawing tool prompts you to fill out basic information to create your ideal study session. You can choose between gender, age, and whether or not they’re clothed.
• You get to choose how long each drawing takes, such as thirty seconds, five minutes, or manual.
• Life Of Action offers a setting where all drawings can take the same length of time or you can simulate a class environment – their ‘Class Mode’ starts off with quick gestures, then eases you into longer sessions.
• If you sign up for their twice-monthly newsletter, you’ll get useful tips and industry news to inspire your craft.
• They’ll also send over a practice workbook to help you with pencil weight to create more naturalistic drawings.
• They offer sections on animals, still lives, and environments.

• Photographs aren’t as high-resolution as the other figure drawing websites above
• Low variety of courses – not ideal for artists who want to consider an art career

• You can obtain a Beginner certificate by doing sixty minutes per day for twenty days or thirty minutes per day for forty days. If you’re a little more experienced, their Intermediate course is even longer.
• Their certificates go all the way up to a Master level if you want to go all out with your figure drawing skills.
• Their Timed Study section lets you choose from poses, hands, and faces (as well as animals and environments if you feel like branching out).
• You can choose from different genders, clothing levels, and time intervals.
• Their Challenges section is enjoyable, letting you focus on different styles or poses like chiaroscuro or lying distortion.

• Poses are generally standing, bending, or laying down – good for starting out, but not very dynamic for intermediate artists
• Quality control is low – photos are sometimes grainy and low-resolution
• There are no courses other than a course-like certificate

• Sketch Daily helps you focus on drawing characters quickly and loosely – you can customize your session by gender, clothing, pose, and view (such as front or back).
• You can switch over to study animals, vegetation, or specific body parts – there’s a new section for you to study houses
• You can shake up your pose reference with jumping, posing, and relaxing models to get you comfortable with the human form.
• Generally, high-resolution and well-lit images make it easy to study smaller details for longer sessions.
• If you’re studying in a public space, you also get the option to toggle off NSFW images.

• Sketch Daily is a lean website, offering no courses or downloadable apps. This simplicity could feel limiting to illustrators who want many references, but appealing to beginners.

• Live online figure drawing sessions to replicate studying in the classroom – perfect for artists who travel a lot or can’t afford in-person courses
• All drawings you produce can be for personal use or commercial use.
• Varied sessions that focus on different aspects of drawing the human body – short poses, foreshortening, and more

• YouTube channel is no longer active – some artists might not like the more restricted format of Vimeo

• A wide variety of full-body nude and clothed references in high-quality poses
• Plenty of unique photo reference sets such as cosplay, statues, and maquettes
• Active on Facebook and Instagram – you can participate in free workshops or enjoy exclusive interviews with working artists
• They recently launched a character design course called GG Academy – these offer classes, live Q&A, and weekly critiques

• Some GG Academy classes are a paid subscription – their Bronze subscription offers the first class for free, however…
• Their classes are on a first-come, first-served basis – you’re not guaranteed to get a spot

• The majority of stock photos are free – subscribers get first access to new photos, but these photos eventually become free, too
• Poses are separated into sections such as high angle, low angle, lying, or sitting
• They also have sections based on different objects, such as household items or wings
• Photos are high-quality – well-lit and high enough resolution to see smaller details
• There’s a useful timed feature where you can select a custom time
• Recently released The Fancy Foot Book – a print or .pdf resource on drawing feet

• No courses for artists who want additional classes on lighting, environment, or design
• Timed feature doesn’t have the option to choose between models or other elements, such as items or environments

• No subscription tiers – everything is free to study and use
• Wide variety of models and different types of lighting
• Since Pinterest is an image-based website, photos are generally high-resolution
• Useful tagging section to help you find people based on details such as age, the type of pose, and the items being held
• Pins are updated on a regular basis to bring in new poses

• No timed drawing feature to practice fast gesture drawing
• Not a reliable source for nude models or new features like 3D modeling tools
• No online courses or live critique sessions for students

• Several thousands of free images to help you practice clothing, poses, or expressions
• Photos are free for use with modification – just don’t directly copy the image and attempt to sell it as your own
• Pixabay photos are high-resolution and come with free downloads

• It can be difficult to find specific poses based on the sheer volume of photos and inconsistent tagging system
• Some photos are overexposed and grungy – not a good choice for studying lighting

• Strong variety of well-lit models in different outfits, poses, and environments – useful for gesture artists who want to go into character design or illustration
• Very similar website to Pixabay – ongoing contributors submit royalty-free stock photography for commercial or private use
• Photos are high-resolution and easy to find with elaborate tagging system

• Very few nude models due to stricter content guidelines
• No timed feature or 3D modeling software
• Sometimes tedious sifting through tags to find the content you want

• A very similar website to Pixabay and Unsplash – all photos are available for commercial or personal usage
• Photos are very well-lit and high-resolution
• Ongoing updates means plenty of content to fuel pose references

• Very few nude models
• No timed feature or 3D modeling software
• Sometimes tedious sifting through tags to find the content you want

• This course covers basics such as gesture, proportions, and shading.
• He also creates courses to help simplify complex concepts, such as the ‘the bean’ to help with foreshortening.
• Assignments help keep you on track, while assignment demonstrations give you visual aids to help with written instructions
• English, Spanish, and Chinese captions for multilingual artists
• 30-day money back guarantee after the date of purchase if you’re not satisfied

• Doesn’t have subtitles for other languages such as French or German
• Not all courses are free

Check Out Proko’s Figure Drawing Fundamentals

• Extremely beginner-friendly with several workshops on drawing basics – gesture, hands, feet, shading, and more
• Courses are separated by different levels as you progress in skill
• Artists will learn different mediums such as pencil, charcoal, and conté crayon
• Live classes and coaching are available to practice further
• Each course provides closed captions

• No timed feature for fast drawings

Check Out The Course Here

• Created by an artist with several years of experience – he’s taught workshops at leading media companies such as Blizzard and Lucas Arts
• Practical instructions that show plenty of examples on breaking down a figure’s basic anatomy, pose, and expression
• Useful for both beginners and more experienced artists

• Some artists may still prefer in-person study or 3D tools to help them understand the human form
• Not much photography

You can find Michael Hampton’s figure drawing book here

• Very beginner-friendly – doesn’t dive too deep into muscles or bones in favor of form
• Helpful for learning how to stylize the figure as well as draw it realistically
• Practical and interesting information by the author that will get artists excited to learn

• Difficult to find an affordable copy
• Some artists may prefer more detailed explanations of muscle and bone structure

You can find Figure Drawing For All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis here

• Beginner-friendly – this book is especially approachable for people who start their journey later in life and worry they ‘don’t have talent’
• Breaks down fundamentals such as gesture and structure with classical art examples as well as contemporary art styles
• Methods are frequently picked up by budding animators

• Artists who don’t want to paint may be less interested in the book’s classical painting background

Check Out Steve Huston’s Book Figure Drawing For Artists

Related posts:

• 74 Easy Drawing Ideas For Beginners To Fuel Your Creative Fire
• Best Cheap Drawing Tablet: Affordable Tablets On A Budget
• Color Theory In Art: The Definitive Guide for Artists
• Master Oil Paint Texture: 20 Techniques for Stunning Paintings
• The Top 10 Best Online Art Classes Worth Paying For In 2024