Reference makes all the difference

I rely heavily on reference as an artist. I study skulls, taxidermy forms, muscle charts, life sketches, photos I take, and photos I collect.

One of my earliest and most enduring inspirations is wildlife photographer Michael “Nick” Nichols—dubbed the Indiana Jones of photography. His tiger images are raw, wild, and full of truth.

While sketching the scene of Amba pinned by the NKVD beneath railroad ties, I struggled with the expression. The first drafts were too proud, too strong. Then I remembered one of Nick’s haunting images from a 1997 National Geographic piece: Making Room for Wild Tigers.

It had exactly what I was searching for—desperation and defiance. That photo became the reference I needed for the tiger’s expression.

Make it your own:

As artists, we have to reach beyond our own experience. Use reference. Study the world, but always make it your own.

If you haven’t seen Nick Nichols’ work, I highly recommend his book A Wild Life:

If you haven’t seen Nick Nichol’s work, I highly recommend his book A Wild Life: a visual biography of photographer Michael Nichols

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