As an artist I feel like improving my work all the time. Never satisfied with my own work, I am always looking to references of historical and contemporary artists.

Classic artists such as Da Vinci, Rembrandt or Michelangelo for example, have great anatomical and structural studies. These studies, in my opinion are fundamental for the development of great picture. It is also with the classical artists that a great study in colour and composition can be analysed. Pyramidal, diagonal, the use of the “Divine Proportion” and great use of lights and shadows are widely explored by the classics.

Also very important is to analyse contemporary artists. Nowadays a great range of artists with different styles and techniques, from clean and simple lines, to extremely complex and super realistic pieces, can be found. Some of the contemporary artists I admire the most are at the Massive Black concept art studio.  Studying the work of artists like the ones present in the Massive Black I can find some of the mistakes and can learn a bit of compositions and construction.

Comparing the two pieces of art above (the one in the top from massive black and the one in the bottom is mine, of course) I can find some of the gaps I need to fill to improve my work in the right direction.  It is visible that the exploration of details and tonal contrasts in the top image is much widely used. Also the use of sharp lines and great control of the light contrasts in addiction to a lack line in dynamic poses put together a much more complete picture, full of movement.