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trueref.bsky.social
TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
@trueref.bsky.social
32K followers 1.4K following 4.1K posts
A community project delivering you new pose reference packs monthly.
Both free and premium! ↴
trueref.io

⦿ All posted references are free to use.
⦿ All of our art references are SFW.
⦿ Make suggestions & vote: https://pollunit.com/en/polls/makesuggestion
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trueref.bsky.social
TrueRef by Abbey Esparza @trueref.bsky.social · 10d
New art contest! 🔥

TrueRef is hosting an art contest to design our first t-shirt. It felt more fun than a normal contest, so here we are!

✨ Prizes: $500 // 1 Year TrueRef+ // Free Shirt
✨ Ends: March 5th
✨ No weird thing that says we own all submitted designs.

Info: trueref.io/pages/truere...
TrueRef art contest. Start date, January 5th. $500 cash prize. End date, March 5th. The theme is the phrase "aggressively pro artist."
trueref.bsky.social
Man I know I’ve posted about it several times but…I CANT get over how bad spellcheck is on Mac.

I have a lot of bad spelling habits, mostly dealing with either adding random E’s or dropping letters.

Two common ones it can’t correct are “randome” and “adress”

iOS can, but not my Mac.
January 16, 2026 at 1:03 PM
trueref.bsky.social
I’m unsure of its current state, but I do know Kickstarter had a employee strike recently.

I remember those employees specifically saying they do not want people to stop using Kickstarter to show Kickstarter how important they are to the site.

And now it’s full of AI slap grifter nonsense.
jimmygaspero.bsky.social Jimmy Gaspero @jimmygaspero.bsky.social · 1d
I have seen so many good comics projects on Kickstarter not make their goal and my fear is that if this shit gets funded I will become a raving lunatic.
January 16, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
kortizart.bsky.social
UPDATE:

Good news everyone! Comi-con has reversed its course!!!
kortizart.bsky.social Karla Ortiz @kortizart.bsky.social · 1d
HELL YEAH!!

Look at what we did TOGETHER! Comic-con has quietly changed their language and will NOT allow GenAi imagery in their art show!

And this happened because you all wrote letters, and shared your concerns! Speaking up works EVERY time!

So congrats friends! We did this together!!!
🙌🙌💖💖💖
culturecrave.co Culture Crave 🍿 @culturecrave.co · 1d
San Diego Comic-Con will no longer allow AI 'art' to be displayed at their event

"Material created by AI either partially or wholly, is not allowed in the art show"

This follows backlash from artists after SDCC initially indicated AI-generated work would be permitted
January 14, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
allegrezza.bsky.social
Today's figure drawing warm-up
Loving that Modern Noir set from @trueref.bsky.social
practice sketch from Modern Noir set (Iryna) by TrueRef
January 15, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
trueref.bsky.social
The staff pick for TrueRef's November Draw This! challenge is @clockworktony.bsky.social 🤩

I'll be in your DMs soon to get your prize set up!

See all the other (incredible!) entries: #TrueRefDT011
art pose reference of an athletic man holding a greatsword. A cat warrior holding a sword on his back.
January 14, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
jwillustration.bsky.social
Small warm up portraits from this week, I’ve been doing a lot of landscape/architecture stuff recently so doing these has helped keep me sane - These are all models from @trueref.bsky.social go check them out!

#art #portrait
Chalky portrait of a woman looking up Chalky portrait of man looking left Chalky portrait of a woman looking left Chalky portrait of a woman looking down
January 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM
trueref.bsky.social
The staff pick for TrueRef's November Draw This! challenge is @clockworktony.bsky.social 🤩

I'll be in your DMs soon to get your prize set up!

See all the other (incredible!) entries: #TrueRefDT011
art pose reference of an athletic man holding a greatsword. A cat warrior holding a sword on his back.
January 14, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
zoemaxine.bsky.social
Playing around with original work and characters but using this trueref.art/trueref-pose... as ref from @trueref.bsky.social 's pose gallery, with just a dash of inspiration from JC Leyendecker
A man with light brown skin and darker brown hair sits wwith one knee up, holding a sword he is gazing at He has thick eyebrows, his hair is floofy and windswept, he needs a shave. He's wearing an older style creamy yellow suit with a loose orange scarf and brown shoes. The sword is almost leaf-shaped in a dark metal, with a round guard and a strange orangey gem held by teeth.
January 14, 2026 at 7:05 PM
trueref.bsky.social
Buffoonery.
kortizart.bsky.social Karla Ortiz @kortizart.bsky.social · 2d
Comic-con deciding to allow GenAi imagery in the art show —giving valuable space to GenAi users to show slop right NEXT to actual artists who worked their asses off to be there— is a disgrace!

A tone deaf decision that rewards and normalizes exploitative GenAi against artists in their own spaces!
Art Show - Comic-Con
2026 Comic-Con Art Show JULY 23 through JULY 26 The Comic-Con Art Show is open to the public—you do not need a badge to come in and enjoy or purchase artwork. However, everyone entering the Art Show i...
www.comic-con.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
la-estrellaiaiai.bsky.social
Cigarettes added
A drawing of a woman smoking a cigarette and holding a pew pew
January 14, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
inamii.bsky.social
And another painting study!

I still got a long way to go but I think I slowly get to the point where the skin looks more natural :)

Reference Idrissou by @trueref.bsky.social ❤️

#artstudy | #digitalart | #art
Digitalpainting of Idrissou from Trueref. A man with a warm dark skin tone sitting looking directly into the camera having one arm casually on a box and the other hand holding his hand up and spreading his fingers.
January 14, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
coreybrickley.bsky.social
Hi #portfolioday ! I'm winding down freelance work and winding up a TTRPG project I hope to get kickstarted, so here is some work for my last TTRPG, The Woods At Blight's Hollow!

Please to follow me if you like this work and want to learn about/support new game Heretic Star
rams head skull is on statue surrounded by statues of hands reaching out of the ground big guy with horns, bark like skin, pointed claws and glowing round eyes looking inquisitively down at a little villager girl. Text reads The Woods At Blight's Hollow, A tabletop roleplaying game of folk horror & fairytales several cultists wearing animal skull masks surround a bonfire as a figure in a dress and crown wreath of leaves stumbles upon them three village children stand at the edge of a dark forest, from which are peering many huge yellow eyes, looking down at the children. Text is overlaid reading The Woods At Blight's Hollow: A TTRPG of Folk Horror and Fairytales. Don't meet the gaze of the things in the trees
January 14, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
royalston.bsky.social
First time using a reference by @trueref.bsky.social, model: @theaaronpalmer

After reading volume 1 of Absolute Batman I just had to draw something. Absolutely incredible story and redesign of the character.
Absolute Batman standing in smoke holding his grappling hooks Reference pose of a man standing in a powerful pose, arms out
January 13, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
kellymckernan.bsky.social
Burnout Bootcamp is an 8 week virtual program and support network designed for neurodivergent, chronically ill, & existentially exhausted but dedicated artists seeking gentle guidance in navigating creative burnout.

There are only TWO spots remaining:
tinyurl.com/2p9mtbur
January 13, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
trueref.bsky.social
Modern Noir with Iryna is here! ❤️‍🔥 🚬
Film noir inspired pose references, that secretly also gives vampire. Vampire noir? Hello?!
Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress doing varying activities including drinking, smoking and holding two pistols. Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress standing infilm noir inspired poses. Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress sitting. Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress laying on the ground.
January 12, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
skullamity.bsky.social
Heeeyy, we can finally talk about this! So, I would like to co-sign everything in this open letter. I would also like to tell everyone about a specific grievance that @femonologue.bsky.social and I have with Xellette after the mishandling of our kickstarter. Screencap/receipts in🧵 to follow!
cartoonist.coop Cartoonist Cooperative @cartoonist.coop · 4d
The Hiveworks Artist Guild has released a public statement alleging years of labor abuses, financial mismanagement, and misconduct at Hiveworks at the hands of Xellette “Xel” Velamist and Isabelle “Isa” Melançon. Read their full statement at:

cartoonist.coop/hiveworks-gu...
Hiveworks Guild logo. Two bees sitting on a bee hive holding hands.
January 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
trueref.bsky.social
So I woke up at 3am and couldn’t sleep. Decided to skim the Hiveworks Guild open letter. Turned into me reading every word.

In my bed, alone in the dark, having a full conversation to myself about the audacity.

cartoonist.coop/hiveworks-gu...
The Cartoonist Cooperative
Making comics better for everyone!
cartoonist.coop
January 13, 2026 at 10:59 AM
trueref.bsky.social
So I woke up at 3am and couldn’t sleep. Decided to skim the Hiveworks Guild open letter. Turned into me reading every word.

In my bed, alone in the dark, having a full conversation to myself about the audacity.

cartoonist.coop/hiveworks-gu...
The Cartoonist Cooperative
Making comics better for everyone!
cartoonist.coop
January 13, 2026 at 10:59 AM
trueref.bsky.social
Modern Noir with Iryna is here! ❤️‍🔥 🚬
Film noir inspired pose references, that secretly also gives vampire. Vampire noir? Hello?!
Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress doing varying activities including drinking, smoking and holding two pistols. Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress standing infilm noir inspired poses. Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress sitting. Multiple art pose references of a woman in a black dress laying on the ground.
January 12, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
trueref.bsky.social
New model Iryna will be dropping tomorrow 10 am EST! 🖤
TrueRef: Real art references for real artists
trueref.bsky.social TrueRef by Abbey Esparza @trueref.bsky.social · 7d
Iryna & Neri 🖤🚬
Modern Noir with Iryna drops Monday!
art pose reference of a woman laying back in a black dress. art pose reference of a woman bringing her head back while leaning. She is holding dual pistols. art pose reference of a woman sounding in a black dress. Shje is smoking. A rocks glass is next to her. art pose reference of a woman sitting back in a black dress while holding a cigarette and a rocks glass.
January 11, 2026 at 6:14 PM
trueref.bsky.social
New model Iryna will be dropping tomorrow 10 am EST! 🖤
TrueRef: Real art references for real artists
trueref.bsky.social TrueRef by Abbey Esparza @trueref.bsky.social · 7d
Iryna & Neri 🖤🚬
Modern Noir with Iryna drops Monday!
art pose reference of a woman laying back in a black dress. art pose reference of a woman bringing her head back while leaning. She is holding dual pistols. art pose reference of a woman sounding in a black dress. Shje is smoking. A rocks glass is next to her. art pose reference of a woman sitting back in a black dress while holding a cigarette and a rocks glass.
January 11, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
cyberelladraws.bsky.social
Got supported on my Kofi and drew this. Thanks to all those who support me.
#dimension20 #dimension20fanart #misfitsandmagic #misfitsandmagic2 #mismag #mismag2
Dimension 20: Misfits and Magic, Sam Britain. Standing with one hand in her pocket and the other holding T2 up against her face.
January 11, 2026 at 4:57 AM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
thomasrothlisberg.bsky.social
Elf
(Pose from @trueref.bsky.social)
January 11, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
caitliwinx.bsky.social
Sticking to drawing some dudes (thank u @trueref.bsky.social)
#doodles
Sketches of four men in various poses
January 10, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by TrueRef by Abbey Esparza
trueref.bsky.social
Iryna & Neri 🖤🚬
Modern Noir with Iryna drops Monday!
art pose reference of a woman laying back in a black dress. art pose reference of a woman bringing her head back while leaning. She is holding dual pistols. art pose reference of a woman sounding in a black dress. Shje is smoking. A rocks glass is next to her. art pose reference of a woman sitting back in a black dress while holding a cigarette and a rocks glass.
January 8, 2026 at 8:18 PM