A Model Student

Artists who want their work to be realistic needs a good supply of reference material, to ensure that proportions, poses, details, and shading are done accurately. Lynn made use of a variety of tools, to make sure she gets everything correct.

Polaroids:
When Lynn needs reference material to help her draw someone in an unusual pose or posture, she turns to our trusty Polaroid camera - it's still the best way to get a good snapshot when you need it quickly. We've got quite a collection of Polaroids around the studio, and if you flip through them without the benefits of context or explanation, they're really good for a laugh:

We don't quite know what Lynn is doing in the second pic, but the phrase "worked to death" comes to mind!

Lynn would often ask a staff member to pose for pictures. Here, our business co-ordinator, Allison, does some sweeping. Can you see how Lynn transformed Ally into Elly?

Lynn likes to take photos of her friends, too. Here funny-man and entertainer, Al Simmons, models the universally reviled "air quotes" that Mike's boss uses in this strip's panel.

Kevin Strang, pictured in these shots, is our graphic designer. Here, Kevin pretends to be passed out on our lunchroom table—or was he just sneaking a nap?

Toys and Scale Models:
Lynn has a collection of small toys and models, which she keeps near her drawing table. They're valuable reference material for the times when she wants to draw an object or creature at an unusual angle—small models can be twisted, turned, and tinkered with much more easily than a live model could be, especially when you're dealing with farm animals!

These are some of Lynn's toys. She picks them up at various places, uses them when she needs to know exactly where a line or shadow should fall.

Gerald's drums are based on this model. Lynn is especially happy to have a 3D drum kit to draw from, as Gerald's set is quite complex. He's often shown sitting at them, playing with the band, from various vantage points.

Elly's car, the Crevasse, is another item that was drawn from a model. Lynn prefers toy cars with doors that open, because it's easier to draw the dash if you can see it clearly. The perspective of an open car door is tricky to capture, unless you can see it up close.

Shiimsa was a challenge to draw. Cats have very expressive bodies, and it's important for Lynn to get all the nuances correct, if she wants to get Shiimsa's mood or intentions across. Lynn uses this sculpture often, and will sometimes use photos found on the Net if she's looking for a specific pose or "cattitude".

Reference Binders:
In addition to the Polaroids and models, Lynn keeps photo albums where she stores and organizes her reference materials.

These pages were cut from catalogs and magazines—they help Lynn keep up to date with clothing styles and haircuts, and offer her a wealth of facial expressions and body postures that can be applied to any character. They're also a great resource when drawing her multicultural city strips, as most catalogs feature models of various ethnicities.

Lynn's reference binders also contain her character studies. Here you can see some pages from her Mtigwaki binder—including her studies of Paul and Susan. Lynn uses these sketches to set down the facial features of new characters, so she can refer to them later on, when she's drawing them in new situations.

Lynn keeps her own photographs in these binders as well. You never know when you're going to need a picture of a girl holding a pet bunny!