Male References for CG Art

Replicating a human or human-like form is intricate work. Each movement, facial expression, emotion, etc. must be reflected with specific details. That's why references are so important. 

With that in mind we've compiled the top male references for CG art:

1. 300+ Male Fighting Pose Reference Pictures

This reference pack published by Graft Studio offers a comprehensive set of reference images of dynamic fighting male poses with two models.

The set includes:

• Over 300 images
• A host of dynamic fighting poses
• Various props

Why It Made the List

We chose to showcase this pack for its variety of fighting poses, which artists can use to study the muscle groups in action and recreate realistically contoured male figures. It also includes t-poses for use in 3D artwork, such as modeling or photobashing.

2. Male Body Base

This asset set provides you with a basic male body model to be imported into any 3D software.

It contains:

• OBJ of 17k poly model
• OBJ of high poly count version
• Unwrapped UV
• Accurate anatomy

Why It Made the List

When aiming high, it’s easy to forget about the basics. This base male digital model is not only useful as a 3D asset but can also be used for anatomy studies to brush up on the fundamentals.

3. Anatomy References

This reference pack by Marc Brunet contains an ever-expanding collection of anatomy images for CG artists. It includes layered photoshop files for every type of bone and muscle in the human anatomy.

The set currently contains:

• Shoulder Girdle
• Torso
• Back
• Skull

Updates typically occur every few months.

Why It Made the List

As one of the leading content creators in the field, Marc Brunet has built a digital art empire that took off with ART School. This particular tutorial is an extension of the courses in ART School, diving deeper into anatomy for those interested in learning how to realistically depict human figures.

The package is described as a product-in-progress, so it is constantly being updated. As a bonus, the updates are completely free, so the purchase is worth the original price and more!

4. Anatomy Male Tool Reference

This set contains a full anatomy tool reference kit for digital artists using ZBrush and other 3D software.

It includes:

• Zbrush file- 1 subtool and 4 layers polypainted
• 4 turn-around Keyshot videos for reference
• 4 OBJ files with UVs

Note: Files are only compatible with Zbrush 4R7 P3 and later

Why It Made the List

With an average of 5.0 stars, this pack provides useful tools, such as textures and UVs, which you can use to create your own characters.

5. Male Figure Drawing

This reference series is the perfect place to learn how to draw various poses of the male body as a whole. It features four volumes: in addition to Volume 4, you can find Volume 1, Volume 2, and Volume 3.

Each volume contains:

• 160 high-resolution (4000x6000px) photos
• A total of 20 poses

Why It Made the List

While it’s crucial to study anatomy, it’s equally as important to know how to depict the figure as a whole, with each part in unison. That’s where this 4-volume series comes in handy. With a mixture of poses that also provide helpful references of individual body parts, after a bit of practice, it won’t be long before you can intuitively create your own poses of the male body.

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It’s no secret that reference images for CG art are a fundamental part of the drawing process. Whether you’re after particular anatomy or entire figures, 2D reference images, or 3D assets, Cubebrush has you covered.