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Links: Reference Materials

Reference Sites

Ask 9 out of 10 artists and they'll tell you just how important reference material is. Here are links to a few sites that feature images, blueprints and models that may be helpful.  Sites that feature human reference may have some nudity. While I try to be careful of what links I add, and most sites with that content include a warning page, you need to be aware of this possibility. If you know of a great reference site that I've missed - please let me know.

Ancient Weapons, Armor & Structures

Beautiful Iron - Blacksmiths site with some video, a section on medieval armor and other interesting bits.

Great Buildings - Online multimedia encyclopedia of world architecture, various historical periods with photos, text, and live 3D models.

Realm Collections - Renaissance and Medieval Weaponry, Clothing, Shields, Chainmail and related.

The Tome - Lots of links to medieval recreation sites, armories, blacksmiths and historical information.

Blueprints & Plans

Fiddlers Green - This paper model site features lots of interesting aircraft along with images and history.

The Blueprints - Large collection of organized blueprints and reference images in several categories.

Comics & Cartoons

Cool French Comics - Treasure trove of french comics and comic book artists.

Cover Browser - Displays galleries of comic book (and book, pulp, games, DVD or magazine) covers with over 200,000 in the current collection.

Flora and Fauna

AlgaeBase - Images of about 120,000+ algae - including 'seaweeds' - and water environments. Technical.

CalPhotos - A collection of 187,000+ photos of plants, animals, fossils, people, and landscapes from around the world.

Historical Crafts and Ironworking

Herefordshire College - Collection of PDF's on various historical crafts which may prove of interest to artists. Includes stuff like blacksmithing, thatching, furniture, wooden wheel and saddle making

Misc

Encyclopedia Mythica - Encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion; includes a bestiary, legendary heroes, an image gallery, and genealogical tables of various pantheons and prominent houses.

Enkeboll Designs - Features some incredible hand carved and custom designed architectural elements including columns, balustrades, decorative panels and corbels . Photographs, vector files and line art.

Eron Johnson - Antique dealers can provide great reference material. Colonial, Portuguese, French, Chinese and many other architectural elements and furniture. Search for 'doors' with 'include sold items' checked as an example.

Historic Bottle Reference - Historical information and images of antique bottles which may prove useful if you are creating 3D models or art.

Old Phone Works - Specializes in antique, vintage, classic and retro phones. Online catalog with some good size pictures could be useful reference.

ViewFinder - The photographs on ViewFinder are all held by the UK National Monuments Record, the public archive of English Heritage. They date from the 1850s and are a resource for people interested in England's history and architecture.

Wood Sampler - Small images of the grain of 90 or so types of wood.

Period Posters & Print

International Poster Gallery - Sells international period posters but you can browse the thumbnails for ideas.

McGill University War Posters - Images of Canadian World War 1 and 2 war posters.

Ohio History - War posters from World War II.

Posters from the WPA - Various posters produced by the Works Progress Administration from about 1935 - 1943.

UNT War Posters Collection - Collection of 600+ original World War I and II posters.

Vintage Ad Browser - 100,000+ vintage posters and advertisments.