Skip to main content
A reference image is an optional second image attached to a portfolio submission. It is meant for context: inspiration, source material, the scene you painted from, a mood board still, or a photo of the subject—not a second finished piece in place of your main work. Your main image (or text) remains the primary artwork viewers see in grids, your portfolio, and the feed. The reference is surfaced in its own place so audiences can tell “this is context” from “this is the piece.”

​
Adding a reference

  1. Open the submission from your portfolio and choose Edit (references are only available after the submission exists).
  2. Find the Reference section below the main fields.
  3. Upload an image. You can remove it later if you change your mind.
The form explains that this is an inspiration or source image for the work.

​
How it appears

  • Submission page — When a reference is set, a Reference tab appears with a preview; viewers can open it full size in the lightbox.
  • Feed and cards — Where the UI supports it, the reference can appear as an extra slide or panel alongside the main submission so people can swipe or switch between “the work” and “the reference.”

​
Permissions and respect

Only upload reference material you have the rights to use (your own photos, licensed stock, public-domain sources, etc.). If the reference shows someone else’s copyrighted work, make sure your use is allowed; when in doubt, omit it or use your own capture.