To answer the whole thread in two ways: you do need anatomy books to understand the figure in its basics, but it is also understandable why you would need to study more books that teach figures in a more naturalistic/realistic way. (1/?) https://twitter.com/kaboozey/status/1305231256154562560

I feel like the conflict most artists face comes from choosing technicalities first, and style second. Where one ends up not risking the knowledge to explore certain creative freedoms art can give. Which is why the most respected pieces of art still have abstractions. (2/?)

So it's always good to study more aspects of art through references. It's nearly impossible to plagiarize something unless it's verbatim. So don't risk yourself for not trying it. (3/3)