I know what you mean, using refs is alike a crutch if done too often. This looks great! I like the colors a lot. Plus the definition in the arm, nose, and fingers is cool.
Well..using refs is one way to learn the parts so you can do them without, eh? This looks very well done to me, strong, emotional, like a murder or something
It's how you drew the skin being squished between the thumb and index finger, and the tips pushing into the eye's that make this fabulous. It's a scary pic, but amazingly done. Well, that and the muscles in the hand.
drawn in 45 min
love the colors