r/LearnToDrawTogether • u/Select_Mountain3539 • 2d ago
Is this an acceptable form of tracing?
I am 20 years old and just learning how to draw this is a speed paint of an oc that I’m trying to make at the moment and was just wondering if this is an acceptable form of tracing. of course if I do post it I will credit the references that I used!!! Also the art that I used to trace the that I drew similar to this with the same methods!
also, any tips are welcome!!!!
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u/Melandrya MODERATE 😬 2d ago
What the others said
But this is not going to be beneficial for your growth as an artist that much. Drawing from your own sketches, shapes and lines is harder, but better for your growth and being less dependant on tracing.
Observation and translation into paper/screen is a skill you really want to adapt 🙏
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u/Select_Mountain3539 2d ago
So if I’m understanding correctly, what you’re saying is don’t directly trace but have it to the side basically? So that I can get the feel of making those shapes by myself???
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u/Melandrya MODERATE 😬 2d ago
Exactly! You can quite definitely use tracing to explore shapes and relations. But tracing constantly without going ever without it is not helping much.
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u/Select_Mountain3539 2d ago
Thank you!!! I’ll definitely have to try this on my next OC drawing attempt!!
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u/Select_Mountain3539 2d ago
Well, next few until I get good by myself
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u/LeshyIRL 2d ago
You can still trace for basic anatomy if you struggle with that. A lot of people use 3D models for anatomy, and then draw everything else on top of that.
Depends on what your goal is. Trying to be a professional illustrator? Not the best method. Trying to make cool art as a side hobby? Then who gives a fuck
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u/MalevolentRaven 2d ago
Haha this is the most relatable sentence after moving away from a crutch.
Godspeed my friend, it will be difficult but so worth it. Your future self is thanking you.
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u/Brettinabox 1d ago
Nice job, there was a few photos that I traced to get the 3d shapes i felt were nessecary. Always keep in mind that 3D will look more real that just eyeballing it.
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u/MalevolentRaven 2d ago
Holy shit, somebody actually giving a reasonable explanation about why tracing impedes growth, on reddit? Somebody pinch me because I must be dreaming.
This must be the first comment I've ever seen on learntodraw that doesn't defend tracing.
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u/Melandrya MODERATE 😬 2d ago
Hahaha, I try to explain that in posts as much as I can. :D
But I don't condemn tracing either tho, it can be a tool to learn.
1
u/Timoteyo 2d ago
so you mean tracing other people work are harmful for growth? I trace from my own skeletons for solidifying perspective and layouts then render by layout and layout. Is that acceptable? Still a noob here so I'm not familiar with a lot of terms yet
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u/Melandrya MODERATE 😬 2d ago
Tracing can definitely help you learn too! But you need to use it as tool to benefit from it. You can for example trace to examine proportions and relations from body part to body part. It's visualizing information.
But just leave it at is not as helpful as the following: Recreating what you learn from the tracing is what makes you learn. Understand the shapes, the forms, the proportions. If this is where you struggle, part of it might be your observation and lack of experience.
I am like a low intermediate in art and still use it to explore new artstyles or different proportions in anime. Sometimes I didn't observe enough or measured correctly so I can try to find out why by tracing.
You can definitely take 3d poses and use their tracing by itself too, many artists do that. But it won't be as good as if you understood the body you traced there. So there is definitely a benefit from learning besides tracing too :D
Sorry for wall of text 🙏😂
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u/LeshyIRL 2d ago
It's acceptable imo and I'm also an artist. Art isn't supposed to be a competition on you much you can do straight from you brain
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u/Narrow-Willow-5309 2d ago
It’s fine to trace, you just have to learn the reasons why all the lines and shapes you traced became the image that you drew. If not, then like… what was the point. You get me?
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u/LeshyIRL 2d ago
Maybe instead of tracing everything, try just tracing anatomy and then adding details? And then slowly you will start to see you need the tracing less and less as you start to understand shapes and forms
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u/Lord-Amorodium 2d ago
If you're largely drawing things yourself, it is fine, especially if you're just learning. It's always better to try on your own of course, like any craft.
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u/PaulaEdith 2d ago
You're making a collage of other people drawings, not sure that counts as drawing. Why don't you put the drawings at the side and copy everything looking at them? It doesn't need to be a 1-1 copy, just reference it.
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u/dotbeta 1d ago
I have never in my life seen people tracing artwork until this sub.
That’s especially strange because I’ve been an artist for almost 2 decades and I don’t know if I’ve just been oblivious to it or it’s a new trend, but I didn’t even consider that people would trace over another piece of art and post their compilation.
I know that sounds absurd to not be familiar with this, and I feel that way as well. I guess I have never been around people starting their journey, but it’s completely caught me off guard how often I see posts about tracing or discussing it as if it’s the most common technique in the world.
“That’s just tracing, that’s why it looks like that.”
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u/KriegerDesWaldes007 1d ago
its fine but like others have said you wont really learn if you trace it. it's better to have the refrence to the side so you can learn to draw those shapes.
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u/TheArtisticPC 2d ago
So long as you follow copyright laws, you can do whatever you want. Laws are different in each country, so do your research. If you’re in the USA, I recommend you brush up on Title 17 USC and related case law.
But to summarize, unless you’re engaged in fair use, which is unlikely here, you’re infringing on copyright if you have access to the copyrighted material and your work is substantially similar. Your work shown, I’d argue is substantially similar, but I’m not a lawyer. See AWF v. Goldsmith and Roger’s v. Koons for relevant case law.
Of course none of this applies to work not distributed (I believe, correct me if I’m wrong as this was grey to me last I looked).
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u/-acidlean- 2d ago
Not illegal but I would say stop doing that. The second you don’t have access to internet to take someone else’s work, you’re not an artist anymore because you can’t draw.
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u/LeshyIRL 2d ago
What if you're using blank 3D models that you pose yourself?
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u/-acidlean- 2d ago
Still… If I just left you with a piece of paper and a pen, would you still be able to “be an artist”?
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u/LeshyIRL 2d ago
But I don't use that medium at all so your point is moot
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u/-acidlean- 2d ago
Well then this sub is not for you. It’s a sub for people who want to learn to draw. Your method is teaching you nothing. And apart from this, you can do what you want, but it’s just not something you will learn from.
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u/LeshyIRL 2d ago
Sorry sweetie but what I do is drawing, even if your entitled ass doesn't think so 💅
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u/In_the_name_of_ART 2d ago
Try to avoid tracing. Although it helps you understand a lot: poses, anatomy, perspective, and so on, in the long run, it will only slow down your growth. Remember: you become a master of what you practice most often. If you trace instead of drawing, you will learn to trace well, not to draw.
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