Using references and freestyle

Felix121 · Newb Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 5

So I'm really new to drawing and am really confused on how much credit really goes to drawing from references compared to simply freestyling. Obviously, you'd have to really know what your doing to draw off the top of your head and I just havn't gotton to that point yet. I guess what I'm trying to get at is if drawing good from reference is noteworthy or just something to practice with untill you get to freestyle.

London · Moderator Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 6474

There's no shame in using a reference.
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Felix121 · Newb Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 5

If someone were to draw a replica of someone elses work whether it be a how-to book or something else, can you really call it your own? That's what troubles me, I feel like I'm just copying what's not mine. But maybe I'm looking too much into this?

London · Moderator Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 6474

As long as there's no tracing involved, I would say yes, you can call it your own. You're simply borrowing that person's pose or composition or something and using it to learn. I don't think it's any different from borrowing a character design when you do fanart. Surely no one's going to say a picture you drew of some anime character isn't your picture.

What would be [i]wrong[/i] is if you try to replicate someone else's work and not give that person credit for doing the original. It would also be wrong to try to make money off your copied work, even if you did credit your reference.

I think the exception to the above is if you're using a how-to-draw book. Nobody expects you to say "I learned how to draw this by following so and so's book." Same applies to "I learned how to draw this in art class so I should give credit to my teacher Mr./Ms. Namehere." It's always nice to acknowledge people who helped, but I don't think it's necessary in that scenario.
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Felix121 · Newb Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 5

I completely agree with all of that. I'm just so new to this that I don't have any clue to what those "unwritten rules" are in using references.

Thanks for clarifying Smile

ThomYorke · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject:

You probably should use a reference as much as possible. It really helps you get anatomy and shading and such right.
Remember, referencing =/= eyeballing
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Felix121 · Newb Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 5

That makes alot of sense, thanks Smile