Art Question

[aaron]

Okay.. this isn't a fanart thread.. but I'm curious, if you can take a piece of art.. for example, a Jim Lee cover or a panel of Chris Bachalo's.. and copy (not trace).. and you can do it pretty much perfectly... does that still make you a good artist/drawer?

 

[KAD]

Okay.. this isn't a fanart thread.. but I'm curious, if you can take a piece of art.. for example, a Jim Lee cover or a panel of Chris Bachalo's.. and copy (not trace).. and you can do it pretty much perfectly... does that still make you a good artist/drawer?

In the world of the Pros you would be called a swiper.

 

[Syncos]

Okay.. this isn't a fanart thread.. but I'm curious, if you can take a piece of art.. for example, a Jim Lee cover or a panel of Chris Bachalo's.. and copy (not trace).. and you can do it pretty much perfectly... does that still make you a good artist/drawer?

In my opinion it means you'd have the potential to be a good artist/illustrator. however, what you've described would just be a step in ones progression. It proves that you'd have the ability to create the linework. you just need to get out of the constrictions of someone's previously made work, and start creating your own.

 

[aaron]

Personally.. I think a good artist consists of a creative mind and a talented hand.

Copying well means that you have a talented hand... and then progressing to original work adds the creativity.

 

[Argyle of Sock]

In my opinion it means you'd have the potential to be a good artist/illustrator. however, what you've described would just be a step in ones progression. It proves that you'd have the ability to create the linework. you just need to get out of the constrictions of someone's previously made work, and start creating your own.

Exactamundo.

 

[aaron]

Any more input?

 

[Phig]

copying a jim lee cover makes you worse than jim lee. if you can live with that... fine.

 

[Shampoo!]

Personally.. I think a good artist consists of a creative mind and a talented hand.

Copying well means that you have a talented hand... and then progressing to original work adds the creativity.

I've always said I'd rather be creative than talented. I respect people that have the talent, but lack the creativity or style. But rarely do they capture the same amount of respect that I have for creative individuals. I'd rather see a person who is lacks the talent, but makes up for it in style.

That being said, copying IS a pivotal part of growing as an artist. Now, if you've been drawing for years upon years, and you still rely on copying other artists, you haven't grown.

What about this? It's one thing to copy comic art, but how do you feel about people that do portraitures? Technically, they are copying. Right? Not in my opinion. I mean, I have a friend that does portraitures. I give him a hard time about it, saying "just take a photo, it's easier." But in the end, I really respect two things about it. 1) He IS very talented, a talent I do not possess. I CANNOT do potraits. I cannot draw people that actually look like the person. 2) He still manages to make every picture look like his style. If I ever saw a new pic by him online somewhere, I would know instantly it's him.

I guess the main difference there is, if someone copies a comic artist, you will always be able to tell who that person copied. You will always be able to look at my art and know I've copied Jhonen Vasquez and Mike Mignola enough times it is now embedded in everything I draw. But, if you "copy" photos, often it still achieves a feeling of "hey, that's Harrison Ford in a style I haven't seen before."


I don't really know where I'm going with all that. I just felt like throwing in that little bit of thought process to this discussion.

 

[antmanx68]

Okay.. this isn't a fanart thread.. but I'm curious, if you can take a piece of art.. for example, a Jim Lee cover or a panel of Chris Bachalo's.. and copy (not trace).. and you can do it pretty much perfectly... does that still make you a good artist/drawer?

To answer your question I dont think it makes you a good artist or drawer, it makes you a good copier. As others have said the ability to copy an existing piece is useful, and it means you are probably coordinated and have a good eye. BUT it has nothing to do with drawing in my opinion. Some people can look at a photo from X-Men the movie and draw it perfectly and it looks amazing but to me thats being a human photocopier, not an artist (even though its impressive in its own right).

I will say though that copying other people's drawing is good practice because it helps your mind associate the movement of your hand with good art while you're doing it and it can improve your understand of lighting, proportion and anatomy and all that.

 

[KAD]

To answer your question I dont think it makes you a good artist or drawer, it makes you a good copier. As others have said the ability to copy an existing piece is useful, and it means you are probably coordinated and have a good eye. BUT it has nothing to do with drawing in my opinion. Some people can look at a photo from X-Men the movie and draw it perfectly and it looks amazing but to me thats being a human photocopier, not an artist (even though its impressive in its own right).

I will say though that copying other people's drawing is good practice because it helps your mind associate the movement of your hand with good art while you're doing it and it can improve your understand of lighting, proportion and anatomy and all that.

I agree 100%

When I started I traced know I don't use reference for figures or Characters