Duck and Cover

Not that I'm a gr8 artisté, but I find just practising your own shit is better? like if you try and copy, it looks bad and you don't really learn anything because you throw it away mebbe?

Megatron wrote:Not that I'm a gr8 artisté, but I find just practising your own shit is better? like if you try and copy, it looks bad and you don't really learn anything because you throw it away mebbe?

I'm not saying copy a picture directly, but try to do the same thing that the artist is doing to find out where they are coming from. All of the great classic artists have done this when they were learning, it is a very practical technique. You get a better feel for the methods needed to sketch a specific effect.

I'm not saying copy a picture directly, but try to do the same thing that the artist is doing to find out where they are coming from. All of the great classic artists have done this when they were learning, it is a very practical technique. You get a better feel for the methods needed to sketch a specific effect.

Agreed. Besides, when you try to learn how to draw via books, you're still copying stuff. Might as well start somewhere and go from there.
People who start out without books or guides and do good stuff are natural talents imo.

All prestigious commercial artists today have their own unique style, which is what helps them sell in the first place. It's bad to outright copy style and/or subject matter, but it helps if you make a study of something and modify it a bit to suit yourself. No doubt that you'll learn something.

It's bad to outright copy style and/or subject matter

Depends on what the purpose is, and who you're asking. If it's for learning techniques, and to see how well you could do, then imo, it's alright.

If you're trying to sell it, it's breaking the copyright, aye?

I basically repeated what you just said... I must be getting tired.

I'm talking about selling stuff. And trust me, it's very easy to get away with breaking copyrights. I'm just saying, yeah, be original and stuff when it comes to your own stuff, if you want to pass it off as something good.

ooh serious art discussion :badgrin:

copying is vaild in the context of laying some daVinci and doing a slew of copys FREEHAND in similar media, and then throw them away soon as your done, and do some more. Because likes it has been said, its what you learn in the process of copying, not the finished work.

I've done my share of masters copies, but i never copy illustrators work, mostly because they get alot of stuff wrong, but they know how to bend the rules. So its not a good idea, because you will pick up bad habits.

Its better to start from the ground up and refine your eye.

all IMO of course

P.S. i find that just viewing work analytically helps, like ask yourself questions, what makes this piece work, well the rim lighting enhances the figures, or, the placement of the figures really make this piece sing, etc. Then thats all up there in your brain next time you start up a piece of your own.

Also keep in mind that if you want to shoot for realism you shouldn't try to start off drawing a specific style. Sometimes style gets in the way and I would say that 95% of great artists add a unique style after they master the basics. You may think Picasso sucked as an artist with his cubist paintings but the truth is that before he started in the cubist style he drew incredibly realistic sketches that had perfect proportions.

If you are at all serious about learning to draw well, then you should study all of the master artists that you can, and no I am not talking about Brad Holland or most illustrators. You may be able to learn something from Rockwell's work but for the most part stick to classic painters.

Copying is nearly vital if you want to get good. Its not really even copying.. just practise for the eye and hand.

BTW if you have an old biology book from school or something, use it. You can surely find pictures of the muscle and bone structure there...

...Or get a living model! Ive been drawing this naked dude sitting in our art class for a day now :oops:

cheeers jimmy

Smiley wrote:Agreed. Besides, when you try to learn how to draw via books, you're still copying stuff. Might as well start somewhere and go from there.

I just want to learn a little theory or something?

Gimp Mask wrote:I just want to learn a little theory or something?

Oh then try this book.

Theory? Like what?

Learn the basics from books, then develop your own style.

It's kind of sad to see talented artists who never try to develop their own style and get "stuck" on somewhat cliche art types...