Question:
Is it okay to use a reference when I draw?
anonymous
12 years ago
I don't draw incredibly seriously, it's only for fun. Just sketches or whatever, usually from Homestuck. But sometimes when I draw I use a reference, for something such as a basic pose, or hands. Do you think that's okay? And I don't copy exactly, just the basic idea of somthing.
Five answers:
PonDeLion
12 years ago
I'm basically summing up what the other two have said, for reassurance. The key phrase you used was "don't draw incredibly seriously, it's only for fun". As an artist, it if's just for the lulz, nothing you plan on selling or commissioning, then of course it's fine to pick up some reference photos for said things like body poses and such -that's why they are there :)

However, I feel it's more comfortable, if not justified, to use reference poses that are there for that very purpose. Studying references, and making some of your own, can help in the long run (like this deviantart gallery http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=poses). However, references are NOT meant to copy or try and replicate.



For example, I wanted to paint Aradia sipping tea. SO I looked up "sip tea" to find photos with a pose like that and got something like this: http://fav.me/d1s8rsx

I look at poses similar to that one to help inspire me to draw my own version, and the results are http://fav.me/d5xf41d



Reference photos good for: pose inspiration, practice, body study, etc

not good for: complete tracing, copying, uncredited use.

If you used a pose to the very lines, at least credit them if you plan to show off the work. As long as there's no profit or popularity involved, it's fine :D



Hope we all answered your question.Good luck! Have a good day too :)
anonymous
12 years ago
There's a difference between using a reference and copying. For instance, if you were drawing an eye, and looked up 'eye' on google for a reference, that's fine. If you were to find someone else's drawing of an eye and copy it, that's illegal.



Since you said homestuck, I'm just going to use that as an example. If you were to pull up the original picture of Dave, then a picture of someone's hand or eye to use a reference, that is perfectly fine. (A majority of artists do that.) But if you were to pull up a picture of someone else's drawing of Dave and copy it, that is illegal.



I hope that clears things up. c:
anonymous
12 years ago
It's not illegal to hand draw a copy of something. It may be illegal to publish it. But that depends what it is.



All the great artists (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Picasso) learned by copying from the master artists that came before them. This was considered a perfectly natural way to learn. And it still is.

In the commercial art world it is considered unprofessional NOT to use reference.
A
12 years ago
Yes, that is perfectly fine! Many professional artists use references for drawing to make sure their pose is correct. As long as you don't trace, it's fine. Also, if it looks almost exactly like the original, make sure to credit your reference.
?
9 years ago
use porn, heavily - attempt metart, hegre and domai. those are 'softcore' and are not something distinctive than you will possibly see in the studio. A nude is a nude and those furnish extreme high quality photographs and are many times tasteful.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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