I would not display anything I traced even for practice. I would display something which is a copy of another after I provided credit and if I was able to do it on my own without tracing and if it was good enough.
@rossramosx
I do believe them. I’ve done professional art since the 90’s. I’ve done work for Disney and Square Enix and have even helped with the rendering and post production for movies like Final Fantasy Spirits, X-Men, and Star Trek. If you knew me in real life you would see me in the credits of those movies.
And after nearly 30 years in the industry, I see what you are doing, and I admire your skill
But your work is derivative.
That doesn’t make your art worthless. You would SHINE at Disney. If you worked in their animation departments you would be a rock star.
I hope you will embrace your art, acknowledge the artist’s whose shoulders you stand on and whose work you admire, and will rise to join their ranks.
You could do that.
The artists who you emulate deserve credit, and respect. That is really the only thing we disagree about.
My hero was Rumiko Takahashi, Jojhi Manabe, and Fujishima Kosuke. I traced their art for years until I had it in my spine. Every night. I traced what they did until it was burned into my fingers.
I hated myself for it, but they saved my life. And I learned to draw. I learned to draw anything I could imagine.
Just like you.
Now I draw my own things, but every single thing I draw has Fusishima’s hair, and Manabe’s breasts and hips, and Takahashi’s eyes. They are burned into me. And I will forever owe them everything.
Even now, 30 years later, I can’t remember if I am drawing my drawings, or just repeating what I learned from them, but my teachers tell me I have my own style now. And that makes me feel better.
You have your own style, too.
I’ve seen what you do when you draw from scratch - from your own imagination, and it is AMAZING.
Your idols and the heroes who you emulate are holding you back. You are just recreating their mistakes.
Just as I finally had to learn that Fujishima can’t draw feet, and Manabe doesn’t grasp the human rib cage, and Takahashi … ok, she’s perfect. But as much as you are learning the skills of great artists, you are also leaning their mistakes.
Tracing is holding you back.
Make your OWN mistakes.
Be free - create from your heart.
Yes, I believe the original artist’s.
But I also believe in you.
You have an amazing, incredible gift that you have spent years perfecting.
It is time for you to paint over yourself. Be free, give respect and credit to the artists who inspire you. And be the amazing and good artist that you can be.
