Bill posing in front of paparazzi.
Bill Skarsgård:
= low brow stare (intense levels OVER 9000)
= dresser
= legs that won’t quit
= playing with or clasping hands
= chewing gum or biting the inside of his mouth
= biting or licking those plump lips
Fandom:
= melting like butter on hot toast
= We all tingle down here, YES WE DO!
= hnnnnnnnnnffffff
An Intellectual™.
“Don’t trace” originally started as a warning against tracing as art theft (as in, tracing someone else’s art without permission or credit is art theft) and then over the intervening years turned into “you can’t use references because it’s cheating” and I think that’s one of the worst cases of the telephone game I’ve ever personally experienced
you are allowed to trace as practice
you are allowed to trace your own work (for example photographs you took yourself or to keep architectural consistency)
you are allowed to trace things the original artist is encouraging you to trace
you SHOULD use references
you SHOULD be allowed to pick up other artists’ artistic tics you like (…as long as they’re not offensive, like blackfacing, but that’s a different kettle of fish)
you SHOULDN’T go around moralizing at other people about how they learn best because you can and will lose friends that way and you can and will hurt other artists’ development that way.
Also other than art theft there IS no such thing as cheating in art okay use sparkle pens and fan brushes to your heart’s content why is that even a thing I have to say (…and yes I’ve had conversations in the analog world about fan brushes as “cheating” I’m so tired of snotty artists who think you shouldn’t be allowed to use tools that make things easier because they can do it the hard way)
But honestly, this need to be said louder, as an artist you end up feeling like you aint getting better, trying to draw in perspective without having a guide line . And when others shame artist for using references its like they are expecting the artist to know by memory how everything works on every perspective.
To Consider that fan brushes, or custom brushes are cheating and expecting the artist to do everything in the “original” way is like wanting the cashier to charge you without using a calculator to do the sum. Tools are invented to be used.
“tools are invented to be used” well put
Not allowing using references is same as telling to a chef they can’t use recipes but they have to pull any dish in the world out of their asses just like that. The first thing, the very first thing my photography teacher told us was “When photographing was invented, ARTISTS took pictures of cities and traced them on their paintings because hey - easier work! Why bother to work hard when you can make it easy for yourself and save your time and energy?”
I’ve been drawing for years, and I still trace. It helps me learn relationships between shapes, and to understand perspectives that are difficult. Other days, I eyeball it until it looks right. 90% of what I have on my computer is reference images.
Thing is, use what makes you learn best. Don’t steal, but don’t suffer because someone says references aren’t getting.
Lots of this.
I work in animation. My boss encourages the whole team, every day, to learn how to draw the characters by tracing them over and over, before trying to draw them freehand. It helps commit their shapes and proportions to muscle memory and actual memory.
Tracing is an invaluable method of learning. As long as you aren’t tracing somebody else’s work and calling it your own, you’re in the clear. TRACE YOUR LITTLE HEART OUT.
summer goal: hopefully make more comics
General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Well now, he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack. And I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit, my father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars (1976)
The Last Jedi School Picture Day
“for wakanda? without question.”
dirt apples
Meanwhile in France: pomme de terre
Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away….
Just a reminder that Porgs exist and that they are the cutest things ever
Harrison Ford talking about Carrie Fisher at Mark Hamill’s Walk of Fame Ceremony
Leia Organa // Brian Rood
