I once made 1 chapter webtoon , and I modeled a whole cafe interior and exterior.
Then i use dummy with set height to project perspective. Im pretty weak with perspective when I need to do it with characters involve/ interacting. So having the 3d space and camera to play - how I want to frame it and position the character is fun. Kinda like storyboarding animators do.
But kinda ok with perspective if i only need to do illustration for random object I 3d model.
If anyone question - i just gonna say well i know 3d , might as well combined. no one said I can only do one. I made my reference - so I’ll use it as I see fit.
oth if im doing still life. I mean - my reference are either taken by picture or set on a table. So it’s the good old pencil measuring thing is that I do. Or if im particularly having hard time - i trace the rough form if its image.
Oth I dont color pick. I usually try to get the main tone - depending on my mood / it either become stylish or slightly realistic.
Back when I was studying to do animal portraits, I actually learn quickly by tracing shapes. When i get stumped on something I trace the shape over. Like i go and breakdown the image to its shape by tracing over it - with base form.
Maybe learning the fundamentals by tracing? e.g.; When learning to draw a hand, some could learn by tracing each portion of the fingers and palm with blocks (no idea what this technique is called).
Yes, I still practice this when trying to learn human anatomy and proportions. It’s great practice to use action shots from sports and trace over them using only blocks and/or circles and coils to get a sense of how proportions change from nearest the viewer to further away from the viewer.
Btw, there are literally millions of human figure action shots available in sports like football, basketball, soccer, etc. that you’re sure to find the position and/or stance you are looking for an anatomy reference.
I have similar experience as a guitar player. There have been many songs that really move me emotionally. I’ve learned to play them myself, but after the process of learning to play a song, with much repetitive playing, the feelings are lost and I don’t even want to hear it anymore much less play it.
With visual art, drawing and painting, I have no desire to replicate what a camera can do. Each scene or object has some aesthetic that made me choose it - it’s the essence I want to capture.
How does this relate to tracing? The extent of any tracing I occassionally do is to put down a few guide marks to maintain overall placement and proportion.
This is not to say I consider detailed tracing to be a cheat. Rather it comes down to individual goals. As such, it is up to each of us to decide if we’re cheating ourselves relative to our own individual goals.
I agree. I limit my tracing to minimal guide marks for placement and proportion mainly because I find it lets me exercise my own creativity. It’s much more satisfying and incidently builds skill. My sister is also an artist and she can think up the most fantastic images from imagination. But I always struggle with imaginative painting.
