Originally Posted by 8OJ4N
I recommend this: when you use reference image, make a layer above it and do a quick sketch with basic geometric shapes (red on image), then transfer that layer to the image file where you are going to draw.
That's not cheating, because you need to have size reference and since you are doing it digitally you can't stick your thumb up to screen and transfer sizes like that.
There really isn't "cheating" in any creative process of art, but the method you
are suggesting, is definitely tracing, which requires no skill or technique, and
doesn't help you improve in drawing, especially not portraits/figures.
I really wouldn't recommend this method at all, unless you just want to, partially,
make a blatant "rip-off" of the original piece.
Also, dengue, how long did this "speedpaint" take you?
Because I'd say 5 minutes is more than enough time for a piece of this quality.
I'd also like to say that "speedpaintings" don't express your skill, they are
either made for warm-ups or to test your creative process, ie. imagination.
The past makes you wanna die out of regret, and future makes you depressed out of anxiety. So by elimination, the present is likely the happiest time.
Originally Posted by ThePirateKing
There really isn't "cheating" in any creative process of art, but the method you
are suggesting, is definitely tracing, which requires no skill or technique, and
doesn't help you improve in drawing, especially not portraits/figures.
it helps with getting the right proportions at the start. Which could be improved in this "speedpaint." Then you can focus on lighting and texture. It's not like you are tracing the whole image. You are getting the basic shapes/sizes so you don't have to worry about them.
Do not look down at tracing- this is the fastest way to learn the shapes of a specific character. After drawing the same figure many times - you can create your own expressions.
Jalis: Freelancer, you're a duck | Sachi: Freelancer, you're a duck | Reanimator: Freelancer, you're a duck
satiknee: Freelancer, you're a duck | Wiggi: Freelancer, you're a duck | Tarlan: Freelancer, you're a duck
satiknee: Freelancer, you're a duck | Wiggi: Freelancer, you're a duck | Tarlan: Freelancer, you're a duck
Speed-painting is a way for artist to quickly set the composition, colors and tone of his work without going into details of making the actual piece (refining his work). It's like a sketch of a future painting.
It can be done in 10-15 min, or it can be done in 1-2 h, or more, doesn't matter, It's his call.. What matters it how much artist invested himself into it during the process. Will he do some stuff more detailed or will he just 'announce' the form of something on his painting.
Generally, these unfinished parts of the painting where some pieces (or all) are just 'announced' by crude brush strokes is what makes speed painting so appealing, together with the low demand of time (but high demand of skill!).
But, it's not easy to represent something in 'few strokes'. You can't just smear some colors on the digital canvas and hope that ppl that are looking at it will see a mountain there. You actually need to know what kind of brush strokes to use, what kind of colors and tones and how to represent the volume of the mountain simplified.
If artist manage to do that, brains of the ppl that look at that painting will start to fill the 'gaps' that he has left in his work (since it is not a detailed and clear picture of the mountain, but more of the indication of one) and they will be like: ''omg, I can see a snow covered mountain there, how the hell did he managed to do that using just a few brush strokes''.
So, the speed painting is (and this is my opinion, so take it with reserve) just another aspect of impressionism. But, if you are bad at the basics of the, let's call it 'regular painting', you will be even worst in speed painting, since 'shortenings' you do there can't be done without solid knowledge of perspective, volumes, composition, anatomy, etc...
Also, speed painting can be refined almost to the point of the finished piece, or it can be very, very crude. It really depends on the artist and his views of when to stop working on it, when he says: ''ok, this is enough, this can work this way, colors are ok, I see how it can be done this way, I can now try to change the mood of this by doing it from other point of view and different colors, etc...'' It is work in progress so to say.
When using references to do a speed painting some artist go as far to actually take images of the landscape, or machines, ppl, etc, and paint over them to speed the process of getting the final piece of art (or 'final enough') to the customer. We all know that speed painting is popular in movie and gaming industry where artist must do the presentation of something as fast as possible and refined enough so the 3D modelers or prop makers can make some stuff based on his 'sketch paintings'. Not to mention that it is easier to do more detailed work later when you have made a good solid 'base' of the painting.
Back to C&C. I think this was more of a learning process for you than the actual speed painting. I think you just tried to see will you be able to 'remake' the reference image just by looking at it and painting. But, you have skipped basic sketch while doing it and therefore mistakes emerged. Not enough patience, you wanted to paint right away. I know that feeling, and it always caused me much grief later, because in traditional art if you skip the sketch believing that you are some superior artist that doesn't need them, later you see you were gravelly mistaken.
And making it right is not possible. While in digital art you can fix things later in many ways.
Here are some examples of speed paintings that were done more or less crude, but all of them managed to transfer the mood of the piece perfectly. [Examples are taken from DeviantArt site and belong to various artists.]
As for tracing... Everyone I know that are doing art professionally or as a hobbyist started by tracing work of some other ppl or artists. It is a way of learning unless you trace something and brag with it as your original work. First, you are laying yourself, and second you are laying others.
'Tracers' can be exposed very quickly and painfully (for them), just ask them to do something on the spot and watch how they sweat and fail miserably. >D
So, trace to learn, do not trace to lull yourself into imaginary world where you became professional artist over night. It doesn't work that way.
It can be done in 10-15 min, or it can be done in 1-2 h, or more, doesn't matter, It's his call.. What matters it how much artist invested himself into it during the process. Will he do some stuff more detailed or will he just 'announce' the form of something on his painting.
Generally, these unfinished parts of the painting where some pieces (or all) are just 'announced' by crude brush strokes is what makes speed painting so appealing, together with the low demand of time (but high demand of skill!).
But, it's not easy to represent something in 'few strokes'. You can't just smear some colors on the digital canvas and hope that ppl that are looking at it will see a mountain there. You actually need to know what kind of brush strokes to use, what kind of colors and tones and how to represent the volume of the mountain simplified.
If artist manage to do that, brains of the ppl that look at that painting will start to fill the 'gaps' that he has left in his work (since it is not a detailed and clear picture of the mountain, but more of the indication of one) and they will be like: ''omg, I can see a snow covered mountain there, how the hell did he managed to do that using just a few brush strokes''.
So, the speed painting is (and this is my opinion, so take it with reserve) just another aspect of impressionism. But, if you are bad at the basics of the, let's call it 'regular painting', you will be even worst in speed painting, since 'shortenings' you do there can't be done without solid knowledge of perspective, volumes, composition, anatomy, etc...
Also, speed painting can be refined almost to the point of the finished piece, or it can be very, very crude. It really depends on the artist and his views of when to stop working on it, when he says: ''ok, this is enough, this can work this way, colors are ok, I see how it can be done this way, I can now try to change the mood of this by doing it from other point of view and different colors, etc...'' It is work in progress so to say.
When using references to do a speed painting some artist go as far to actually take images of the landscape, or machines, ppl, etc, and paint over them to speed the process of getting the final piece of art (or 'final enough') to the customer. We all know that speed painting is popular in movie and gaming industry where artist must do the presentation of something as fast as possible and refined enough so the 3D modelers or prop makers can make some stuff based on his 'sketch paintings'. Not to mention that it is easier to do more detailed work later when you have made a good solid 'base' of the painting.
Back to C&C. I think this was more of a learning process for you than the actual speed painting. I think you just tried to see will you be able to 'remake' the reference image just by looking at it and painting. But, you have skipped basic sketch while doing it and therefore mistakes emerged. Not enough patience, you wanted to paint right away. I know that feeling, and it always caused me much grief later, because in traditional art if you skip the sketch believing that you are some superior artist that doesn't need them, later you see you were gravelly mistaken.
And making it right is not possible. While in digital art you can fix things later in many ways.Here are some examples of speed paintings that were done more or less crude, but all of them managed to transfer the mood of the piece perfectly. [Examples are taken from DeviantArt site and belong to various artists.]
Hidden City by molybdenumgp03
The Harbore by noahbradley
Commando by torvenius
As for tracing... Everyone I know that are doing art professionally or as a hobbyist started by tracing work of some other ppl or artists. It is a way of learning unless you trace something and brag with it as your original work. First, you are laying yourself, and second you are laying others.
'Tracers' can be exposed very quickly and painfully (for them), just ask them to do something on the spot and watch how they sweat and fail miserably. >D
So, trace to learn, do not trace to lull yourself into imaginary world where you became professional artist over night. It doesn't work that way.
Last edited by Django777; Feb 14, 2014 at 10:47 AM.
Django: You can clean up the mess, but don't touch my coffin.