Is using photo references for drawing bad?

Is drawing from reference bad? No. But as an artist, you need to realize that using reference can become a crutch that you lean on too heavily. If you are trying to create an illustration that is an exact copy of a photograph, then using a reference to do so is fine.

Is it cheating to use a reference when drawing?

So is drawing from reference cheating? No, it is not! When you are using reference the right way and if you are not just copying, what you are seeing or tracing from your reference, then using reference Images will actually help you improve your drawings drastically.

Why is it bad to draw from pictures?

Drawing from photos is considered bad practice if the artist is a slave to their reference. It inhibits the artist from experimenting freely and stunts their ability to develop their own style. Cameras also distort perspective and overload the eye with too much detail.

Is it OK to reference other artists?

Artists have copied other artists work over the years as an exercise to understand the process and as practice, and that is perfectly acceptable. If you are displaying a piece you created based on another piece, cite the original piece and artist.

Do professional artists use reference?

Professional artists are using reference more often than not but some use it more than others. Some professional artists use reference only as a way to develop their ability to draw or paint but avoid using reference directly when they are creating an original piece.

Why do artists use reference photos?

In the visual arts, using reference is the practice of discovering information in a photo and/or real-world object, person, or location. This information is used to give the artist better understanding of their subject and create a stronger sense of believability in the art that is being created.

Why do drawings look worse on camera?

Drawing from photos can be considered bad practice if the artist is a slave to their reference. It can inhibit the artist from experimenting freely, stilt creativity, and their ability to develop their own style. Cameras also distort perspective and overload the eye with too much detail.

Is it okay to use poses in art?

Tracing a pose from pictures is perfectly fine for private learning purposes, and to an extent public art if you credit the source. Selling pose-traced art, though, is ill-advised; in that case, you’re safer doing referencing, where you don’t trace it outright.