Copying other artists to improve

[Anonymous No.4714859]

something i don't see emphasised enough is copying other artists in order to learn and see where you're going wrong in your own work / studies. I see a lot of emphasis on master painting studies, but barely ever in regards to line drawing, character design, stylisation etc.

my personal observation of an extremely fast way to improve is:

1- copy art that you like
2- attempt to create drawings of similar qualities to what you were copying
3- look at the difference between the 2 sessions, as well as the reference, and analyse what gaps in your knowledge keep you from matching the quality of the reference
4- study to bridge those gaps
5-repeat until got gud

why is this method not thrown around more?

[Anonymous No.4714865]

I actually don't know anon. Copying other artists for studies is big massive gains.
Kuzomari is good proof of it.

[Anonymous No.4714869]

>>4714859
One of the main reasons that kind of method isnt as out there, is that many here and elsewhere would say that builds a foundation off on the wrong level, what use is developing your own style if you just copy the style of another?
But there would be others willing to try it, I am sure, whether out of desire, a test of skill, or just plain desperation to improve their overall skill in the long run.

[Anonymous No.4714884]

>>4714869

discouraging people from copying is a fundamentally wrong argument though, all professionals site influences for their style from somewhere. Trying to create your own style without any kind of foundation is a lost cause, (see Sycra's attempts)

[Anonymous No.4714891]

>>4714884
Except what OP was saying is that if you wanted to rapidly improve, to try directly copying the style of a particular artist you like. Thats not developing your own style, thats just what amounts to tracing art

[Anonymous No.4714900]

>>4714891
copying art helps you rapidly improve your fundamentals, not just get a new style.

>>4714859
This is what all of /asg/ is founded on.

[Anonymous No.4714907]

>>4714859
I do this here and there. Not really in order to improve, but just out of curiosity.

>>4714869
You're right, but I'm not so sure doing copies in a conscious way will turn you into a copycat. I think as long as you have a variety of sources to copy from you should be good. If you're practicing a lot on your own, you will learn lots of stuff that isn't just stolen from another artist, you will develop your own philosophy and process, and I think this can protect you from becoming a copycat.

>>4714884
I agree, but you don't need to invent a style. You should just learn and make stuff, and your style will develop naturally.

[Anonymous No.4714912]

>>4714891
i am OP, the 'copy art that you like' part was supposed to mean any art that you like / want to take an aspect from, not just one style or artist

[Anonymous No.4716087]

>>4714859
It's good for learning methods and how to use drawing tools but doesn't build fundamentals. For example, the drawing won't tell you how or why the artist picked the certain colors you're using.

[Anonymous No.4716225]

This is a bernini study I just did, any crits?

[Anonymous No.4716227]

>>4716225
Here's the original. Man he has such great style

[Anonymous No.4716244]

>>4714869

The thing is that copying other people's styles is PART of building your style.

You look at art you like and try to understand how THEY translate the world into art. You learn what shortcuts and flourishes they use, you learn how they treat edges, how they treat lines, how they treat colors, how they simplify, what they emphasize, how they emphasize it. You learn about WHY you like it, rather than just a vague sense of "this is a pleasing piece of art", which is how far most people go.

Now, nobody should exclusively copy one artist and just try to do exactly what they do, but if you do this with a handful of artists you admire, picking what you like from each, you create something that IS your own.

I think you can get there without studying other artists, but you're reinventing the wheel and I don't think you'll necessarily get a more 'personal' or 'unique' product anyway. In virtually every other field people learn from imitating other people who excel in their field.

[Anonymous No.4716246]

>>4716225

Very nice. It looks a little washed out - that might just be the photo quality, but otherwise I would push the values a tiny bit more.

Is there a reason you chose not to do the hands and legs?

[Anonymous No.4716260]

>>4716246
Thanks. Yeah the photo isn't great, and the pencil I'm using doesn't get very dark. I haven't properly studied hands and legs yet, that's why I left them out (I'm trying to analyse and construct the figure vilppu style instead of just copying 2 dimensionally) here's another one I did of a tintoretto drawing

[Anonymous No.4716264]

>>4716260
Here's the original. I still can't get heads in extreme angles quite right, (I tried to study bridgman heads today after I realised this but his book is totally confusing to me, any tips on how to approach him? )

[Anonymous No.4716390]

>>4716244
great post and well said. if anything taking inspiration from existing artists ends up being a more faithful representation of your own personal style; it's YOUR preferred artists and their work is already out there as a concrete manifestation of your tastes.

[Anonymous No.4716447]

>>4716244
>You look at art you like and try to understand how THEY translate the world into art. You learn what shortcuts and flourishes they use ...
Exactly. I also find it's good to pinpoint what you need to strengthen, and then copy/study an artist that does it particularly well.
For instance, I want to strengthen light+shadow, and the master of light+shadow to me is Wally Wood, so I plan on copying & analyzing his drawings.

[Anonymous No.4716834]

moderndayjames just released a video which mentions this, you need an understanding of fundamentals if you want to truly grow from copying other artists, for example just copying a professional's figure drawing by redrawing the contours and not putting any thought into the process won't really help. you're copying to understand how a professional breaks down and simplifies reality into their style.

[Anonymous No.4716972]

>>4716087
read the OP again, it's in step 4.

[Anonymous No.4718990]

bump