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 reference photos?

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.

Should you draw without reference?

So it’s not that you can’t draw something from imagination—you just don’t have a reference for it saved in your mind. And this is actually good news for you—no matter how talented (or not) you are, you can learn your way to free, creative drawing. It takes time, it takes effort, but the prize is worth it!

Do all artists use reference photos?

Every artist, at one point or another, has used reference, either as a tool for study when learning or as a way to create more realism in original artwork. Even if you have never looked at anything but real-world subjects, you are still using references.

Do professional artists use references?

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.

Do professional illustrators use references?

Should you use photo references when drawing or painting?

But if you are drawing or painting something that you want to come across as realistic, then you’d probably use photo reference, and a professional artist probably would as well. The decision of whether or not you use reference when you draw or paint shouldn’t be based upon what you feel a professional artist would do.

Is it bad to use references in an illustration?

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.

Why can’t I get the likeness of a photo in drawings?

You can’t get the likeness, your drawing has some serious distortions, and any experienced artist is probably moved to teach you the skills you haven’t developed yet. Very often, beginner drawings are the stylized symbols of what they see in the photo reference.

Is it possible to draw without violating copyright?

When you’re learning to draw, there is a stage where you’re just not capable of violating anyone’s copyright, as long as you’re doing it freehand. You can’t get the likeness, your drawing has some serious distortions, and any experienced artist is probably moved to teach you the skills you haven’t developed yet.