You know, I started a semi-related thread on the “other” boards (the one we used while the hampster over here was recuperating). It was about “traditional” artists who traced instead of learning how to draw. (I’m big on drawing, myself.) I’ve seen a lot traced artwork (not all traced artwork, plenty) that is flat and a little mindless in its execution. Developing the drawing skill makes the artist interact with what they are seeing in a more consumate way than if they just stick to mindlessly tracing. At least some of the time.
I also mentioned that I saw a lot of “rasterbators” who knew how to use spiffy 3-D software, but didn’t have anything interesting to show, or to say. They’d just mastered the functions of the software, that’s all.
Of course, I had people who disagreed with me, on both points. ![:slight_smile: :slight_smile:](https://emoji.discourse-cdn.com/twitter/slight_smile.png?v=10)
The thing I was trying to say was - if you use technology to get a nifty-looking image, but you have no sense of color, or composition, or imagination, then what’s the point? Software these days can “hand hold” you through the process, to a certain extent. (Depending on the software, too.) Now, granted, I don’t know much about this 3-D software, since I don’t use it. But if I see a 3-D image that is boring and blah (but technically nifty) it’s still boring and blah. If it has a “canned” look, it does.
On the other hand, I just noticed that a message board for 3-D software enthusiasts linked to my art site. (I have a new art site, where I have art tips and tutorials.) This person was trying to create a face with 3-D software, and was having trouble getting it to look real. (I guess he wasn’t using a “canned” face provided by the software.) So he posted his 3-D face, and asked for advice on how to get it to look better. Someone linked to my art site, which had helpful information on the structure of the face. (I found out this from my site traffic tracking software. And yes, I was flattered that they linked to my site!) Anyway, the thing that hit me was that even though this person had this spiffy software, he STILL needed to consult outside help (like my site) to understand how to get a face looking realistic. It looked like a really challenging task he was undertaking. Made me glad that I just stick to drawing with pencil, paper, (and Photoshop…
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I think if someone’s got something creative to offer, it’ll show, through whatever techniques they use. They’ll learn how to use the software, and they do fabulous stuff with it. But, just because you can use technical “shortcuts” to get a technically spiffy looking image, it doesn’t make you an artist. You have to have something unique to offer. Some people have developed this something unique and special, some people haven’t. (I’m sure catsix has this something special!
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