Is Tracing WRONG?

In this week's video I talk about the controversy and negative perception when using tracing in art! I explore some of the arguments against tracing and what they mean.
Whilst I talk about this subject, I draw a lovely lab in coloured pencils.
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Mentioned videos:
Lachri Fine Art: • Artist Vlog - Is it ok...
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Materials:
Canson Mi-Teintes paper
Derwent Drawing pencils
Polychromos
Prismacolor pencils
Posca marker (white)
Derwent and Koh-I-noor blending pencils
Caran d'ache luminance white
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Reference: pixabay.com/en/dog-labrador-p...
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Music:
Runaways- Silent Partner
Serenity- Jason Shaw
Bensound- Acoustic Breeze
Reasons to Smile- Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
The Only Girl- Silent Partner
The Creek- Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
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Find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and RedBubble!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Hi friends! I've been noticing a lot of comments on my older videos where people tell me to turn off the background music! Thanks for the feedback- the advice was heeded a while back (November 2017-ish, around the time I was able to upgrade my audio quality), so be sure to check out some of my newer videos. 😊

[@sampokemppainen3041]

I started by tracing, and moved into classical drawing soon after i was asked to teach art. If you wanna know if tracing is wrong, it completely ok to trace, but it would be important to bring it up with people who get influence over this, that it is not an art. It is handicraft, and should always be mentioned when displaying art. The level you acchieve by tracing, should not be presented as an indication of your skill level. Tracers rarely display openly anything they have done without resorting to tracing. It is because, their skill level rarely matches the level of detail that is presented in their traced works. It means, that even if they think tracing teaches them about all the necessary parts of creating something, they cannot translate it into organic methods. I hope to be able to reach to you, and i am willing to show some of my work. I never sold my work as art, but as industrial and craphical design, which i have a bachelors degrees of.

[@panda-ji2fm]

Tracing is for starters

[@panda-ji2fm]

I trace peoples art I never credit them cuz I don’t make videos for money I won’t get copy writted

[@AnastasiaR]

Tracing the outline of something to be used as the sketch for a colored pencil drawing especially exemplifies your points. With colored pencils, the work and the skill comes in the color choices and placement, blending, not in the outside lines like a line drawing.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Beautiful response, and I agree wholeheartedly!

[@lisa4471]

Exactly!!!

[@AfshanCKArts]

I feel all successful Artists do know drawing to a good extent. Tracing is usually a time saving tool for professionals and a stepping stone for beginners. 👍🏻

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Afshan CK Arts A fantastic way of putting it! Thanks for commenting :)

[@ThePoushal]

Afshan CK Arts Tracing is what kept me motivated to continue learn drawing. I learnt a lot more about shadows and highlights through my tracing.

[@monicalira9702]

I agree that tracing is a time saver.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks, Monica! :)

[@therealmodernwalking9695]

But it is not about time saving, it is about skill and learning, if you want to safe your time, don't draw photo-realism

[@artlover1834]

@@therealmodernwalking9695 *save Anyway, photo realism is not done just by tracing a photo and "coloring it". That's ridiculous. It is done with much skill and practice on color theory and the medium the artist chooses. It also helps train the brain to draw what is really there and not what the brain interprets which is oftentimes incorrect. As far as time saving goes, Claudia expressly stated that tracing enables the artist to charge LESS for a commission because it saved them time.

[@sampokemppainen3041]

@@artlover1834 tracing is for those who do not possess the skill to create high quality outcome from live. It's like those little dip wheels what kids have in their bikes to keep them from falling.

[@gingerbiscuit4871]

I have been an artist for 20 years and always drew freehand but now I am very arthritic and have to use a Projector for occasional complex works. It feels like cheating but it saves me so much pain. I know I can draw & I don’t need to justify that to anyone but myself, people are free to make judgements but we don’t know the reasons people use time saving tools. When we buy art we don’t ask how its produced so it shouldn’t matter.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Agree entirely! Create the way that suits you, and that you enjoy. That's the most important thing. There's nothing wrong with using tools (grids, projectors, tracing paper, etc) to make our work more accurate, just like you wouldn't tell a carpenter not to use a ruler or tape-measure! Your last part is spot on. Of all of my clients who I've spoken to about tracing, none of them have minded. They care that the piece looks like who it's meant to be and that it's completed in a timely manner. Tracing an outline saves me a couple of hours work time for the same end-result, and time is money. I've had random people on the internet tell me that they lost respect for me when they found out I traced some of my work- but ultimately respect from a random stranger doesn't pay the bills. ;)

[@gingerbiscuit4871]

Claudia Sketches so true, people can be awful, I actually left FB because of the spite. I’m like you a CP artist and know full well the amount of hours that go into a piece and if anyone can save time and pain then so be it. Art is one of the most judgmental professions out there and at times can be brutal, I always encourage anyone to do what is right for them and to hell with other peoples opinions, its your life not theirs. Love your work by the way.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

It's such a shame that people feel the need to police self-expression. Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I'm really glad you love my work! :)

[@Android_replicant]

my personal opinion For those who know how to draw, tracing is a time-saving tool. There is nothing wrong in it.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for commenting! I agree with you :D

[@catsontherise4300]

I agree as well

[@CartooonTHAT]

i agree too ;)

[@briza2022]

Then the picture that is to be sold is a coloring, not a drawing, since it was copied from the original. A client shouldn't be lied, not pay more than what is supposed to.

[@93King]

@@briza2022 And what's wrong with that? You make it sound like coloring is not a skill of it's own. And I don't see a problem with it as long as the artist informs the buyer of the type of art they're receiving.

[@mischabe3]

I am of the understanding that Johannes Vermeer and some others used a camera obscura as an aid. Whatever method you use it’s only a process. Judge from the resulting art.

[@sarahkwiatkowskiart7745]

The cake metaphor is spot on! Beautiful drawing. I tend to do a simple outline that I trace for my pet portraits, and then I draw in the details such as the nostrils, eye details, ect

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Sarah Kwiatkowski Thank you so much- and I'm so pleased that the long-winded analogy connected xD And I agree, sounds very similar to what I do a lot of the time. I'll tend to get the outlines (as well as key features) placed with a tracing then I'll free-hand in the rest of the details and marking out where particular colours/shadows/highlights are. I'm a lot less particular if the animal isn't somebody's pet! :)

[@gypsterjoe8879]

Why should tracing be wrong?. It is art. Dont be afraid. go ahead and be as creative as you wish. All creativity makes the world go round.

[@claudiahemmings2080]

I totally agree - there's nothing wrong with tracing as a tool. Getting an outline down is just the first stage of completing a picture. I enjoy freehand sketching when I'm in the mood, but I don't always want to spend ages freehanding a complicated outline when I can just trace it and get on with the colour work. As well as tracing from photos, I also often use tracing to rearrange, refine, simplify, combine or transfer my own sketches.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Claudia Hemmings So glad you agree! Thanks for watching and commenting :D

[@yakuzaman5074]

I agree with everything you said in this video

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I totally agree, I think it's a shame when people think that their preferences are the only way to produce art, but especially when they enforce those preferences on others! I can understand some of the argument against tracing- particularly that it can become a crutch- and for some people it's not as helpful as it is for others. But never using a reference!? That's unbelievable- I'm sure only people with very limited artistic knowledge would say that using a reference is wrong/bad. :P Or maybe just people who like making things exceptionally and unnecessarily difficult for themselves!

[@urmumsleftknuckle5530]

For me being a complete beginner in all things drawing tracing is the only way i can learn. For example a face, id start by tracing it, then i would trace it again then id focus on one part for example the eye area and trace that a few times then i would do it without looking, then again with looking but not tracing. I think as a beginner this way has just helped me understand how to draw the things i need to draw, the proportions, scale etc

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I've experienced the same! Glad that you find tracing beneficial too :)

[@rubenmsk]

Oh come on guys tracing is a technique that has been used for almost every great artist. And besides personally i like to trace when i have a very complex or difficult perspective or when i have to make a big scale painting this saves me a lot of time.

[@carolineridlington5010]

Tracing helped me to draw as a young child....I became a good artist...and passed my 'O' Level art and design in the 70's...with distinction....after 40yrs working in factories and only doing colouring in with my young children...I started art again...by tracing....am enjoying art again...😉

[@miaa1762]

I started out doing art by tracing. Ngl. It has improved my art sm though, and now I can actually sketch hands, eyes, ect realistically without tracing or references. It is good for learning, but not for cheating :D

[@AnotherMADCreation]

I find that tracing helps to develop muscle memory. Doing so has helped me to be more accurate in my free hand drawings of similar subjects that I'd previously traced.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience :D I've found this to be true too- tracing forced me to be aware of the actual relationships between things (e.g. features and anatomy) rather than rely on what I thought I was seeing.

[@Dennis-xs9cn]

very reasoned argument Claudia. One major reason that I use tracing a basic outline on a light box is that it certainly maintains and stimulates interest in painting and coloured pencils. My sketching skills are limited but I'm trying to improve. The traced outline enables progression and completion of a painting that I really like and is appreciated by friends and family etc, whereas repeated freehand failings with a pencil would quickly lead me to be frustrated and possibly lead some to abandon the art. I am learning about proportion, perspective and foreshortening as I trace but also try to keep detail to a minimum, preferring to just outline main areas and then use my painting skills to complete. I applaud those artists who have sketching skills but also have no complaint against those who trace, providing they are openabout that aspect as its nothing to be ashamed of, just part of the learning curve. Thanks for yet another great video and insight.

[@stanstevens6289]

Very interesting topic. Back in the day when I did commissions and illustrated freelance I would always trace where possible and necessary. Time is money. Like Claudia says the tracing still has to be worked up, the tracing itself is not the finished piece only part of the process. At college too back in the 70's we had the projector/enlarger which ALL the illustrators/designers would use where possible to trace elements for artwork... but that didn't make the rendering any easier! You still need a skilled artist to finish the piece. I have no issue at all with tracing.

[@larkluvshorses7631]

I agree. I can sketch the outline freehand but it takes at least an hour longer than tracing. Tracing just saves me time and I know that my outline is accurate to start with.

[@lucavanderleeden3910]

Great video! I would love to see a video on reference sites! And your doggy looks amazing ;)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much, Luca! :D I'll put it on the list!

[@shezalright4217]

Love your work and loved this video! I free hand draw a lot and that can get tiring when I have so many pieces I want to finish but not enough time, in those instances tracing comes in handy. I also traced a lot when i was just beginning and it helped me a lot with learning where lines and certain proportions went, etc. I say do what's best for you!

[@kidarcade2304]

Awesome! You do really nice work as well! Luv the dog sketch! Keep posting great videos!😎

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Kid Arcade Thank you so much for the comments :D I really appreciate it!

[@Ei-lo]

Tracing is a great way to train your eyes and hands into learning to follow new or unusual shapes. When I was learning how to do tattoo flash, I was specifically instructed to trace 150 drawings a week to train my hand into learning how to draw tattoo-shapes. Then, when I decided to learn how to do portraits, I always traced the outline first to learn how the shape of a human face flows. Like you touched on: you have a perception bias - if you believe something to look like [x] you'll struggle to actually draw an accurate depiction of what you're attempting to recreate. I feel like if you're really having a hard time recreating an outline, and you trace it out either to use as the outline or to troubleshoot and start again by your own hand, but every detail afterwards is your own, then it's a great way to put yourself in a place where you feel successful in your piece and motivated to continue. As long as you're not tracing everything. Tracing isn't cheating. It's a shortcut, it's time-saving, and it teaches you new shapes. Still to this day, if I can't for the life of me work out why I can't get a shape right, I'll trace my reference and compare it to what I've been free-handing to work out where perception and reality differ. I use a light board for requested pieces because people will make strange requests (a friend wanted me to draw her with a cat and a bowl of fruit on her head). Tracing is also great for adding layers to something that don't exist in the reference.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Eima Thank you very much for your incredibly detailed comment! :D It's lovely to hear how other artists use tracing as a tool and the benefits of it.

[@Ei-lo]

Claudia Sketches anytime. Your work is amazing. I found myself in a creative slump a little while back, because I work really well in graphite and charcoal, but that's about it. Seeing how you manage to make colour pencil work so beautifully, it inspired me to want to work on my colour pieces a lot more and step out of my comfort zone.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you again- I'm so pleased I've helped inspire you! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)

[@ginasartcorner5686]

Wonderful drawing and great topic. I think it depends on how you trace, but to be honest I´m trying to get away from it as much as I can

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Nothing wrong with avoiding tracing if you think it's stifling your creative freedom! Thanks for commenting :)

[@seabubble]

I've learnt much when I was a kid by tracing. I was 8 and I could draw realistic bulldog in variable poses by myself. Of course you need to observe to understand why 3D forms looks like this in 2D dimension and I was observing animals all the time. To me, tracing is very relaxing technique to absorb some skills, "aha moments", to get some confidence in leading hand, etc.

[@lizza8467]

Your dog drawing is such a piece of art, just stumbled upon your video in my recommandations and felt in love ! Concerning tracing, I'll never understand why this is a taboo, I see it as a tool. I love drawing portrait, but when I draw it only by hand (not using tracing) it take me an hour and if an eye is a bit off it'll screw off the final drawing. When I trace I'm sure of the proportions and there's no waste of time. And let's be honest, if you don't have the skills you'll see it in the final result anyway. You have a new subscriber :P

[@shojodraws3399]

I think tracing over things you've never drawn before can help you understand the thing more. Use it for practice to help you prepare for your art you're gonna make

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

i see many tutorials on "Cartooning" which is tracing with another name,the artists seem to be making a living doing mostly head-shots.Still takes time and practice to be good at this,where people will pay for portraits.

[@MsGardener77]

This is a great, well organized, well stated, and thought out discussion on this topic. My very first art teacher, who incidentally did not use tracing, would always say "draw what you see, don't draw what you know." Your explanation of how tracing can reveal inaccuracies in our mental perception of a subject really helped flesh out what he was getting at.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! I'm so pleased you think so- those are exactly the things I aim for when making these kinds of videos. :)

[@sheilafowler3990]

I agree with every word you said, and what a wonderful picture you painted while you were drawing.

[@juul7737]

Your explanation about tracing and making a the cake is brilliant 👍🏼😉

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoy my silly analogies :D

[@billesummers1070]

I completely agree with everything you said. I am an artist and I use several different methods including tracing. beautiful drawing of the dog..thanks Bille

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Bille Summers Thank you so much Bille, thanks for commenting! :)

[@wilfredodiaz8743]

I'm a traditional artist and I don't think it's a bad thing to trace... It saves on time and money since it eliminates waste of paper. I loved your cake mix analogy

[@ramonad3593]

Very helpful video and I enjoyed watching the dog come to life!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Glad you liked it! Thank you :)

[@youdungoofied5692]

I adore this video and your points give great nuance to the controversy. Tracing is great for muscle memory and if you copy something over and over you will learn it yourself to draw for future reference. Also good for pointing out the rights of copyrights.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much, Mia! Glad you liked the video. I agree, tracing is such a great tool and can be used in so many different ways. It seems such a shame that people don't experience the benefits because they get caught up in the taboo!

[@barrydavidson1943]

I've always been interested in art of all types but never did anything with my abilities. I'm really good at shading with graphic pencils but have ADHD and can't maintain the precise line control I'd like to have due to this disability. I also love photography, which is an art form in itself. Currently I'm working on a project using photos as a base for my sketches. I'm doing this to get my abilities out there and become recognized as the artist I am. If you think about the way I'm doing this I'm combining two forms of art into one. multimedia

[@SekolahGlobalMandiri]

Barry Davidson good luck :)

[@meanyou11]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing!

[@jojostorm193]

When making a drawing and using a photo reference i usually have to have a grid on both the drawing and my paper. But if that still doesn't give me the correct proportions and the drawing turns out looking bad, i usually have to trace at least the outlines of the figures and mark the basic shapes and locations of the features. It helps get the main pieces in the correct locations so when i freehand in the small details and do the shading everything is in the correct place and it turns out actually looking not terrible

[@tammyeaton4791]

I LOVE the Derwent drawing pencils-so soft and smooth lay down.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Tammy Eaton A fellow Derwent Drawing lover! :D They are incredible! Although their colour range us small, I do love the colours in the set.

[@animejunkee9827]

I think that tracing is mostly a good tool for beginners. It helps them see shapes and structure, how to draw complex poses and foreshortening, and also helps them notice details that they might've missed otherwise. But after learning how to do all that by just looking at something then I think it's best to trace little to not at all. So basically, I see tracing like training wheels on a bike. You use them to help you learn the basics and then you remove them to further improve your skills. But that's just my opinion on it.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I definitely agree that tracing is a very helpful tool for beginners- what you said about foreshortening is spot on! What are your thoughts about using it as a tool for efficiency though? I use tracing often to expedite commissions and allow for adjustments before I start refining.

[@animejunkee9827]

​@@ClaudiaSketches If it's a free image or your own then it's fair game. And it's also possible to trace the very basics of an image to get started while changing a few things here and there so it's not a complete copy. And if you're on a schedule to get a piece done for someone, tracing the basics can be very helpful in that regard. So as long as it's not copyrighted and is used when needed than I don't see anything wrong with it.

[@kidarcade2304]

The problem with tracing is that it can give the individual a false sense of accomplishment. This can have a insidious affect on individuals self-esteem. People have a tendency to look for easy way out including us artists. So you have to be careful!😎

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Kid Arcade Absolutely! But on the other hand you could say that the extra little boost might help somebody who has little self confidence and would otherwise give up. It's difficult to define what is a support and what becomes a crutch. It definitely depends on the individual, but I always recommend that tracing is used alongside free hand work (and/or grid method) that way skills from each are accessible.

[@flipperdale51]

I rarely trace, but when I do (usually because the subject is extremely detailed) I find myself re-drawing over the entire trace for better accuracy. We were actually encouraged, in Graphic Arts class, to trace when needed. By the way, the dog drawing is absolutely beautiful.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! I end up doing the same too- my transfer paper is very light and I rarely get a thorough outline through it. I like to try and balance how much I trace and freehand- meticulously tracing simple and not-so-important details often uses more time that it would just to eye-ball it. Glad you were encouraged to use tracing as a tool! :D

[@gurujad1533]

I have listened to many videos discussing this matter, too. Watched Lisa's bit, as well. I agree with your opinion. According to me, tracing is good and fun but it does not make the artist reach a higher level. But then, Tracing or even drawing is not always the target. So, if the target is coloring or painting the drawing, tracing does not really count! Any person can trace now your dog's photo. Enlarge it to the size of preference or copy it to any fancy paper or board-- but is he/she really able to finish it as beautiful as you did? Can he/she paint it perfectly? That needs to be taken into consideration, too!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I agree! Tracing doesn't make an artist or a piece of artwork- or at least, not the kind of art that I'm used to. I think it's reductionist to say that an artist isn't an artist because they trace, because it ignores all the other skills that are required to complete a piece :) And you bring up an interesting point- that even if the end-goal is realism, that a painting is a photo that is "filtered" through the artist's eyes. There should be something special about that, that makes it more "alive" than just the photograph. Thank you very much again for the lovely comment and compliments :D I hope that you found the audio to this video a little better :)

[@gurujad1533]

Yes.. much better! Thank you!

[@donkeygal2854]

Amazing video. Would love to hear more about how to avoid copyright in reference photos

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I've made a video about this topic, you can watch it here :) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIirlYqJrLJkY5I

[@leerag]

What is the white color pencil you're using that goes over your color work as well as black. I can't get white whiskers on anything.I'm using prismacolor pencils and the only thing that writes over is a gel pen which I hate as it just does on top and can flake off.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

leerag The most opaque white I've experienced is the Derwent Drawing Chinese white, although I'll often use the Caran d'Ache Luminance white instead as it sharpens to a finer point and is a little less soft than the DD Chinese White. I've listed posca marker in the description box, I think I used that just for the highlights in the eyes, but just like gel-pen, because it's water-based, it will eventually flake off. I can't remember exactly, but looking at the footage it looks like I just planned around the whiskers for this piece, using a sharp pencil to indent the paper a little to make it more difficult for them to be covered by the colours I used when completing the fur. It's also going to really depend on the paper you use too. I've recently discovered pastelmat, using it for CP work. Because of the finely textured surface, it really grips pigment and as a result you can layer lights over darks without an issue. I also really recommend Brush & Pencil's Touch Up Texture and Titanium White. You mix tiny amounts of these together to form an opaque white mixture (often named "the magic mixture" :P) that adheres very well to the surface of coloured pencil. I use a tiny 00 brush or a liner brush to apply it. It's archival and designed specifically for use with coloured pencil, won't flake off and can be drawn over with coloured pencils. You can use the Touch-Up texture to get more tooth back into your work as well, if you want to make a small correction for example. I really recommend it, it's fairly inexpensive and will last you a long time. Certainly more cost effective than gel pens, and will actually stay put!

[@leerag]

Claudia Sketches thank you. I add-on unable to get the touch up white that you mentioned here as I rang around after seeing it used by some one else.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Are you sure? I had troubles getting my hands on it too but it was entirely possible. Not sure where you're from, but Jacksons Art Supplies is a pretty good worldwide distributor of it. The touch-up texture has to be delivered by road parcel as it's flammable and can't be transported by plane. For me there was a bug on Jackson's system which told me there was not options to send it by road, but I got in contact with them and this information was false. Instead they manually entered my order, and I got my stuff :) No problem :)

[@leerag]

Claudia Sketches Hi there yes I'm sure. I'm from New Zealand I can't even get China white color pencil or illuminance white here but it's illuminance pastel. Would pastel pencil be ok over prismacolor. Our not work at all. You're art is amazing wish I could get mine right.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

The Caran d'Ache Luminance coloured pencils and Caran d'Ache pastel pencils work differently as they are a different medium altogether. You can use coloured pencil over pastels but not the other way around- pastels will not adhere properly to the coloured pencil and will likely just dust off with time or not stick to begin with. The same can be said about water-based media too. For example, you can use watercolour, gouache, acrylic or ink as a base to work over with coloured pencil, but you can't/shouldn't paint over CP work with these mediums. They'll not stick or flake off. An alternative for you might be to use white oil paint. This should be readily accessible just about anywhere and can be applied with a very fine brush, similarly to Titanium White + Touch-Up texture. Because oil paint is oil based (like CP), it will adhere well and should be archival providing you use a lightfast brand of paint. Otherwise there are other methods you can employ to preserve your whites. You can avoid colouring the areas just by being careful, indenting the paper or using masking fluid. This requires a bit more patience and care than having the ability to add white back in, but the results should be the same. Thank you very much! All it takes is practice :) Keep at it, stay determined!

[@JerryDechant]

I've watched several of your videos wherein you mention you use "solvents" to blend the colors. Is isopropyl alcohol something that works when used with color pencils?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Isopropyl alcohol works- the most common way of applying it is probably via colourless blenders that are primarily designed to be used with alcohol based markers (i.e. markers with no colourants). Derwent also sells blending pens that are filled with some sort of alcohol, and these are marketed for use with coloured pencils but work just the same as the aforementioned colourless blender. The issues I find with high % alcohol is that it dries/evaporates very quickly, making it challenging to use for large areas or dry on wet techniques. I now primarily use Zest-It pencil blend (which I have a video about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnu1c4ifh7aJpas ) . In each video description I provide a full list of materials, so you can check out which products I use for each project.

[@CoachAdamRuns]

Stunning portrait!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much! I must draw more golden retrievers and yellow labs- lovely dogs :)

[@alisonlangridge7431]

Are you thinking of doing Patreon channel Claudia? I would love training on how to do pet portraits. You explain things so clearly and in a measured way. You teach well. A pet portrait a week in real time would be great!

[@auliarahmas.d.2610]

I went out of my way to search out a video that might shed some light into this, thanks for making this, it's been pretty helpful to me. I do trace some of my works but it's not 100% traced because at the end of the day I do it to save time and I make changes to it. So I feel bad that people are witch hunting ones that do trace/reference :/ because recently I've been called out for it... But to my defense copying an artwork is a skill of its own since what matters is the end product and you shouldn't overcomplicate what you do.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for watching and commenting, I'm glad you've found the video helpful. It's such an awful feeling to be persecuted for tracing- I think often because the arguments against it are just so mind-achingly illogical. However, you do specifically mention "copying an artwork"- and this is a copyright issue, and not an issue about the actual act of tracing. You can't copy somebody else's work unless you explicitly have their permission to. The same goes for reference photos- again, you need to make sure you have permission to use the photo before you use it in any way (freehand reference or tracing). I'm happy to answer more questions if you have them about copyright, tracing and using reference. :)

[@auliarahmas.d.2610]

Claudia Sketches ah the part about copying was more of a speech expression, the reference I used are either photos I've taken myself or references that are free to use put out by many people online which I've found to be really helpful.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

That's awesome to hear! :D

[@eochaid286]

It is only a tool. Artists use other tools such as brushes instead of just using your fingers.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I agree :)

[@PaulaBean]

Technically, tracing is not a tool, but a technique. Tools are things like pencils, rulers, scissors, etc...

[@abizarrebazaar3814]

Thank you so much for this video and your thoughts. Here in Amerika I've been so shamed even for the tiniest bit of tracing

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You're very welcome- thank you for watching and commenting :D I'm not sure if tracing is something that is more accepted in some cultures/countries than others. I've experienced it being a taboo in England as well, and it seems to be quite misunderstood on the internet in general.

[@jrapprentice]

I agree with you entirely. Great portrait by the way.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much! :D

[@shashinautiyal4246]

Awesome!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you :D

[@lenacraib1549]

Thank you. ❤❤❤

[@adamschaapveld8153]

I feel like tracing is the autotune of the drawing world, I don't think theres anything strictly wrong with it but theres a certain level of extra respect I give an artist that doesn't use grids or tracing

[@divinewords4350]

What about tattoo artists??

[@PaulaBean]

Well, there is a difference. A singer who sings some vocals with autotune is done with it. A painter who traces an outline isn't done at all.

[@artlover1834]

Lol no

[@adamschaapveld8153]

@@PaulaBean well no actually it's TRUE you can autotune any vocals but If that's done the result is pretty bad similarly to tracing without skill to sound convincing with autotune you do need to be able to sing pretty well anyway

[@philochristos]

I used to be against tracing because I didn't think I could say I drew something all by myself if I had to trace it. But now I just don't care. Tracing helps me get the proportions right and stuff. Then I can get to the fun part of drawing faster. I'm not a professional, though. I'm just having fun.

[@Semperidem94]

amazing drawing. about the subject, i dont understand why tracking is demonised, i mean say i want to draw a realistic lion, you cant expect me to draw it without looking at the actual image of a lion. one has to have extremely great memory too memorize all the lines with a single look. thats why its necessary to trace. besides, if you are unskilled, tracing it wouldnt make you draw better. i personally would never judge someone who traces in their work.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

DaRkSouL Absolutely! Although there is certainly a difference between using a reference (which should really always be used) and tracing an image. Drawing from reference means that you're looking at a picture and applying what you see to the paper, whereas tracing means that you have your reference image underneath your work and using tracing paper, transfer paper or a lightbox to get your image onto paper by following the lines without using observational skills. Tracing can be quite restricting although it does usually speed the sketching process up quite considerably, but using your observational skills for the sketch doesn't necessarily make the artwork better.

[@Semperidem94]

hold on i think i misunderstood the concept of tracing. isnt drawing from a referance image (by looking at the lines and then drawing it by yourself) called tracing? like tracing with your eyes. using a tracing paper and having the referance image underneath and drawing the lines like that is like cheating (but if one has great skills like yourself, it should be okay because he/she can easily draw the same without tracing, and tracing would save the time) . is it what really tracing means? :0

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Drawing from a reference (a photograph or real life object) - not tracing. By "trace" I mean (and others usually mean) is given by this google definition "to copy (a drawing, map, or design) by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper." I don't think that the act of tracing (a copyright free image) is cheating- there are no rules in art. One of the few negatives I mention in the video is calling a traced image your own (without adding anything to it)- but that's more about being misleading and trying to gain credit where it's not earner rather than actually tracing. There are certainly far more positives to tracing than negative :) I'd recommend re-watching the video maybe, it might make more sense now! :D

[@Semperidem94]

thank you for explaination maestro, you teach me something everyday=)

[@meowlo_]

I’m not sure how I feel about tracing but I do barley do it. I only do it sometimes because I can’t draw animals and so if I want to draw an animal then I might trace, look up a tutorial, or just dry to draw that animal myself.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for commenting :)

[@meowlo_]

Claudia Sketches No problem!

[@heather333]

Great video. I agree about tracing being a starting point only. Nothing wrong with it at all. It helps train your hand/eye cordination so it improves your drawing skills. The old masters learnt by copying and tracing - and many continued with the technique for the rest of their career, so if it was good for them - who is anyone to argue.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! Very well said :)

[@rachaelpeterson1767]

I never traced my whole life until I started my art business taking on commissions a few years ago.Its a time saving tool for me. I can draw, always have been able to ever since I could pick up my 1st drawing tool. I felt guilty at 1st, but not anymore, I know I can draw. Besides, you still need good drawing skills to create a realistic portrait. My kids finished a drawing from their tracings and they still did not look realistic.

[@tammyeaton4791]

It’s okay to use a copyrighted image as a reference, just not commercially-that is, to sell, donate to charity for example. To use the material for you personal purpose as practice or home display.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

There are a lot of "ifs" and "buts" if you choose to use a copyrighted reference image. Like you say- personal use only. And that also means no uploading to social media either- even non-commercial is copyright infringement (which is why different creative commons attributions exist). To me it seems a lot simpler just to use a site like PMP or Pixabay to find references. I made a whole video investigating this topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIirlYqJrLJkY5I

[@paepae1500]

I learned drawing/sketching by Tracing, i used tracing like 7 years ago, like half of my drawing life is full of trace, but one time i tried doing art on my own, i got the handle of it, i drew a lot of realistic sketches of people and other, i think tracing is not bad, it acts like a stepping stone to some beginners but i still wouldn't recommend if you really want to learn.

[@PaulaBean]

Well, at least tracing trains your hand/brain coordination. That pencil isn't going to move itself ;-)

[@Raccoondarlings]

I came here to know what tracing is... And perfectly I know that now💕

[@MaZEEZaM]

Thank you particularly in regards to the comments on tracing and learning speed. I’m in two minds, as a reasonably competent drawer, I really want to improve on drawing realistic images and am doing my best to draw from observation using multiple references images as I also felt drawing from observation requires greater skill which it does however my mind also told me tracing may help my mind learn to improve estimating proportions so I am very much in two minds. I think reflecting on what you have said, perhaps I should allow myself to trace in order to learn more quickly with the aim to be able to draw well from observation alone. +1 Sub 🐮

[@ClaudiaSketches]

So glad you like my videos! I always recommend giving everything a go at least once- if you don't like it you can always go back to what you usually do :D Let me know how it goes!

[@MaZEEZaM]

Cheers, I am trying to draw 3 nice pictures for my niece and nephews one of which is a rabbit, as christmas presents. Perfect given the following video of yours featuring a bunny :)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Glad I could help! :D I'm trying to diversify the animals I draw on my channel so I'm open to suggestions if you think of anything you'd like to see in the future!

[@MaZEEZaM]

I will give it some thought, I have only watched a few of your videos thus far those of which I really enjoyed and learn from and had a quick scan through your channel. I really like seeing your indepth art supply reviews and all your tutorials on not only improving skills, tutorials and also speed drawings though I prefer slow real time drawing tutorials such as this...kzbin.info/www/bejne/boDMmZ2krKZjjZo This man used to work for Disney for many years, animating characters such as Nala from The Lion King, one of my childhood fav films, he also worked on Aladdin and many others, I think he designed Genie. He has a large focus on digital paintings but if you look at his channel he has many other media types and his main interest is drawing animals. His long real time tutorials are the best I have found that I can actually learn from as he not only does everything slow and steady at a pace we can draw along with him, he explains reasons behind everything he does. Worth learning from I would suggest.

[@Mind_of_MATT]

Thumbs up for cake mix analogy.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Glad you like it! :D

[@Mind_of_MATT]

That analogy summed it up nicely I think ;) Great work on that dog as well.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! And you can never go wrong with cake :P

[@Mind_of_MATT]

Indubitably!

[@demoniac4821]

I tend to trace my own art, like if i feel lazy and i like shape of eyes/face i did for another drawing. I will trace it and then add things on top to make it look different.

[@debbieelholm7921]

I do not think there is anything wrong with tracing. Here are some arguments in support of it: #1 I used tracing to protect my original freehand drawing. My niece, much to my delight, has fallen in love with horses, like me! Her mom and her decided to redo her room in horses. So for some of the wall art, my sister asked if they could see some of my horse artwork and some of my photography of my friend's horses. They ended up choosing 1 artwork and 2 photos. Now, I did not want to destroy my original drawing, so I traced it. #2 My photos were in the 4x6 format and I wanted them to be in the 8x10 format. I did not want to reprint them out in the 8x10 format, so I did a freehand drawing of the photos into the larger format. Then I traced it. This way, if I make a serious mistake, I can go back to the freehand original and retrace it. This will save me time by not having to redraw the photos!

[@djsubliminalreeve]

for me i trace the basic outline for time saving as i have 3 kids lol. even if you trace you will not be a good artist unless you know how to create texture and shade. when i go ful freehand its because im creating a fictitious person from my mind or when doing backgrounds and clothes textures. i only trace the outline of the face as that has to be perfect and measuring with lines takes far too long for a lesser result.

[@robynwhite5662]

My own brother-in-law who paints with oils but has lost interest. He has talent in spades said he will never see me as a true artist as I trace. I asked my sister to not tell him but it was the first thing out of her mouth over breakfast the very next morning.. 😔

[@ClaudiaSketches]

What a shame! I'm sorry about that, Robyn.

[@Pravin_artist]

no it's amazing 😍😍😍

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Pravin Art'Holic Thank you and thanks for commenting! :D

[@elka5768]

Michelangelo used pinholes pounced with chalk to stencil onto his walls

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Indeed! Projecting, tracing, lightboxing... so many different technologies for transferring a real image (or photo) onto a drawing surface. And like you say, it's certainly not a new technique!

[@PaulaBean]

Vermeer used strings he would attach to the canvas, for drawing perspective lines. The holes trough where the strings were attached can still be seen in the canvas.

[@kireniacarratala9231]

What her surname of lisa to find o you tube.thank you

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Lachri Fine Art :)

[@sokayconnor]

I feel as long as you dont trace other peoples art its fine!

[@PaulaBean]

Tracing other people's art is fine too, but publishing it and calling it your own, is not.

[@sokayconnor]

@@PaulaBean Then its not your art, it's someone elses art-

[@taurusdoodles2060]

captaintraditional.deviantart.com/art/Colorful-700698005 This is one of my assignments from my highschool art class last year. I traced the original photo I took but made it my own! The teacher had us all take our own photos with his camera, we'd put together a model or ask another student to pose for us. I put together some still life, took the photo, printed it out, covered the back with white chalk(we were doing white on black), and traced it. I took the artistic liberty to do whatever I pleased with it, going outside the box and turning it into an abstract mess! I've been doing this same process since my freshman year(I'm a senior now) and in doing so has taught me proportion, anatomy, how to draw a circle without any tools, and even the basic shapes of what I'm drawing. Since I'm now in AP art in my school semester, I've taken the decision to finally stop this and use what I've learned. And guess what? I'm drawing my dog with only the photo on my phone! I now do thumbnail sketches before I start, but I took the photo and traced out the basic shape of my dog's head on the medibang app so I don't go all boxy with her head! You can learn by tracing in many ways, but its only a tool; not a "all the time" thing. In my opinion its something all young artists should do in the beginning and then should break off from later on.

[@azumi.7616]

For short it improves your drawing when you're not tracing cause your brain remembers it and its not cheating its a stepping stone for beginners

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I agree! It's a useful tool no matter the artist's skill level- like you say, it's a fantastic way of improving observational skills for improving artists, and also an excellent way to create accurate outlines quickly for artists of all levels and abilities. Thanks for watching and commenting. :)

[@Madd_M00]

Can you trace you own photos for drawing

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Sure! If you've taken the photograph, then you own the copyright. The only instance where this doesn't apply is if you've taken a photograph of somebody else's work (e.g. somebody's drawing, a still frame of a movie etc).

[@lewandlo]

Thanks for the information on tracing. I am struggling with drawing accurate faces to look like the subject you are drawing. I will say this. I carve decoys ,birds and fish.along with animals. I have traced every single carving that I have carved. On the initial block of wood I must trace a pattern on the wood to cut out the shape of the animal I want to carve. If I free handed every pattern on the wood,it would not look like lets say a goose. The profile of the bird must look like that bird because all birds have different profiles. Everything must be measured,the bill the distance between the eyes. If you measure them ,technically you are tracing with a ruler,no? So I think if you want a portrait to look exactly like your subject it should be traced. Right now if I have a refernce photo of a face,I measure it anyways to get the eyes ,lips ,nose and mouth porportioned correctly. That is tracing but without using tracing paper. So I will not decieve anyone by saying I drew this by hand but I will say the finished project was drawn and colored by me.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You're right in that there are many different ways that the same and accurate results can be achieved! Rulers, tracing paper- they're both tools that can be used for the same purpose. It's absolutely up to personal preference what tools you use to create a sketch. :) I always trace human faces for any work outside a sketchbook. We as humans are so finely tuned to detect subtle differences in facial structure in order to recognise different people and expressions- so it only takes a something to be a fraction off for it to change the look of the person entirely. Measuring... tracing... as long as you're using the tools that suit you best to create the most accurate result you can, I'm always supportive :D Thanks for watching and commenting, appreciate it! :)

[@rachelm7525]

Hmmm....so the Apollo 11 rocket, then... that was built without blueprints?.......that's what I thought....... Nothing, but nothing happens without a plan! 🙂

[@jjp7914]

Sometimes I grid a picture I want to paint.

[@eyeeerie]

I think that when you're tracing photo of an animal and just practicing the shapes of it then it's okay. I used to do that when i was younger.

[@rohitbabar8150]

Love from India ♥️♥️

[@Doop-Doop]

Actually I learned to free hand by tracing.. I’m not ashamed to admit but in 2017 I was a huge tracer lol my whole school year in 2017 I traced others art but over this summer I learned I shouldn’t trace because it was wrong so I tried drawing from my imagination and actually drew an anime wolf and it wasn’t terrible! So I know u said tracing won’t help you learn but actually it helped me a lot I learned fast from tracing hopefully one day I can improve my art. Also is freehanding one step away to become an actual artist?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I didn't say that tracing won't help you learn, in fact, I say the exact opposite in the video! :) 3:08 : "The first one (argument against tracing) is that tracing doesn't teach you anything, and I have experienced this to be completely false myself." Tracing isn't wrong, although you do need to be very careful about tracing other people's artwork as it can easily be copyright infringement (which is breaking the law, and also pretty bad for your online reputation). If you're not uploading that artwork anywhere, then it's not something to worry about. But if you do want to upload the artwork, you'll need permission from the artist that it's ok to trace or draw from their artwork and credit the original artist by name.

[@TheNosarajr]

It's hard to under stand with the music playing

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Hi! Thanks for the feedback! This is an older video of mine- since then I've improved my microphone quality, sound levels and in my last few videos I don't have any music playing. Most of my newer videos have been subtitled too, but the auto-captioning on this older video is pretty accurate overall if you find that helpful.

[@rohitbabar8150]

You've got skills

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you :D

[@mischabe3]

My view is that how you begin your work, either by sketching or tracing, is only the very first step. Everything else you put into your work afterwards speaks of your creativity and artistry and the quality of your work. Give an identical sketch to a beginner and a professional and watch how they turn out in the end. I also believe tracing can help you see accurate proportions and improve your drawing skills.

[@tammyeaton4791]

If you’re NOT trying to deceive anyone, and/or it’s your OWN picture(or it’s from a ROYALTY-FREE source) there’s NO PROBLEM. I agree with you. It’s actually a BRIDGE, not a CRUTCH. My cousin became MUCH more accurate at drawing quite early due to tracing.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Tammy Eaton Very well said :D

[@FurthermoreJack]

If you want your art to have a personal touch - more character - don't trace

[@ClaudiaSketches]

That's a really interesting point of view :D Whilst I don't disagree that using a traced outline will limit expression to a degree, you can still convey a lot of character using a highly accurate outline. Give a bunch of artists the same image to trace from and all their results will have their own flare :)

[@King-Hammurabi]

Personally, I don’t think tracing is wrong. As long as you give credit, it can help you improve your art even a little, speaking from experience. It can also help you be a little more satisfied with your lines. I used to trace my favorite artists/shows, and it helped me find an art style.

[@joshknightfall]

Art for me is not a talent competition. It’s not about skill. Skill isn’t the thing, skill is the thing that gets you to the thing. The thing is expression. The thing is vision made manifest. The thing is communication. A statement. So, I care ZERO about how an artist got there. I care nothing about if it was tracing, freehand, magazine clipping mosaic, molded metal. I care about what the ideas are. I care about why an artwork is, not so much WHAT it is. Gotta say. The push against tracing is ableist too. If someone can control a vector graphics program with just their brain, and they have to because their hands don’t work, they’re still a “real” artist. Well what about invisible disabilities? See? We don’t know. That’s personal. So we don’t get to dictate what methods are “ok” and which constitute real artistry.

[@kerry5586]

The music is really distracting in this video Claudia. Just hearing you speak is great and you don't need music.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Check the pinned comment :)

[@kerry5586]

@@ClaudiaSketches whoops sorry Claudia, I didn't spot that.

[@antresia.9723]

your voice sounds like Kirsty pastridge 😊

[@Becca-UK]

I’m struggling to hear you over the music 😳

[@allen8iluminada]

I know I can draw anything I want, but I love to trace BECAUSE IT SAVES ME VALUABLE TIME! That's all. there are no rules in art. I don't have to prove to anybody that I can draw. If a person is CREATIVE, that person can be free to use any TOOL available to an artist: projector, light box, trace paper, etc....

[@briza2022]

sell as coloring and thats okay

[@bee-pc9st]

I only trace my art

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Do whatever you find works best for you :D Everybody's a little bit different :)

[@narcosisfilms]

I watched a program once where David Hockney explored the use of the Camera Obscura by the old masters to assist them in their paintings - in the video I saw he explored using mathematical perspective to paint buildings and elaborate candelabras and showed that the use of the projected image on the canvas by camera obscura was actually more accurate than trying to construct the image mathematically on the canvas. Artists have been using tools like the camera obscura well before previously thought - but as a tool to help get proportions. There is nothing wrong with this - you still need to spend time eyeballing your subject and applying paint to the canvas which still requires skill. So I don't think it doesn't matter how you get there, what is important is that you are observing and drawing/painting, and continually learning from your processes.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I agree entirely- people have this idea that tracing is a new-fangled thing and that makes it wrong somehow... (which is doubly confusing to me because there are plenty of new technologies and processes in art that aren't as judged nearly as harshly.) I tried to make an analogy about tracing the other day on one of my livestreams: Most people wouldn't judge an author for using a thesaurus or dictionary to help construct their work. Individual words aren't special on their own and you can't just thumb through a dictionary, string words together and expect something beautiful at the end. I think it's the same with tracing in art. Ultimately it's just a tool to help do a job and you need the skill to apply the tool effectively as part of a whole.

[@MaZEEZaM]

From what I understand from my previous law studies, copywriter is really only an issue if you make money or profit from its use. I also understand copywrite is not applicable if you substantially change the piece in which case simply using the outline then completing the image as you do would very much constitute substantial change. BARE IN MIND I AM NOT A LAWYER, AS SUCH MY COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS LEGAL ADVICE. 🐨

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I plan on making a video about copyright very shortly. Copyright varies from country to country, but if you want to be safe... ONLY use images you have the rights to (i.e. take the photos yourself or use a royalty free photo sharing site). It's simple to be in the safe zone... but very complicated if you want to be in the grey area!

[@MaZEEZaM]

Very true, the final part of my comment was because of the thought of the litigious aspect of American society even though I'm an Australian.

[@juniorporras1508]

ok yall im an Artist and I love to draw. I can draw freehand and I sometimes trace. I have read a few posts on here about if you trace and call it your artwork then its horrible and not your artwork. Look at Tattoo Artist "what do you think they do when they tattoo on a person. 1st they trace the picture or portrait on a 3 ply paper 2nd they measure where it will be placed on the persons body who they will tattoo. 3rd They apply the outline onto the body and spray this water type thing and last they press onto the wet outline and remove slowly off the body part they are going to tattoo. All the Tattoo Artist do is add the details and color in. Why do you think there tattoo artwork comes out so good. So tracing is part of Art

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Junior Porras Absolutely! The shading and colouring often requires an even closer eye for detail and good observational skills. There's no shortcuts or workarounds for that. :)

[@juniorporras1508]

I trace the outline of portraits, but I know how to put all the details into the portrait and it looks really great after im done it. When I draw freehand it comes out good too. I erase to much that it messes up the paper even if I light draw it. Im glad someone understands

[@marywest2896]

I think the analogy of the cake mix in describing tracing is good way of explaining how a tracing is just a starting point, not the completed work. excellent. just watching you do the dog--. the tracing would be the bare outline of the dog. the shading is your own. it would look very flat and unfinished just a bare out line. it is all that work of shading and color blending and blocking that makes the art 3 dimensional and more real.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I'm pleased you liked my bizarre analogy :)

[@jeffreyduff4269]

Claudia, you have disappeared for the last 4-5 years. Are you doing okay? Are you going to come back? Please ...

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I hope to make more, but whether I will is yet to be decided. I've had a lot going on in my personal life and to do with health, and of course this takes priority. I enjoyed making them and helping people, but it's a lot of work (20+ hours per video, minimum) for very little financial gain, and unfailingly attract somebody to complain about something 😅

[@josephwunstell1008]

If you trace, then tell people you do. If you try to pass it off as free hand sketch ,then it's dishonest. If I pay for my portrait i don't want someone to trace my photo.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I agree that passing off a plain tracing as a freehand sketch is dishonest- it's something that I think I mentioned in the video. Out of curiosity though, may I ask why you'd specifically want a piece that was started with a freehanding rather than tracing (when the end results can be identical)?

[@josephwunstell1008]

@@ClaudiaSketches I grew up admiring artist and especially portraits. And still love looking at great portraits. I could draw before I learned to write . I've done a little drawing on and off. Tracing isn't real to me. I still admire those who can paint so well,even if it is traced. But I will always prefer sketch without tracing.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for the response :)

[@josephwunstell1008]

@@ClaudiaSketches You are welcome. Thank you for replying to me.I didn't know I would get a reply.

[@PaulaBean]

@@josephwunstell1008 It looks like you're more concerned about the process than the end product.