Tracing Exercise for technique practice (pen & ink)

[@Riivorn]

Tracing is 100% a valid way to learn how to do something, it’s how I taught mysef almost everything I know about art

[@thirstyforlaundrydetergent9664]

That is awesome advice for beginners or people who want to get back into drawing and don't know where to start. Thank you

[@longstrideillustration]

Glad it was helpful! happy inking! 🙂

[@TREKKS300]

Not really great advice for beginners but intermediate yes

[@longstrideillustration]

@@TREKKS300 in my opinion, for beginners the best practice is to draw from Life/observation and I'll be doing a video on this soon. Thanks for watching!

[@kishaagathaarevalo8166]

This is so true, as a fellow artist, (digital) I also started from tracing other people's arts. (I know it may sound bad but as long as you ask for permission which I did and do not claim their arts as yours and give them credit especially if you wanna post it then you're good to go) and now, I basically have my own art style and ways of coloring, shading, and even adding details!

[@longstrideillustration]

Asking for permission is a great approach! when I reference birds for my drawings - if they're not royalty-free images I will reach out to the photographer

[@Damian_Creates]

That actually how I got the hang of drawing when I was 12 I used to trace but now I draw all my own art

[@longstrideillustration]

That's great to hear. Tracing was regarded as a controversial method from the old schools of thought, though it became more accepted with the introduction of digital tools for commercial arts (in the '70s) as just another method to reach an end result. When the goal is to learn, I think it's valid, and I agree with you that eventually we just do our own art 😀

[@Damian_Creates]

@@longstrideillustration yes, back then I didnt tell anyone I was tracing to learn because it was considered stealing, especially when bases came out, the ones you could buy off of Deviant art

[@choncy]

Perfect practice makes perfect

[@mybigyear]

I am going to do this! Thank you ❤

[@emmanuelwolfmusic410]

A very good Idea

[@ozzy7609]

When I got back into drawing I was losing my mind because I wasn’t creating the pieces I was making while bored in school. I had to trace to remember strokes, lines and curves as well as how and when. Now I just trace a couple things, usually pictures I take, just to keep my motion active and accuracy consistent if I’m too busy with digital art or just doing nothing lol. Tracing is only cringe when you’re stealing artwork or trying to impress as if it was a quick one take, idk.

[@longstrideillustration]

My thoughts as well. Thanks for watching and all the best with your drawing practice 🙂

[@SDW90808]

FWIW, I bought a cheap (~$20 USD) tracing light from Amazon. There are three different light settings. I don’t use it often, but sometimes it’s a nice change of pace.

[@longstrideillustration]

I think that we might have the same one. I just purchased it recently. Check out my Moebius video - I show it there.

[@ashur5894]

That is a good idea, thanks!

[@longstrideillustration]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paninokapatricia3752]

How do i start doing that? What type of paper is that? And that brush pen is awesome!

[@longstrideillustration]

Hi, that's tracing paper you'll find at most art stores and a pentel brush pen, more inking supplies on my tools page: longstrideillustration.com/tools/

[@rchaelk2319]

Who are the artists from your references in this vidwo?

[@longstrideillustration]

The first image was from a book called “Inking the Marvel Way” and I’m unsure who the artist was, the second image is Meobius, and the third image is mine.

[@abhiii3333]

Tracing is fine for learning tbh but personally I just can't bring myself to do it, I am never satisfied with the end result whenever I trace even if it's just for learning or practicing.

[@longstrideillustration]

It's not for everyone, though always there as an option. Thanks for watching!

[@them4309]

Good artists borrow from the masters. Great artists steal from them.

[@longstrideillustration]

haha! I'd never heard that saying, made me laugh out loud, thanks!

[@yackattack1312]

what paper do you use on top?

[@longstrideillustration]

It's tracing paper, this one is by Artist Loft but any Brand will do

[@pol.ina_art]

🔥

[@GTA_500]

But are you practicing correct technique correctly ?

[@longstrideillustration]

It's a good question, because tracing is just one of many methods to improve drawing skills and is best practiced in combination with other exercises along with learning aids (instruction, mentoring, courses, and more).🙂

[@berserklover004]

No disrespect, but I disagree. Listen, there is nothing that will get you ahead fast other than practice. I suggest you just roughly sketch out your own idea at the beginning and then use the works of artists you admire as references in order to learn from there techniques. Trust me, DO NOT use references too much, I have done that for about two years and now I kinda have to go back and re~learn drawing from imagination, which is just pretty hard and other artists seem to find it easier when they have drawn without using references from the beginning! So for comic art, try using your imagination as much as possible. Look at references using the art of artists you admire to learn different techniques and effects, but avoid using references for about, let’s say 80% of the time. If you disagree or have any thoughts on my advise, please be aware that I’m also still learning and haven’t really figured out my own style yet. I’m open to your opinions, so please let me know what you think!

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers