art copy and why you should do it
Art requires a few things:
- A great idea
- Composition
- Colour choices
- Execution
The last one means you need a degree of technical expertise.
In the old days, before I was born, ahem, the old masters had apprentices who were talented, but needed to learn the craft. The apprentices had to learn to copy the style, and then were given the menial boring jobs of blocking in in the style of the master, for example.
You can’t copy a picture and then sell it today, it is illegal. However, you can make use of the same ideas. You see, getting a great idea, taking time to work out the composition and colour takes time. In fact so much time that by the time you have done all those things you could have spent your time doing something better to improve your skills.
So, sometimes, you should take time out to simply copy. That might mean identical copying. But if you can there is a better way.
Please like my page on facebook/doodleopus. Don’t forget, click ‘like’ a second time and choose ‘get notifications’. I will be running competitions to win originals of my artwork as well as artists materials. You can also ask me any technique questions, or about how I go about the art.
I find it useful sometimes to take someone else’s picture but do it in your own style. A completely different style is most useful. That way you can concentrate on technique and not worry so much about working out great composition or what makes a good picture, the work has been done for you. You can learn composition, and when to break the rules. Technique requires you to find your own path and become unique.
Here’s my version of a picture by Rodney Matthews, where I was experimenting with using lifting prep fluid and gum arabic. Never used the latter before, so wanted to know what happened.
copy of Rodney Matthews dufflepuds made happy
If you want to give my suggestion a go, get an existing piece of art, and choose a section of it, a feature. Study it for a few minutes until it burns into your mind with your eyes closed. Now take away the reference and draw the picture using your own style. (just a note, if you are ever going to upload a picture in the way I have above make it clear that its a copy and your source materials!)
