What’s with all this hate with “tracing” photos?

I’ve read confessions where people state that they have “lost respect” for artists when they find out that they use photos and image stocks as bases/reference and “trace” them. They act like the artists are suddenly frauds and liars. Well, let me inform you guys:

Both of my parents are professional illustrators, with my dad being an art director and decently famous in an certain genre of art. No, I am not bragging, I’m giving you these extra details for a reason. You see, both my parents often use photographs that they have had to professionally shoot themselves for reference, or even buy online. My dad has spent plenty of time cutting, pasting and arranging pieces with many different photos to create to setting and reference he needs. They’ll use these as bases for sketches, paintings, etc. and very often alter them to how they want while painting. 

No, that does not mean they magically create perfect and ripped off art. I have watched them work myself, and let me tell you, it takes a serious level of SKILL to be able to do that. You have to understand anatomy, lighting, techniques, and so many many more things to understand what areas need to be emphasized, altered, etc. The level of talent and skill it takes to use these examples is beyond the understanding of some of you. No, that is not an insult, I’m saying that I know many of you will not understand what I am saying, because I use to not understand it myself, but being able to observe it personally has given me a better understanding. 

People without skill who try to trace a photo do a terrible job. They don’t understand anatomy or details. Many artists, like my parents, spend many many years learning how to draw, paint, design- refining and developing their skills for the better. My parents use reference and bases, does that make them any less of the artists they are? NO! They normally have the skill to do it free hand if they wanted to, but they live in the REAL WORLD full of deadlines, payroll, and other pressing stresses. They don’t have the time to doodle and sketch, trying to get an arm length juuuust right. With other amateur artists, using photos as references or bases helps them develop a much better understanding of shapes, cloths, etc. It help me too. 

There is a big difference between “tracing” a photo and using a photo to one’s advantages. Sure there are cases where people abuse using references, but often it shows in their work and looks bad. Please understand there is so so so much more to the methods of art then just free hand, and not everything appears to be exactly what they seem at first. Trust me when I say that this is a technique, profession, and procedure to all kinds of art, and there are also short cuts and useful tricks that all kinds of artist learn to use. That does NOT make them “fakes” and “frauds”. Like I said, there are always bad cases, but do not mark everyone as black sheep.

Sometime, try “tracing” a photo yourself to see how easy it is, and how the end result looks. You might realize it takes a bit more ability, effort, and skill then you thought it would. Who knows? You might even learn from it. Thanks for you time :)

 -corruptedcolors