Comments for TheVirtualInstructor Blog

Comment on Is It OK to Trace in Art? by Michael O'Leary

Michael O'Leary — Thu, 16 May 2019 17:02:41 +0000

Practicing on the Old masters or others paintings.. is a common way of learning..

Comment on Is It OK to Trace in Art? by Michael O'Leary

Michael O'Leary — Thu, 16 May 2019 17:01:49 +0000

In reply to Deb Cravens. Exactly.. taking a photo.. and tracing your own photo is simply an extension in the process.. otherwise by that logic all photographers are copying.. Mike

Comment on Is It OK to Trace in Art? by Michael O'Leary

Michael O'Leary — Thu, 16 May 2019 17:00:01 +0000

In reply to pattycakes. I think if your tracing your own photos.. its just an extension of the process... Mike

Comment on Is It OK to Trace in Art? by Mike O'Leary

Mike O'Leary — Thu, 16 May 2019 16:57:20 +0000

In reply to Nejla.

many realist painters over the years have traced.. but they dont trace the entire drawing.. they trace ( for example) a busy street scene.. they trace the basic buildings from the point of view of proportions.. balance and neg and positive space. I can draw reasonably, but find it tedious to take one of my photos of a busy street scene and to draw the basic layout ( for the third time.. as we know drawing a subject over and over is how you learn the subject) . Sometimes I draw a painting many times.. and paint small samples to work on subject and colour.. and in the end.. trace my own work.. to do the final piece… Im not sure what shows you are going in but if the works are comparable in quality.. ( there is alot more to the quality than just the basic structure of the piece… composition is still decided by the artist.. colour.. treatement of the subject.. Technology has advanced in many aspects to the arts right up to drawing on computers.. Tracing is just another technical assistant..

Comment on Drawing Basics – Construction by Christine

Christine — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:44:08 +0000

Thanks Matt This is an amazing site. All the Best

Comment on How to Paint Waves with Acrylics by Matt Fussell

Matt Fussell — Mon, 13 May 2019 20:13:44 +0000

In reply to Tricia Clark. Yes, absolutely!

Comment on Is It OK to Trace in Art? by Deb Cravens

Deb Cravens — Wed, 08 May 2019 19:39:18 +0000

I see a lot of comments here implying that people are tracing other people’s work. I don’t think that is the issue. No one is trying to sell the Mona Lisa. No one is talking about stealing. We are talking about tracing. Tracing from a picture we took, tracing to get a shape idea…The question isn’t about stealing someone else’s art and selling it as your own. I’m in the middle of a huge tracing project for my own use. I’m tracing outlines of famous paintings onto small watercolor pages in order to make a display for my home. This serves as practice for me, as I’m working on shading and detail work, which I do NOT trace. No one is going to look at my miniature of “Girl With a Pearl Earring” and think it’s an original. This is for my personal use and enjoyment. Get off your high horse and actually read the question. Remember what they say about assumptions… Those of you who do trace for whatever reason- As long as you’re not stealing, stop apologizing or thinking you’re not good enough. Don’t feel guilty!

Comment on How to Mix Skin Tones by gracie trapp

gracie trapp — Wed, 08 May 2019 16:21:49 +0000

i love this!!!

Comment on Dealing With Artistic Frustration – When Things Don’t Go Your Way by Mary Benton

Mary Benton — Mon, 06 May 2019 23:47:48 +0000

Great wisdom in this, Matt. Thanks for sharing it. I find that sometimes I am simply trying too hard and I need to step away from something I’m working on. One piece I had to cover with a sheet because I couldn’t bear to look at it. When I came back to it in a couple of days, I was able to do what needed to be done. It is also easy for me to over-value a work, because of how much time I’ve put into it or the meaning I attach to it. The letting go can be sort of a spiritual process as I learn to focus less on myself…

Comment on Dealing With Artistic Frustration – When Things Don’t Go Your Way by Cora Thomas

Cora Thomas — Fri, 03 May 2019 08:33:45 +0000

Hi Matt, this is what I also needed to read.I was struggling for sometime and didn’t know how to explain that feeling. So I quit and started crochet. Finished 8 blankets up to now but after reading your letter I am thinking of going on with art but a different medium I think oil