Is it considered cheating if you...

[GoodFang]

Is it considered cheating if you draw a real person portrait from a photo of the internet? or do you have to memorize the person? I Have been practicing Realism {I can't always draw manga.i would be doing the same mistake many deviantartist do)and I drew a portrait of a Mexican Actress, Angelica Vale but i used a photo of her on the internet and it looks almost identical to her facial features (heard getting one's unique face is hard for a beginner) but would that be considered cheating? i would post the drawing but i do not own a scanner.
and one more question, do you think a person who started to draw 10 months ago would be able to draw anything more complicated or am i progressing fast if i can already do portraits,basic perspective backgrounds,shading,lighting,blending tones,basic gesture drawing,knowledge of the human body?

[GoodFang]

well i don't know who to give credit to if i get it from a website, i'm not trying to sell it or show it off. so if I am beginner would you say what i am doing (using reference) is alright? because i heard drawing from life will help you become a better understanding of things. Sorry if i ask a lot of questions i just don't want to go in the wrong road in my favorite hobby and hopefully, one day i could make something out of what i really like to do.

[radiodark]

Drawing from life is different from drawing from a photograph- drawing from life is when you draw something in front of you, like a person or landscape that's really there. Drawing from life is the more helpful of the two, but both are useful to aspiring artists.

[GoodFang]

At 5/11/12 03:11 AM, lovingthedark wrote: Drawing from life is different from drawing from a photograph- drawing from life is when you draw something in front of you, like a person or landscape that's really there. Drawing from life is the more helpful of the two, but both are useful to aspiring artists.

I would draw from life, but i would need that person to stay in the same position, but i heard you draw from life in Art I in my highschool and ism taking it next year,guess from now I'll use photographs and possibly try to find someone to draw.

[Verspar]

What's your aim (as in goal)? Are you trying to be able to draw only portrait in a realistic form or are you going to draw thing in a more realistic style in general. If in general, you should also draw anything remotely near you, like an object, a desk, anything.

[TurkeyOnAStick]

At 5/11/12 01:37 AM, GoodFang wrote: I drew a portrait of a Mexican Actress, Angelica Vale but i used a photo of her on the internet and it looks almost identical to her facial features

Generally, there's no problem with using a pic, it's the method that's used which is the problem.
Did you use a grid?

Please submit the pic to this thread, first.

[Aigis]

At 5/11/12 01:37 AM, GoodFang wrote: Is it considered cheating if you draw a real person portrait from a photo of the internet? or do you have to memorize the person?

Of course it's not cheating.

How are you going to learn if you don't draw from reference?

[GoodFang]

At 5/11/12 04:30 AM, TurkeyOnAStick wrote:

At 5/11/12 01:37 AM, GoodFang wrote: I drew a portrait of a Mexican Actress, Angelica Vale but i used a photo of her on the internet and it looks almost identical to her facial features

Generally, there's no problem with using a pic, it's the method that's used which is the problem.
Did you use a grid?

Please submit the pic to this thread, first.

i would likek to submit the picture but i don't have a scanner, i didn't draw this with tablet, neither did i trace over it, or used a grid. i just drew what I saw.

My goals right now are undecided, i am trying not to stick to only 1 kind of drawing artform, because it's best to be open minded about things