Subject: Harry Potter Roundtable Discussion II: Fan-artist’s Forum

[aah_mod]

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Roundtable Discussion. Please refer here for the Roundtable Discussion guidelines.

Topic: A Place for Fan-Artists to Discuss the Experience of Being an Artist in Fandom - proposed by raitalaHere are some potential discussion points, but really this is just a friendly space for fanartists to get together and

Comments

[autumn_veela]

Hi everyone! *waves*

I'm primarily a writer who recently posted my first fanart, and would love do more in the future. I have a couple of question for the experienced artists out there:

1. What is the correct etiquette when using a photo reference for art? Do you need to mention it in Artist's notes? Do you need to link to the reference? And although I know that there have been many prior discussions on the "validity" of artists using references, I'd be interested to know what people here think. Do you feel art is devalued if you know that photo references have been used?

2. I'd be thrilled if anyone could give me hints on drawing backgrounds. Are there any specific methods or techniques that you find work well? How do you ensure the perspective and proportions are correct?

I'd be so grateful for any help, and am so excited for this discussion. : )

[damned_queen]

On your first question: I've felt that quite a lot of commenters don't like it when they notice you've used a photo for reference, esp. not if they actually recognize the photo in question.

I once did art using a Boyd pic and got some unsupportive comments on that. But, really, mostly people don't recognize the pics at all because they simply don't know them and then they don't really care if you've mentioned you've used reference in the header

Anyway, I still think it's a bit strange people on LJ/in fandom are bothered by the use of ref pics, but hey that's just me. I guess that's one of the reasons why I am by no means a well-kwown artist :-)

[raitala]

[autumn_veela]

Thanks for replying! To be honest, I think the only people I've ever seen complain about photo referencing weren't artists themselves. : )
It's good to know that other people use them, though!

[hrymfaxe]

Hi there! :D Welcome among the fanartist

[raitala]

[hrymfaxe]

With backgrounds I am either totally lazy or I do a full-on landscape or interior

Oh, I'm the same. There appears to be no gentle middle ground. ;) I try to use the colours or values to put the character in focus, but you are right that it is sometimes difficult when you look up after a few hours and suddenly find that you were getting caught in the details of the background, and it is suddenly more interesting to look at than the characters... /run-on sentence.

I prefer to mix references too, because I have a picture in my head I want to get out and there is never going to be a complete reference for that.

In complete agreement here!

[raitala]

[hrymfaxe]

LOL! Go art snobs! :D

[reira_21]

You're not alone. ;) We could make a club.

[raitala]

[reira_21]

Yes! I thought throwing my two cents in might be a good idea, since it's 40 degrees here and I can't sleep.

[raitala]

[reira_21]

Glad to be here! *eats dozens of olives*

[autumn_veela]

I'm glad that other people use referencing, and I love your ruler analogy.

And thanks for the background advice, I will practise my little arse off! Do you know of any good LJ communities for feedback and help with these things?

[hrymfaxe]

I must admit that I don't use lj very much for feedback with art. There are good webpages out there though, with great forums. What medium do you use for your art?