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Popo-Licious β Bases Are Theft, Not Art (Rant Time)
Published: 2012-07-17 04:44:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 10580; Favourites: 28; Downloads: 0
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I'm getting absolutely sick and tired of this base-making bullshit. I was browsing the front page a few days ago, and one of the twenty most popular images in the last twenty-four hours was a base created by some jerk ripping off an artist from Pixiv. The response I got?
Not that big a deal? Imagine this. You're an artist; a real artist, and not some hack who traces with Microsoft Paint. You've spent days perfecting a sketch, followed by weeks crafting precise lineart, and painstakingly coloring your masterpiece. You're so happy and so proud, until someone comes along and spends all of six minutes tracing your magnum opus without your consent. They then upload it to their gallery, alert the world that they spent forever working on this and that it's their greatest treasure and that you can only use it with their credit and maybe, maybe, a link to the original artwork will be included in a footnote at the bottom of the page. Meanwhile, your beautiful vision is distributed as a cheap, bastardized copy for the masses to edit and proceed to claim as their own, while your own work drifts out into obscurity. Is your blood boiling yet? Mine is. Unfortunately, this sort of screw the rules, self-entitled attitude is the norm. There are a few selfless and kind souls out their who make their own bases from the ground up and allow them to be edited and used for distribution, but most of the work out their is traced. Traced from official art, from screenshots, and from other artists, almost always without any sort of consent.
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To quote my Japanese friend who recently had some of her Pixiv work doctored up without permission:
You wrote that you found it on Pixiv,but most of artists(i mean,at least Japanese artists) who uploads to that site is really don't want someone to use our arts with and w/o permission.So please don't bring any arts from there.
Dropping a link to the original image isn't enough unless you have the explicit consent of the artist that your ripping work from, and even then, it still has no place on deviantART. What is the purpose of a base? To show everyone how good at tracing you are, or to let everyone know that you're a terrible artist who won't even give a few good and honest attempts a fair try? It certainly isn't a learning tool, which seems to be the common defense. How are base-users actually learning anything if they're being supplied with the most difficult parts of the image? You will never learn how to draw an arm or a leg or a face if you continue to use arms and legs and faces that someone else has drawn for you. I can't even claim that bases have artistic value as derivative works.
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Apparently, deviantART is actually condoning this sort of crap, or at least contributing to the confusion and the false understanding that tracing is acceptable. I could maybe understand a gallery for eyeballing, or tracing with the intent to allow extreme novices to practice, but bases imply distribution, and "traced bases" implies stealing and then distributing. I'm astonished to see that there is actually a formal gallery on this website for little more than art theft. No wonder it's so rampant; deviantART is slapping the rest of us across the face and saying that it's all right to take someone else's work, make a bastardized copy of it without their permission, and then redistribute it. I find it insulting to those of use who have actually spent years honing our abilities.
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Comments: 132
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Im not used to drawing on the computer i use bases to practice
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Now, I am probably late to this, considering when this was submitted. But, I'd like to add to the discussion.
Bases are not, and will never be a good way to practice anatomy. That's where studies come in. Bases are best used either as a quick way to concept a design or as a way to practice color combinations/clothes/hair. Simply put, while a base is certainly useful as a learning tool in certain situations, they are limited in how they actually help the novice artist. A base simply eliminates the worry of having to deal with bad anatomy and badly done colors/clothes/hair at the same time.
Now, I will say this...I agree that traced bases are a form of art theft. If you want to get a similar pose to a specific image, fine, use it for pose reference. But for goodness sake, if you are going to reference, don't copy the work you are referencing line by line. Referencing shouldn't equal copying. Or better yet, use a photo reference. Doodling the base shapes of a pose over the image then redrawing by hand is a good way to learn, since breaking down a pose into simple shapes is a good way to learn anatomy. And even with photos, don't trace them. Or at least don't post the traced work to the internet.
Now, I will say this as an artist who works with bases for multiple reasons, mainly for some CS groups on another site. Bases aren't all bad, some novice artists aren't even actually aiming to use them to improve and just use them for fun. After all, I know I wasn't willing to upload my art to the internet back in 2012 when I really started drawing. Others want to focus on being able to make a nice design or learn the 'easy' things first before they learn to draw more complex subjects. I will say this...what is easy to some is hard for others. I still have trouble with hair and clothing. and I barely use bases nowadays.Β
Basically, rather than completely demonize bases and ignore the fact that they actually can be used as a learning tool, we should encourage novice artists to use bases that aren't made via tracing/heavily referencing other's work. And not only that, but encourage them to try to use references as well. It's appalling that people take such black and white stances to these sort of things. They truly are more of a grey-zone. Because there is nothing wrong with using a completely original base or referencing a photo. What is wrong is when the base is itself a trace or you are copying something line for line. yes, you shouldn't rely just on base work. And if someone is, ask them if they will take some advice. Don't outright attack someone just because they use bases. And if they throw a fit, well...just move on with your life. If someone doesn't want to improve, then don't try to force them to. After all, would you like it if someone forced their opinions and/or veiws on you?
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they are meant for peaple who need help drawing duh
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Yeah, but then they never improve...
If you're bad at drawing, and think you'll 'embarass' yourself making an actual drawing, you'll be stuck forever drawing bad art and using bases to cover it up. Practicing is how you improve, not by using a crutch for the rest of your career.
The only thing you might improve is your coloring (and tracing).
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I hate those untalented 'artists'; that use bases and plus use it shitty and get shit ton of recognition. There is one who has youtube and DA and their art is so shitty that they gotta use bases 24/7 and people find that appealing apparently. I have no idea where they got all those followers and shit but it's sad to see untalented fucks that put no effort into their shit art but have the most recognition while artists that work their ass off have zero to none. Say all you base supporters want but it's the truth.
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Low-key Gatcha edit peopleΒ
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I use bases because I can't really draw with touchpad and most people are not 'untalented' well I agree is there flipping 'tracing' sure that is a fact that their art is pure shit but there comes talent in coloring in shading which is what I like to do with digital.Β
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I'm not talking bout' beginners, I'm talkin' bout' people that use bases literally 24/7 and get fans for their base 'art'.
Frankly I see no talent in coloring and shading when it comes to some base art because it is so easy to use the fill bucket tool and slap a gradient and call it 'done' Like i'm not saying using bases is a bad thing, hell, even I used them a lot back when I was a noob at art, but what I'm saying is that it's frankly ridiculous that someone that puts like 5 minutes into base art gets more followers than someone who puts like 5 hours into art.
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I understand but still, there is talent but I agree that is pretty dumb. Shading in coloring is one thing but simply using the bucket fill is just dumb. I saw tons of people making amazing art with there own talents just by using a base. Bucket filling is just a dumb cheat that lazy people do I guessΒ Β
Bases actual help because looking at them daily helped me improve myself.Β Β
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Yeah the bucket fill think is so dumb, I used to do that and trust me it's pretty bad
Oh I wasn't talkin bout' people who look at bases and use them for references, it's good for artists to use references, I was just pissed about people who never actually learn off of bases yet get so many fans. Hell I even argued with one person like that and their fans told me how I was jealous O_O
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I'm actually fine with bases because it helps me draw stuff. I kind of think of them as a overly simplified reference pic. Β But maybe that's just me.
I don't draw or trace over the bases, it's just something I look at on the computer while drawing something on the 3DS.
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Honestly, bases being "theft" ultimately depends on the situation. The real issue at hand has more to do with people trying to be accepted into a community of people they will never meet in real life by trying to make impressive looking art. But being good at any kind of art takes time and effort, you're not supposed to get it right the first time, I sure as hell didn't get it right, in fact, at first I had to resort to actually recoloring, the worst possible sin any artist can commit. By attempting to skip learning to draw good art, the beauty and effort of the drawing the piece art doesn't show.
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Not ALL bases are theft
1. i make bases of MY art
2. people give consent too
It's only theft when they trace it wihtout consent
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Nice rant!Β It's amazing how many people use a stolen base (tracing) provided by a third party and then claim it as their own original work.Β Not just claim it, but boldly warn others not to steal it.Β Β The hypocrisy is insane.Β
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I think the people who make them are artists. The people who use them are untalented loooserrrss
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Naw, I've got zero chill on this one.
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I've been using bases since like, forever. They have helped me improve my drawing skills and I've even developed my own style sort of. And you really shouldn't say they spend six minutes making bases. They don't, bases take forever especially using Microsoft Paint. A lot of people who do bases actually can draw, plus they are really fun to do. I mean, at least base makers credit the original artist and people who use the bases do too. Bases aren't a bad thing and I've been thinking about making one but considering what I last drew in Paint, I don't know. So yeah, but that's my opinion.
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Go ahead and make a base. I'm a bitter artist who is mad at bases because instead of spending years to understand how every important muscle on the body works under realistic lighting people decide to trace other people's artwork. I mean, it's not like all bases do is further encourage the inbred art style of manga (which is ALSO based off of years of learning anatomy and then inking and toning techniques). I'm just sad that actually nobody who uses the bases actually credit the original artwork at all.
But that's fine, because my opinion doesn't agree with yours and since it's just an opinion you can totally invalidate it by saying it's just an opinion! My alt account deals with drawing porn because I'm too lazy to actually draw the intricate costumes, but at least I admit that and don't get mad when people rip off of my rip-off bases. But hey, you might get thirty favorites if you make a base and never get out into doing professional art because you condone skill less "learning tools" instead of just politely asking other people to give you tips or even just browse the thousands of tutorials out there.
Go ahead. Make a base. Follow your dreams.
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THIS GUY
A MEDAL NOW
jokes aside, i agree 101% with you pal.
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Shit, sorry, but some of us want to draw a thing without spending a lifetime on it.
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Here's my two cent on this...If you wanna draw a thing without spending 'a lifetime' and putting any work into it, feel free to. Don't post it though. Im fine with people using bases for personal things to practice..but good art isnt made in 10 minutes with a base. All of my art takes me at least 2 hours or an hour if its not too detailed. Its not worth it if you don't put the effort into it.Β
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Well sorry, but why make a deviantart account if you're not going to post any of your art?
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Wow..you must be really mad, lol.
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Do you mind, if I quote parts of this rant in an essay I'm doing defining what is art?
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If you want, although this is just my personal opinion on things. :3Β
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I know. The paper is about how craftsmanship means different things to different people and I use the example of the base debate on deviantart. There wasn't a lot of "structured" rants on bases, and when I needed something to back up my evidance.
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Okay! Go for it then! Good luck! >w<
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I just use bases becuase i cannot draw well...
So do i have to stop using them?
I give credit like i have to no matter where i post it.Β
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You can do whatever you want, but you're chances of getting better at drawing are very slim if you only use bases.
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Oh okay i will try without bases
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YOU GO FRIEND! I actually gave a watch at your gallery, I'm so happy you stopped with the base-usage! Keep it up!
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Thanks so much! I love the encouragement to keep up what i'm doing since i'm still learning, thank you so much!
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What do you think of using other pictures as references?
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As long as you aren't straight up tracing something, references are a great way to learn. :3
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I used to trace bases. I don't anymore, because I finally realized all the things that you've mentioned here. BUT near the end of my base tracing career, I was still hanging onto that hobby because it made me feel good to make something that actually looked good. It helped me get a handle on the tools that I had, too.
SO, what I did, was go to the resources side of deviantart, where people take resource photo's just so people can use them as references, photo manipulation, or base tracing.
So if someone you know and care about is an unapologetic base tracer, show them THIS:Β www.deviantart.com/browse/all/β¦
That way at least you know the original artist meant for that sort of thing to happen to their art.
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I started actually drawing and I believe bases are great to learn with. I use bases as kinda like a reference. Like when I draw a pony if I don't see something that looks like a pony for some reason I can't draw it but I gotten a bit better since then
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Use your cellphone, take pictures of the enviroment around you and use YOUR photographs for a base.
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Because everyone has a pony nearby.
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For the pony one can use the official artwork off the MLP show as a reference, the background can be made using a photograph as a reference. The rest is up to imagination.Β
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I use bases every once in a while to practice drawing certain parts of the body. For example, if I need work on drawing hands, I'll use bases to trace over the hands, figure out the best way to draw my own, and then do so. I never use bases in my actual work. In your opinion, would that still be considered art theft?
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i have never used a base in my entire life lol.
for me, they're so hard to use ;;
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Preach it! XD
In all seriousness, I don't like bases either. They are acceptable when making a ton of adopts at once though. (I prefer to make my own for this) I've only used a base once in my entire life (which was today in fact, I wanted to see what it was like.) and it was awful! My style didn't match the original artist's and it looked really bad. Then there are people who say "Well people who are new to art have to use bases!" and I laugh. I never used a base when I first started drawing and I don't use them now. And that's how I learned. I make my own art by my self. People who use bases and then call it "art" make me sick to say the least. ((Sorry for my mini rant))
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