Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login
The John Byrne Forum
Byrne Robotics > The John Byrne Forum << Prev Page of 2
Topic: Greg Land and familiarity with the creative process (Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message
Brian Rhodes
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 19 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3307
Posted: 27 April 2017 at 4:06pm | IP Logged | 1  

“Art is what you can get away with.”
Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 
Brian Hague
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 14 November 2006
Posts: 8515
Posted: 27 April 2017 at 9:56pm | IP Logged | 2  

My take on it: Greg Land's approach is severely compromised and the storytelling suffers greatly for it. Reducing every super-heroine to an open-mouthed porn star or That Same Sandra Bullock Shot Again doesn't help the story. Does Art-O-Graphing the entire production get him from point A to point B? Yes. Is it therefore valid? Perhaps. Depends on what you want point B to look like when you get there.

While tracing is an acceptable means of achieving specific goals in the professional art world, it is nevertheless a much lesser means of doing so than actual illustration, and over-reliance upon one lazy shortcut has severely hampered Land's work. Could he draw back in the days of Nightwing? Sure. Can he still? Who knows?

So, is it then "morally wrong?" Not really. It depends on how you feel about laziness. But seeing Sandra Bullock Onnnnne Morrrrre Tiiiiiime isn't doing anyone any favors either. 

Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 
Darren Taylor
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 22 April 2004
Location: Scotland
Posts: 5994
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 4:44am | IP Logged | 3  

As someone who has used both photo referencing & tracing and freewheeling it out of my head, I feel comfortable saying -moderation-. Over use any tool, you let it define you.

A second observation relating to photref-ing.

If you have an old shoe you use as a door stop, it may do the job but it lacks the precision of purposeful design.

-D
Back to Top profile | search | www e-mail
 
Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 30897
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 6:38am | IP Logged | 4  

Wouldn't doing it this way take longer?
Back to Top profile | search
 
Anthony J Lombardi
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 January 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 9410
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 6:53am | IP Logged | 5  


Wouldn't doing it this way take longer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It depends on what exactly you are doing. Each situation can be different. There are times when it is very cost effecting to just trace a photo. The artist doesn't have to think about figure lay out or construction of the figure. 

It also helps when trying to capture the likeness of the subject. When working in a field where time is at a premium. When there is a deadline looming. You have to do whatever it takes to get the job done. 

I've done portraits for clients. I can capture likeness fairly well just from working from a photo reference. But it is very time consuming for me. Because I agonize over every little detail.  If I use a lightbox to lay out the feature so I've gotten the likeness accurately done. I have more time to devote to the shading and finishing details of the photo. Which also allows me to finish faster and work on other projects.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Joel Biske
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 18 January 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 761
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 7:55am | IP Logged | 6  

I have two thoughts.... first is on the idea of "tracing." It's a long used process.... its been done before and it'll be used again. Using someone ELSE'S photos.... certainly using them slavishly enough for them to be recognized as tracings..... I have an issue with that. Hire a model, Grab some friends.... Don't simply steal someone else's hard work.

second, whether you've "borrowed" a photo or taken you're own... know where the photo stops and the creativity begins. Know the limitations of your source material. Slavishly copying, especially in sequential art destroys the flow.
Back to Top profile | search | www e-mail
 
Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15797
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 8:18am | IP Logged | 7  

Part of Land's problem is right at the start of the process -- he doesn't seem to choose the appropriate image to trace in the first place.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Anthony J Lombardi
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 January 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 9410
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 10:49am | IP Logged | 8  

That's kind of hard to determine Peter. I mean if he picked the photo that best represented what he wanted to convey.  Than he is making the appropriate choice. 

I'll say this about Lands use of photo's. It appears to me that he is relying to heavily on them. I think he should change them up a bit. Instead of sticking to every detail of the photo.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15797
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 11:08am | IP Logged | 9  

OK, let's amend that. His choice of photo is poor.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Anthony J Lombardi
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 January 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 9410
Posted: 28 April 2017 at 11:46am | IP Logged | 10  

a valid argument
Back to Top profile | search
 

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

<< Prev Page of 2
  Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

 Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login