The following quote by one of America’s great illustrators illustrates the danger of copying photographs:
The artist most in conflict over this issue was Norman Rockwell, acutely sensitive to the moral implications of the camera’s presence in the studio. Urged by his art director to incorporate new angles and poses into his work, Rockwell saw no alternative but to resort to the camera, the only means by which he could record more complex positions from unorthodox viewpoints. But the transition wasn’t easy.
“It was quite a wrench. I felt like a traitor to my profession, but I set my teeth and plunged in. At first I used photographs only occasionally, trying to hang onto at least the shreds of self-respect. But it was like taking a touch of morphine now and then. Pretty soon, before I knew it, I was an addict. A guilty, shamefaced addict, but an addict nevertheless.”
This comment comes from one of the most talented people of the 20th Century.
Where a man of his talent became addicted to photo-copying, the artist (who pretend to be “GOOD artists!”) of today go directly to photocopying without even attempting honest drawing/painting. The only way to avoid becoming addicted to easy and painless “art”, is to just say no. If it could destroy Norman Rockwell, imagine what it can do to weak individuals, who love the thought that they are somehow “good artists”.
Ryno.
The art of Ryno Swart 