Is Photobashing Cheating? + TUTORIAL !!

Hello!
Today I will be answering the question, is Photobashing cheating? I'll also be showing you my process for utilizing photos in my illustrations. I'm a professional artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. I make videos showing and talking about my art process.

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[thomasmeable]

Using photobashing isn't being lazy, it's being clever
"Work smarter, not harder" - someone

[Zezeze.]

at this point i've learned to only take artists criticism serious, bc non-artists see using references in the first place as "cheating", no matter if it's photobashing or not.
I have been asked frequently "did you make that yourself or did you look at smth" which really shows you the mentality non artists have. People who aren't artists seem to expect us to do stuff blindly instead of...you know observing the world. Why is it terrible that i looked at a bike reference photo while drawing it? Do I look like a mechanic to you, am I supposed to know how it's built in detail? Am I not allowed to look at stuff?
Nah sorry but most "controversial" stuff is made up empty bullshit. Photobash honestly, it takes skill to make it look good and if you can? You are a good artist, period.

[brdoodles]

Collages are art, photobashing is like making a collage. So why isn't it art? Photo bashing is another tool that you can use. I thought art didn't have rules, only don't steal and credit the original artist.

[Fribee]

Photobashing is just a tool to help assist in the creation of the piece. Could you have drawn the leaves on the ground completely from scratch? Yea, but that's not the main focus on the piece. It's no different than using a textured digital brush instead of handdrawing the texture into the piece; you're using technology as a foundation to assist in the creation then adding onto it.

[yourtuts]

To do Photobashing, you need to be super good with your understanding of light, shade, form, value and composition. So basically you need to be good at art to get there and I don't think it's cheating.

[Ultimateprototype]

Not only the concept art community, but a lot of manga artists use photobashing for environments, like city scapes

[kieDkiee]

I honestly think photobashing is totally valid!! It’s like multimedia art or collage! for illustration/design i think it’s important to use your own photos as much as possible, but I know that so much stretching and clipping and drawing over happens that even if you use clips of photos that aren’t yours, they’re unrecognizable and a completely new thing by the time your done. And no one sues collage artists for using photos, or says they’re not valid artists 😂

[localsmssanjay]

A skill is a skill.. Whole point of a art or artist is to pen down their thought and visualisation. Totally agree with you

[megn.mp]

you addressed this topic very well!! i never new this method of art existed but now i do and now i support it, you made so many good points. it seems like a great way to save time or incorporate a nice memory into your work. thank you!! 💓

[nostravis]

I would even go as far as to say that photobashing is for more advanced artists. Because it doesn't make it easier, just less tedious. BIG difference! You need to master the art skills to make it look good. (perspective, form, color, etc...)

[baileyhoback]

Thank you!!! When working in the animation industry you are on such tight deadlines. Using techniques like this can really help the piece and convey the concept clearly to art directors and asset teams.

[Fx]

I don't see how it's different than cutting something from a magazine and making a collage. How is that considered art but not this?

[lizzb]

heck ya!!! now i love photo i also love your art it is literally so freaking beautiful i always have to stop and stare at it for like 5 minutes as my brain tries to understand how you make it so fluffy and comforting

[markc.]

It was a discovery for me personally that I'm not just a "visual artist" but more specifically I'm a collagist: my instincts really resonate on the interplay between two or more existing things. That's why a blank canvas or blank page are complete non-starters for me creatively - there's nothing for my energies to respond to. It's the old "thesis + antithesis = synthesis" thing. This is true whether I'm making a literal collage (paper or digital), writing stories (combining what I love about past films with some new take of my own), to filmmaking (editing one shot after the other is collaging). It is easy to feel "less-than" compared to someone who can grab a blank slate and fill it completely from their imagination, but the reality is, that's just how we're wired, so go with what works for you. This is not a competition, it's a journey/process/opportunity to discover what works best for you individually, and grow in the ways your heart wants to grow.

[MikazakiAoi]

It just sounds like 2D texturing technique like adding textures in 3D. I find this very valid.

[kristoonz]

Literally just found out about photobashing an hour ago and came to YouTube for an explanation. You explained it so well. Thank you! Thats a sub 😁

[Wedow]

I’m 60 years old and have been doing Mixed Media my whole adult life. You’re so young. Mixed Media is a whole genre of art and it takes raw talent to put a piece together and have it turn out pleasing to look at and hopefully stirring up emotions within you.

[IraKane]

Totally agree. People that thinks that photobashing is being lazy, should first understand what it takes to do it right. Time is essential in the industry and photobashing is a marvelous tool to get things done faster and being more productive. Using 10 times more time to draw every single hair on the head of a character instead of photobash it, is does not mean you are more talented, it means you are lees productive. And yes, you are an artist, photobash or not :)

[ZeinaIan]

I did not know that this was a thing, and I really struggle with texture so I'm going to try this. Thank you for letting know about this.

[divergentdeva]

I think there will always be very orthodox people who want to keep a tradition or practice as it is. In some cases that is valid, sometimes the lines can blur. I feel in art particularly, ultimately it is up to the individual how many mediums they want to incorporate into their piece. And as a form of self expression I think it's wonderful.