Answer the following in a short essay format: What is the value of tracing images? When is it okay to copy something? When can it get you in trouble? Relate this to your work in this class.
Initially, my reaction to the NeoLucida was that of extreme opposition. However, as I read on, my feelings began to shift into those of ambivalence. The NeoLucida offers certain advantages that are useful to many professions, but has distinct drawbacks pertaining to it's usage in art.
Tracing: Ideally, an artist who specializes in painting and sketching should have true skill and the ability to gracefully mirror- or create from his own mind- a composition without the influence of any tracing tool. Art is a reflection of one self's thoughts, ideas, and views. Once anything is traced, I believe the value is lessened due to the lack of real effort being put into the work. To me, tracing seems like instant gratification.
Copying: There is not only one type of art. Photography, we must remember, is essentially capturing an image in the spur of a moment and in a way, copying because the image is not created, just captured. Using technology as an art form requires copies to be made all the time. As an example, in Photoshop, the artist can copy an image that they haven't created, but use it to enhance some bigger creation of their own that incorporates various outside influences.
Both: Copying and tracing are incredibly important to create things such as blue-prints, charts, and hyper-accurate copies used in architecture, science, math, and more, so this debate is not one-sided.
Getting in trouble: In spite of that, copying can get people in trouble if credit is not given when credit is due. Using copyrighted images can get you in trouble, just like if you don't include a bibliography in book reports. When you steal another's artwork and call it your own is unacceptable and lowly, and if this were the literary world, we would sue the dirty plagiarist.
There isn't a law against copying art for personal use, but reproducing it and selling under your own name is a crime.
NeoLucida:
I personally disagree with the use of tool in drawing or sketching, but I do agree that art is not a competition, but I wouldn't call tracing art either.
I wouldn't use this tool for artistic reasons but I think it is an incredibly important and useful tool for other things, like tracing pictures of criminals.
NOTE: *I REALLY wanted to use the word "Furthermore" in this essay. Mr. Brandt, if you're reading this, can you assign us another one so I can use furthermore?
Thank you.
Your hopeful student,
Sruthi
(I sound insane don't I? Sorry! I'm kind of a logophile)
NOTE ABOUT THE NOTE: I shortened this essay as far as it could go to have you avoid pulling out your hair in frustration.
