is it okay to look at other people's art as a reference for drawing fanart? A lot of times I want to draw a character stylized, but I struggle to design/stylize them from imagination so I like to use different fanart from a collection of other artists. Not to steal their piece, but to use as reference for proportions, shape design, etc. Is that considered plagiarism or theft?
No I do this when I’m drawing commissions sometimes if it’s something I don’t know what it is i immediately google “______ fanart” I think that it’s more of a visual breakdown than you think it is a form of theft for sure. The visual breakdown part of it tho it how you use the images you find I think that the only part I would maybe advise you not to do is getting it from a “collection of artists” I guess! I think if the pool is small enough and you’re looking at what they’re doing rather the subject they’re making I think it could be a slippery slope to biting their thing ya know but I don’t think that’s always the case!
