Bases

"... are vital for Chemistry, not for art. Dare to mess up!"

Ok... Before you start ranting, please read my description carefully. I'm not 100% against bases, I'm against how 99% is used.

I spend hours (depending on the pose) trying to fix my anatomy, not just trying to sketch out the pose, but also finding good references, and the more I do it, the less time I spend on it because I get a feeling with how the human body works. And when someone uploads a base which has been barely altered... Yes, frankly said, I get somewhat angry.


I understand that we all have to start somewhere. Every artist started one day with a single line on an empty canvas. And by trial and error they grew to the person they turned out to be. They studied their subject and tried to understand it.

I'm not against bases being used as a reference for a certain pose, but please, dear base users, try to put some more effort in it than just drawing a few lines. The more effort you put in it, the more you will learn, and eventually you won't need bases anymore.


-You still see the original base contours. At least retrace it with a different colour/linestyle. I clashes quite often with the lines that were drawn on it, making it look very unnatural.
-Cloths do not stick to the body. Drawing a line from one side of the base arm to the other does not make a sleeve, put some folds in it. Even tight shirts have some folds in them.
-The pose does not make the character. If you use a base to make fanart, at least pick a base that suits that character/alter it to look like them, this often includes the eyes. For example, using a skinny base, drawing a tatoo on it's chest and giving it dark blue hair does not make it Kanda. Kanda's body is defined by it's build, skin colour, the shape of his eyes and what not. A base of a random skinny shoujo guy does not make it Kanda.
-Often bases look so flat. If you already have your shape cut out for you, use it to experiment.

-It's not bad to mess up your anatomy if you learn something in the process. So dare to mess up and don't be afraid to listen, look and learn.

-Look for other references. If it's a pose you want Posemaniacs is a good one.

So once again, I'm not against bases, nor is this an Anti-base stamp. It is a stamp pro-get-to-know-your-anatomy-and-try-for-yourself stamp.
Bases should, as their name implies, be used for as a starting base, not the main element of a picture.


Feel free to use and please don't flame. OTZ

Image found on google
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