Is vectoring an Art of Originality?

[Naiya The Brony 489]

I've been wondering about this for a while now, since i started to do vectoring myself last month. After a while I've been thinking. Seeing all of my works I feel kinda guilty because i know, Originally all of my work isn't really all me. I mean, every time I'm planning to do a new art, I really need to search for a good base and all of the bases I used in my vector was either from the show's Characters or either on someone else's. That made me wonder and also made me feel guilty of doing vector because In reality I can't even draw, yeah I really can't draw and i need someone's art to do a new piece. I do vectoring for well not for me actually for my friends and other people. I don't seek attention but at least I could make something that can make them happy.

After a while my little sister said something the same, about Vectoring isn't an art of Originality and I shouldn't get my bases from the internet and I should make my own and she's right actually. But the problem is I really can't make my own. I am really amaze in such a young age she can do amazing artwork, she's a natural when it comes to drawing. I mean I asked her to do a pony art for the first time, and it turned out to be amazing (IMO)

Anyway, so what do you think. Is vectoring an art of Originality or another way to make replica piece for yourself?

Also did I post this in the correct forum?

Edited June 24, 2014 by Nihi The Brony

[Fhaolan 4,494]

I honestly don't know if this is the right forum or not. If it isn't, I'm not sure where it would go, but it is on-topic for the fandom itself as vectoring is a big thing in the fandom in general.

 

Okay, back to the original question. Is vectoring art of Originality? In my opinion, art is not the technique used, it's the end result. Or more accurately it's the response to the end result. I've seen several 'art' pieces that are assembled from a variety of junk the artist picked out from a junk yard. He didn't make the individual pieces, he just assembled them into the sculpture. The individual pieces were not art, but the assembled sculpture is.

 

So it's what you do with the vectors that make it art. The vectors are a tool, not the end result.

 

In the same way with the show there are artists who are puppet makers, prop makers, and so on, making all the assets for the show. And there are animators who are using these puppets, props, etc. They don't make their 'bases', but they're still artists. Just with different skills.

[Acoustic Cloud 2,202]

No it isn't.

Being inspired by something to make something different is original.  Copying over it with some lines and fancy new colors isn't.

 

That'd be like trying to make a new fast food chain, taking McDonald's Golden Arches and making them jet black and saying it's a new logo.  It isn't, and would be illegal to use.

I'm not saying it's illegal, I'm saying it doesn't constitute originality.

 

The same thing goes for Pony Generators.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,306]

Is vectoring art of Originality? In my opinion, art is not the technique used, it's the end result. Or more accurately it's the response to the end result. I've seen several 'art' pieces that are assembled from a variety of junk the artist picked out from a junk yard. He didn't make the individual pieces, he just assembled them into the sculpture. The individual pieces were not art, but the assembled sculpture is.

 

So it's what you do with the vectors that make it art. The vectors are a tool, not the end result.

^ I thought that was very well put.  And I really need not say anything...  But...

 

I see pony vectors all over the place.  And I'm soooo grateful they exist lol.  I don't do vectoring, and I'm more the free hand or (thanks to Wii U) tablet-drawing type.  But part of me wants to look into the process and see what I can do with it.  Dunno if I will.  But the resulting vectors strike me as a tremendous resource.  Oftentimes people make them available for use by others, however much work they personally put into them; very share-and-share-alike feel to vectors within the artistic community.  Does originality oft come into play?  Not especially.  But even if you're free-handing something on a sheet of paper, there's no guarantee it will be original.  An image of a pony character in the pre-existing style of MLP:FIM isn't truly original (if that even exists anymore).  The style is borrowed or imitated.  But so what?  Fan art is often reliant upon imitation.  (Unless you're a weirdo like me who likes to frighten ppl with their deformed Spike drawing and is sometimes too lazy or carefree to dig up a reference pic.)

 

If you're genuinely guilty about it, I'd suggest that you work to improve your artistic abilities, give credit where credit is due, and re-read the first thing I listed lol.  All anyone usually needs to get better at something is practice and time.  Drawing is a prime example of that.