Ok,
so.Supporters of linearts/blanks (and renders, to an extent), say what you will, but this is something I've come to realize over the years, and how much it happens here on AnimationSource is just
sad.
First off, linearts and blanks aren't bad in and of themselves. But when that's the ONLY thing people use, it's quite frankly really dull, uncreative, and annoying.
I'll start with linearts. I don't know where on earth people got the idea that throwing some colors onto a lineart was creative and unique, but seriously, IT'S NOT. It's no different than a child coloring a page out of one of those coloring books. So unless you do, like, a freaking all-out
amazing job with coloring (I don't mean just the average pixel coloring, I mean something different, such as
this.), then you're seriously accomplishing next to nothing.
A brief word on renders before I move on to blanks: when you really think about it, renders could be considered art theft. Yes, really. Ok, so they came from an "official" source, but you know what you're really doing? Taking someone else's artwork (namely, the animators') and coloring over it to make it a different character.
Yeah, in a sense, that's
art theft, guys. Of course, what you decide to do about that is up to you, but that's why I personally have decided to stop doing renders altogether.
Ok, blank renders. They were a fun idea at first, but the way they've spread and taken away
most (not all) "original" renders is really kind of pathetic. Like I said, I've grown against renders in general in the first place, but at least with those, you actually have to put a bit of EFFORT in to render the characters! With blanks, all effort has been taken out...like linearts, all you're doing is splashing on colors!
Again, linearts and blanks aren't bad in and of themselves. There are times that it's fine to use them, mostly out of boredom or for fun, and even then, try to avoid
posting too many.
But there are also several not-so-great ways to use them, too: for character designs, for example. Or as a freaking crutch because you're too insecure about your own drawings or just stinking LAZY.
ESPECIALLY if that's the
ONLY thing you do!
In design contests, for example, I've seen many-a-person just throw some colors on a lineart and enter it. THAT'S NOT CREATIVITY. THAT'S LAZINESS.
MORE SO, when you use blanks, renders, and/or linearts to make a new character design, you're only making
half a design because you're using a PRE-MADE STRUCTURE TEMPLATE. I saw one person on one such contest ask if the person wanted a Kodi build or a Balto build.
UM, HOW ABOUT NEITHER? How about trying to put in just a little bit more effort than colors and trying to make your OWN character build?! I promise, it will make the result better!
PLUS, when you take the time to actually DRAW a character or a contest entry or an adoption attempt, it shows that you actually CARE enough about the character to spend a bit of time on it! I don't care if you're the worst artist in the world, a not-so-great drawing shows MORE EFFORT than a good lineart or colored blank.
In closing, yes, I know there are a lot of kids on this site, and they probably just think that either their art skill aren't good enough or that linearts/blanks are the easy or cool option, so that's what they do. Trust me, I was in that situation once, and I made many of the mistakes that I mention here. And over time, I've learned from them. I look back at some of the stuff I did when I was 12 and seriously want to just punch myself.
So
PLEASE. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Save your future self--and everyone around you, present or future--the annoyance and dullness of nothing but obnoxious colorings of the same stupid image, get off your lazy butt, and do something WORTHWHILE.
I'm not saying you should
never use linearts or blanks, but when you do, please don't do it often, or at the very least, don't POST it often. It's just stupid, annoying, and not what people want to see (people who know what they're doing, anyway.)
That'll be all.
I apologize if I offended anybody in this rant. I don't mean to target anyone specifically, but this has been bothering me for a while now, and I think it needs to be heard.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
--Nattikat8
