Traced Bases -Stamp-

I can fully understand why anyone would dislike people making/using bases traced from screenshots/etc., I myself agree that it's better for artists to do their own work even though I myself have made/used bases before. But when you purposely search for base makers just to bash them on their profile about how they 'steal art' and are 'unoriginal', then you're doing nothing more than making a goddamn troll of yourself trying to get your point across in a totally asinine way. Like I said before, I agree that it's better when artists draw their OWN work but some people literally just can't draw and feel the need to color/combine/edit bases to show SOME creativity. And, hell, believe me, if I could draw a perfect Simba in two minutes or a nice Vitani in less than 30 seconds, I'd have no need for bases whatsoever. Why do I MAKE bases, however? Honestly, it's something I enjoy. No, I don't enjoy 'art theft', I enjoy going by the hand of someone more talented than me (in hopes of bettering my own skill), and I enjoy having people like and use my bases for their own creativity. In a way, it's become a hobby for me, a hobby aside from drawing. I'm sure not everyone sees it the way I do but anyone who makes/uses bases, I'm sure, has their own reasons. But, straight to the point, getting bitchy at basemakers is just another way of cyberbullying. I get the need to share your opinions but at LEAST don't act like such a nazi about it -_-*
I've disabled comments for a REASON but I'm sure some of you understand why. Sorry if I sound preachy but I really needed to get that off my chest. Anywho, like bases, hate 'em, just stop acting like such a prick just because you disagree with traced lineart.

Stamp base (c) Minakie

EDIT (10/23/2023): Boy, it's weird af to look back at this after how much has changed. Not only do I finally know how to draw TLK style freehand, but I haven't even touched a base in ages Lmao I figured since someone recently faved this I ought to revisit this post and update it to provide my current feelings on people using bases: I still don't think it's that big a fucking deal.

Mind you, you're never going to improve if you keep using bases, but working on bases CAN help you practice at things that can be applied to original work - the biggest one obviously being how to achieve smoother lines. It can also give you a sense of shape/design that may make it easier to memorize how to achieve certain features. Not to mention, if you're the type who's constantly using bases for OCs (like many), then it could provide a convenient opportunity to test the waters with color theory and figure out how to NOT make things look dull at best and eyebleed-y at worst. Obviously it's less annoying to have to tinker around with colors on a base than it is to have to fix gaudy palettes in an original finalized piece - better to fuck up a cheesy pony recolor and learn your lesson right then and there than to fuck up something you poured your blood, sweat, and tears into and have to go through the chore of updating it.

Again, you're never going to improve if you keep using bases, but if you keep working on your original art in-between then eventually you're going to find yourself getting tired of using bases and actually dare to free-draw that one art style or character model that you always just resorted to tracing for. Believe me when I say it's a pleasant surprise when you realize it doesn't suck.

In short, traced bases are NOT the end all/be all for people who can't draw certain things, but they can make a nice steppingstone for young amateurs as long as you're going in the right direction.
Don't claim it as your own, stick with official images/screenshots and don't trace other user's art without permission, don't make an ass of yourself when faced with criticism, don't use bases as an excuse to not practice drawing, and you should be fine.

Just as not everything is black and white in the real world, I guess you could say not everything is neon-rainbow sparkledogs in the online world X'D I hope this disorganized rambling makes sense

And on a footnote: I feel the need to reiterate this post's main point by saying please don't bother harassing basemakers/users, especially those who are clearly minors and shouldn't even have unmonitored internet access in the first place. If they're actively partaking in problematic behavior then report them and warn others to do the same, but for the love of god, DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THEM. Literally nothing good has ever come out of this and if anything, you can potentially risk getting yourself in just as much trouble as them. A grown ass adult going out of their way to badger a literal child is NEVER a good look even when the kid has actually done something wrong. 
Simply report and move on, it's not worth it when it's just some socially inept tween going through a phase. I promise you they're just going to look back on it years from now and cringe at their own behavior anyway.