Is it a social blunder to draw someone without permission?

Question

I'm good. Really, really good at drawing. And I'm a guy, so naturally I like to draw girls.Is it a social blunder to draw someone without permission? Why, exactly?

cun7n1nja · Accepted Answer

I've seen this happen firsthand. A friend of mine works at a coffee shop, and there was an older gentleman sitting in the corner with his coffee, and a sketchpad that he kept carefully shielded from everyone else in the room. She noticed that he kept watching her intently for a little while, then going back to his drawing, again and again, etc. She went to wipe down the tables and when she got to his area, tried to catch a peek at what he was drawing, but he very obviously shielded it again, and then walked out no more than five minutes later.

I think some girls would be flattered, but my friend was weirded out. Mostly, I think, because she never got to see the drawing. That he concentrated so hard on her image to put it down on paper, but refused to let her see any part of it. I'm sure his intentions were innocent, but the whole thing just had an aura of creepiness, haha. I would be okay with it if even though someone hadn't ASKED me, that they didn't hide the fact that they were drawing me. I would feel weird if they made it obvious that they didn't want me to see it.

I used to do the same thing though. I would sit in one place and draw people who crossed my path. I never thought of it as being weird, but then again I made it pretty clear that I was drawing people. And it's always 'weirder' if it's a guy doing it, no matter what. It shouldn't be, but people almost always take it the wrong way. I like leaving the portraits for their likenesses to find though. Like if I had been that guy in the coffee shop, drawing my friend, I would have left the drawing for her after I'd finished it.

xxangel1990xx · Accepted Answer

Yes it is, I wouldn't like some random person drawing me, its creepy. And if I found out a man was drawing me I wouldn't know what to do but id feel like I was being stalked and I know a lot of people that would contact the police-its just weird. And if the girls you were drawing had boyfriends I think you'd have to answer to them too.

ALWAYSclassy · Accepted Answer

It seems creepy.  Like if you barely know that person or don't have that type or relationship with them, it can just come across as creepy and intrusive.

GoodManDave · Accepted Answer

Hey, use the "The Trouble with Harry" Defense.

Basically, Harry is a dead body that an artist is drawing at the beginning of the movie. Comedy happens when every character in the movie ends up thinking THEY were the ones who killed Harry, so they keep burying him, digging him up, burying him, digging him up, etc.

Anyway, to make a long story shorter, the drawing of Harry the corpse ends up in the hands of the local deputy.

So, at the end, the deputy is trying to piece together the events, and the artist is trying to convince the deputy that "Harry" was drawn as a figment of the imagination, and how a few subtle strokes of charcoal, the drawing could easily be of someone else.

So he draws on his own picture of Harry, changes him to look completely different, thus destroying "evidence."

So there you go; If you get caught, you change your drawing enough to be someone else (or draw from behind the "model.") ;)

Actually, asking permission is not that hard, and usually people won't mind if you are unobtrusive, quick; oh, and as long as you don't come across as creepy. Better to ask permission though, or try to make them generic.

Remember you also want to train yourself in the "art" of gesture sketches as well; that way, you can capture an essence to draw from later.

tex151 · Accepted Answer

If your in a public place and drawing a girl without her knowing it's fair game, just like if the news comes along and takes a pic of something like marathon race and they get pic of you making a face or looking like an idiot there's nothing you can do about it if they decide to put you in the paper, you were in a public place and the news just happens to be there. You might freak the girl out though if you just sitting there drawing her and notices you starting at her, so if I were you, just walk up to her and say excuse me your very pretty and well I am artist, show her some of your work and then say would you mind if I drew a picture of you?

Little-Hippie · Answer

It's ok Sometimes.

I used to sit in class and draw portraits of people when I was bored.

I think the point at which it becomes socially unnacceptable is when you have multiple drawings of someone you've never even spoken to.

amberview · Answer

No.  I draw people without their permission all the time. I suppose if I profited off my picture I might think over whether they deserved a cut. ha ha

GTekSD · Answer

Yesterday I draw a girl's sketch actually she was my classmate. I love to draw Sketches and I draw her Sketches but I don't have any intention. And I posted on IG as a Story lots of people like this post bcz I created a poll on it. And she also liked. Nd no one recognised here's sketch. But when she saw. She tells her boyfriend and his boyfriend filed FIR against me. And complaint against me and all. Then I just deleted that post. Bt really I don't have any bad intention.

Reeses-pieces777 · Answer

it's against the law in some places. in quebec in canada, people aren't allowed to take photos without permission from the person in the picture

Anonymous · Answer

Nah, I think it's better to ask. And by the way, you're not that good.

BloodMerchant · Answer

doesn't really matter. you can draw anyone you like.

Is it a social blunder to draw someone without permission?

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