There is no tracing involved. A very good way to get the shapes correct is to draw a grid. I always print my reference twice. One for the grid to be drawn on, and the second one just for the details etc, the one's you see on the photo's.
Grid Drawing - Copying Pictures Using a Grid
And I post my pictures on a lot of forums, and I often mention I draw them from photographs. I just forgot to do that here.
Thats what we mean by grid. I use very small 1x1cm grids, the detail you can get into a drawing is great (you can get it accurate to the millimeter if you want). Every time I am finished doing the linework of the drawing, I gently erase the grid before starting to draw the details. The skulls on the photo's are without grid.
Drawing ain't exactly rocket science.. If you have enough patience, everyone can crank out a good drawing. It just takes a lot of time.
And if you want to ban me, please go ahead. I just don't think that the way you reacted is the correct way in treating members.
Oh yes, and even if I where to trace my drawings, so what? There are no rules in art. I thought many times about tracing, but if I do that, it feels like i've cheated. But still, the shading and stuff is difficult enough.
And what piece are you talking about? The F4F?