It's for many years that there is, among the artists, the question of "tracing".
I'm looking around that many illustrators use to trace their own drawings from those of others, and I think it's horrible.
When I paint, I use photo references, because I want my drawings are realistic and why (mostly) I never studied drawing at school.
I do not consider myself a "tracer" for several reasons: first, I don't use others' drawings, but stocks, which are specially made to help designers.
And then, because I use it only as a reference to create then my original characters (for example, for the poses).
If I don't find the pictures suitable for the purpose, surely I would take my camera and provide for myself!
Instead, it seems that many artists prefer to take the drawings and photos of others and edit them with Photoshop, flip, change the colors or even paint on it ... or the most creative make collages of various images (like ~dark-spider )
And in this crusade, are also involved illustrators like me, who use simple references, just as done in any academy of fine arts ...
I'd be curious to hear your opinions about it