For me, I think tracing is fine as long as you don’t brag that it’s originally yours which you clearly stated it in your blog. 🙌 Tracing is just like doing song covers. The original version is not from you but you try to mimic the original and maybe tweak it a bit because (1) you enjoy the act of sketching/singing, (2) you admire the artist/singer, and/or (3) you like the art/song. I actually learned how to draw/paint when I was in 6th grade but I never went back to arts. Now my hands are terrible even at tracing haha. I still admire you because not all can trace properly. Some doesnt have the patience that you got. So it is still a good job for me.