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February 12, 2010
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brave new medium

Fri Feb 12, 2010, 4:06 PM


I think there's a lot of residual opposition to digital art in my school, which can sometimes be a little aggravating. It's tiresome to constantly have to defend what you do when others don't have to do the same. But I think at the same time, it's good to have your beliefs challenged, and it's good to be pushed really far out of your comfort zone. Being pressured into producing work in a way I'm less than comfortable with is widening my range and making me think about digital art in a different way, too.

I've had a number of teachers who are outright disdainful of digital art and pressured me to work traditionally. From those experiences I formed a new way of working and began to see the benefit of traditional elements in my own digital art. My use of textures came almost exclusively from experiences like that and I think they've made my art more complete. I wasn't at all accomplished at digital painting until I took a traditional painting course. There are different mechanics, but the principles are about the same.

Essentially, I used to be a purist and an apologist, and now I'm neither. I don't need to apologize for preferring digital art, because I have real, personal reasons for doing so. I'm no longer a purist because I recognize that there are elements to traditional art that are worthy of being emulated in the digital medium.

Too much wailing goes on from the digital art camp about how we should be treated equally and how it's so unfair that we're persecuted in favor of traditional artists. I took part in it! But I have come to the conclusion that every new "thing" goes through this period of transition. It's like a butterfly escaping from its cocoon; rather than quashing the digital art movement, the opposition to it will make it stronger and more creative.

I guess what I mean is that it really benefited me to come to this realization...recognizing that digital art can fight its own battles, and that I didn't have to act like a spokesperson for the medium, was truly uplifting.

By the way, if you want my advice, don't bother arguing with anyone who states that a specific medium "isn't art". They're beyond hope. Arguing with them is only going to make them talk more, and in the end they and those of their ilk will die out, along with all the people who decried impressionism and postmodern sculpture and so on.

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:icon626elemental:
I use digital because it is more convenient, pure and simple. While I love doing things with physical paint, the expense of materials and space requirements is a major limit. With digital I pay once for the program and need only the space a computer takes.

Every medium has it's benefits, it's a shame to overlook the lesson one gives because you're too busy defending another.
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:iconradio-head19:
Thank you very much for this good read. I'm taking a digital printing class and my teacher is against digital painting since "everyone's doing it". He believes in trying to push the boundaries in software such as PS, Illustrator, etc. At first I thought it was going to be another abstract-art only class where I just throw shit together because my usual stuff would be frowned upon, but it's really opened my eyes to new possibilities that I can incorporate in my personal pieces. Anyways, Thanks again!
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:iconraptorfarmer:
Tell them good luck finding a practical application for their traditional art in a digital age.

I started with graphite pencils and decided to start painting digitally in GIMP. I consider both of them different methods to the same product, getting whatever's in my head out to the public.

I'll be moving on to air brushing soon. I think learning to operate the air brush will be as difficult as learning to use GIMP or Photoshop.
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:iconthundercake:
`thundercake Feb 16, 2010  Professional Digital Artist
oh I think there will always be applications for it. Even if we get to a point where digital can replicate the look of every kind of traditional art, certain establishments will probably continue to prefer traditional art - like children's books, for example.
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:iconmiatosakura-chan:
Thanks for posting these journals of yours... They're a source of guide and inspiration :thanks:
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:iconeverdusk:
You should make this into a literary submission! I would favorite it! :3
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:iconedelstrange:
!edelstrange Feb 13, 2010  Hobbyist General Artist
always hated that. whatever sets your creativity should not be shunned...it's all about censorship and "doing things the right way, how it should be" when there's no such thing. art is art.
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:icongingerbreadcat:
*gingerbreadcat Feb 13, 2010  Student Digital Artist
I'm really glad there is such an age range here on DA. It gives us teenagers hope and guidance from the older users. :)
Your journals are always so full of respectful, yet assertive opinions. I wish that one day I can be like you in that aspect. I always seem to either lose it or withhold my opinion in case I DO lose it! xD

I also wish that someday people can be more open minded in the likes of art. It shouldn't be so far off, anyway. It only takes a look at past prejudice in art, to see that those oposed to a certain movement were proved wrong! <3
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:iconelfhybridmarielle:
*ElfHybridMarielle Feb 13, 2010  Hobbyist General Artist
The end there - thank you for that. Those people drive me bonkers.
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:iconphridoleenus:
~phridoleenus Feb 13, 2010  Student Digital Artist
There was one time in my art class when one of my classmates said that digital art is "cheating" because we can "undo" (ctrl+z) and use layers. I have never been so pissed and hurt. :c
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