Art going digital?

Here's an article I found from http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/designandcreate/.

.

Does Graphics Software Weaken Drawing Skills?

Saturday April 15, 2006

In contrast to the story of my last post about the Electric Paint exhibition, a recent article in the Washington Post talks about how university instructors today are lamenting students' use of graphics software, saying it weakens classic drawing skills.

Computer graphics allow artists to move briskly. By contrast, drawing on paper can be frustrating, forcing concentration, introspection and revision as an idea or vision takes shape. The process hones essential skills and sensitivity and personality that make artwork unique, instructors say.

This statement seems to suggest that because computer art may make some aspects of the creative process quicker, it must have less value. In essence, the author is saying that creating art with a computer is never frustrating, and doesn't require concentration, introspection or revision. I think the readers of this site would disagree!

However, I do agree with Charles Pyle, director of the School of Illustration at the Academy of Art University, who says, "The trick is to improve drawing to develop a solid foundation for digital skills... If you don't draw and think well, your art career will be short and unpleasant."

There's no question that traditional techniques and art theories are important aspects of any art curriculum, regardless of whether the artist chooses to work on paper or in pixels. Drawing skills are certainly essential to anyone seeking success in any creative medium, but to say that working with computer graphics weakens drawing skills? Nah… I don't buy it. Perhaps these instructors need to accept the tools of the 21st century and incorporate them into their classrooms. Is this just another case of technophobia? What do you think?

.

And here's another discussion forum I found about this topic:

http://forums.about.com/ab-graphicssoft/messages?lgnF=y&tid=5228

"A good friend of mine was asked to show her digital art in a very prestigious gallery in Hawaii. When she arrived with her work, the owner of the gallery asked her where her originals were. She repplied these are the originals! He then declined to show her work! He said they only would show "Original" works of art. Needless to say, he did not want to hear her explanation.

Her work is done in Photoshop, taking photos and manipulating them to the point they look like wonderful natural media paintings. They are wonderful! I think there is a perception among "Natural" media artists that digital art is not really art. Or at least this particular gentleman thought so.

I work in Painter and have created many works that look like a watercolor paintings people always say, "You created that on a computer?" Art is an expression, and all forms are new and old should be recongnized."

.