These days it’s common to run into “digital vs traditional art” debates. I sincerely don’t understand why there has to be a debate, almost as if we had to pick a winner or as if we were part of a “virtual war of the arts”.
To me it’s simple: I work digital because I like it. I like the process, I like how it looks, I like computers and technology, I like being “wired” into electronic devices (except mobile phones!).
There are other factors that strengthen my choice: digital work is faster (to me), easier to correct, doesn’t need to be scanned, it’s common among fantasy artists, provides more control over colors for printing, etc…
Although, like I said, I use this technique because I like it.
I really don’t know why there even has to be an argument about it. It would be like arguing about personal taste in music.
Don’t we choose our technique based on a certain personal affinity with it? I don’t think there are artists out there who hate the technique they use to paint and they just do it because it’s somehow “trendy” or “in demand”.
That would make a very sad artist with sad work.
There are other reasons I could list in favor of digital art as a personal choice: I hate shopping and running out of “materials”, from food to clothes to paint and paper. I hate being dependent on what shops in my area might provide or have in stock.
In the past I struggled a lot for living in a small town that never had the paper or brushes I was looking for. Not to mention how expensive that stuff is! Yes, computers are too, but we all have computers these days, and since I like computers the transition from art to technology feels natural to me.
I need independence and flexibility, I need to know that if I move to another city or country all I need is a plug, and my technique won’t change. Well, I don’t move around that much, but I’ve lived in three continents in my life and just in Hong Kong I’ve moved four times in ten years. So I have a rather flexible perception of the concept of home and neighborhoods.
Another reason is space: since I live in Hong Kong I seriously lack space for paper and pencils. You won’t believe it if you don’t see my home, but I truly can’t find a single spot to work on a watercolor piece even if I wanted to.
When I sit at my computer all I have is in front of me, immaculate and immediately available. I can even place my coffee by the tablet without any fears. I like that liberty too.
I don’t exclude going back to traditional drawing one day, life is dynamic and full of surprises, but for now digital is my thing and I don’t question it. There’s plenty to learn about it. To me it’s a technique like another, with its pros and cons, but ultimately a personal choice.
However, in favor of traditional techniques I will say one thing: if you’re starting and you want to learn the principles of painting and drawing, don’t rush into digital. Spend at least a few years practicing traditional media and absorb the basics and its methodology.
Perhaps one day I’ll just go back to traditional painting to strengthen and apply some of its principles to my digital painting. The way I currently work digitally is rather “conservative” by choice. I don’t use filters nor textures nor oddly shaped brushes. I like to feel that all I need are colors and round brushes, as if I were working on a real canvas.
Exception to the rule: layers…for now.