I had a conversation with a friend the other day about Digital Art. He wanted to know if I was going to be taking a mix of all my work (i.e. acrylic paintings) or more of my computer art to my upcoming show. Throughout the chat the words were never said, but the implication was there. The acrylic paintings were “real art” and the digital stuff…well….not so much. I myself was resistant to computer generated artwork for years. I did not think it belonged in the same category as paintings or drawings. To me it looked “different” and as a traditional painter, I was having trouble with that. I also did not understand how much hard work it was! There is also the argument that states that you cannot get a “one of a kind” piece with digitally produced media. This is true! But you also cannot get a one of a kind photograph either unless you have the negative or file yourself and then you can only enjoy it as a small inverse image or on your computer. To fully enjoy photography you must have a print made of it so you can hang it on your wall. It is the same with digital art.
I do not create ANYTHING entirely with my computer. I do not do fractal work. I always start with one of my original paintings or a photograph. I copy my own hand painted patterns from original works. I draw designs. Every piece I create on my computer starts with something I did with my hands away from the black box. My mandalas start from my paintings on Yupo. My Stone Rock’d Art starts with patterns from my Labor of Love pieces which I painted by hand.
I am sure that the charcoal and fruit ink painters were incredulous when oil painters came along. It was something new and untested. How could something so radically different from charcoal ever become popular? To me “real art” has nothing to do with the mediums used. If you lock a creative person into a room without anything, they will make art from dust particles. Art is the expression or application of creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power. But is it “real art”? Is it collectible? In the last year I have sold over 1000 prints that I produced with the aid of my computer. Now to me that is beautiful and oh so powerful……and undeniable real!
Digital artists….rock on!
Enjoy all of my work here…both traditional and contemporary:
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries
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