Definitions
“Digital art is an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as an essential part of the creative or presentation process” – Wikipedia
A good definition of this new form of expression can also be found here. This website is dedicated to the subject of the digital painting. Paraphrased from the article: “A ‘digital’ painting is created on the computer using a graphics program, a virtual paintbox with brushes, colors and other supplies. The box contains instruments that cannot exist outside the computer. Furthermore a digital artwork distinctly different from an artwork that is made in the traditional manner. Once finished, the artist transfers the painting onto a physical carrier like paper or canvas.”
Historical notes
Digital painting is a relatively new phenomenon. This new art form has emerged in the 80’s although people created pixel art already in the sixties. This art form of expression continues to evolve rapidly. Artists conceptualize their art in a computer, aided by a specialized painting program (software).
The digital painting process
Sometimes experts call it also, digital painting. The process adapts traditional painting mediums such as oils. And it applies the pigment to traditional carriers, such as canvas, or paper by means of digital file transfer to an inkjet printer.
A digital painter uses a stylus and a tablet, paired with an appropriate painting software. The most used software is Adobe Photoshop. The canvas of a digital painter is the computer monitor. The artist draws with a stylus on a digitizing tablet. Once a line or other form is drawn, the result can be seen on the computer screen.
Unlike an original oil painting, for example, the final digital painting original is a computer digital file. From that digital file, the artist makes prints in limited editions or open editions as the situation and his inclination dictates. To read more please visit the “Digital painting” article on the BLOG.
Photo based Digital Art
Paraphrased from an article “…Over the centuries, artists have used a variety of tools to bring the outside world on their canvas as raw material to be digested, translated, molded into their subjective interpretation. It is nothing new that painters use a camera, but the digital process makes a long-standing practice a lot easier.
Often, a photographer uses the same program for editing a photo as the artist for creating a painting. The shared toolbox establishes a transition zone between photography and painting.
If the photo is used as input in a creative process that leads to an individual artwork, classification is not always easy. The photo can be projected on a physical carrier and painted over, in which case the digital characteristics are largely lost and it becomes a ‘traditional painting’…
If the creative process is carried out on the computer and the work is printed, it is generally classified as ‘digital photo art’
Some examples of photography based digital art follow: Example 1, Example 2 and the companion article describing the subject can be found here.
Artistic expression and the Social Media
Social Media among other things, can also lead to creativity. It is a new form of expression fueled by rapidly evolving technologies.
Sharing of digital files possibly but not necessarily of any artistic value, is in the mainstream of social media. Everybody needs a form of expression. And what is easier than posting a photo or digital art online?
As we can see, the concepts and definitions of this emerging form of art are evolving.
Suggested reading
“Biggest myth about digital art” Article on the Blog
“Photography why?” – Article on the artgreeT Blog
