Cherise Sistrunk
The production of digital artwork takes thought and creativity. Should this
process actually be considered fine art? This has been a topic of undying debate.
Many people believe it should not be considered fine art because it is computer
generated. Some take on the assumption that the computer does all of the work.
Digital art, not unlike traditional fine art, requires the use of tools. The tools used
in either of these processes is one of the main differences between the two. In
traditional fine art techniques such as painting and drawing, the basic implements
used are paint, paint brushes, and pencils accompanied by a canvas or drawing pad.
In digitally created art the pencil and paint brushes are replaced with a tablet stylus
or a mouse. The canvas will be replaced by a computer screen often accompanied by
various software programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Digital artist sometimes use a combination of both mediums hand painting/drawing
and computer manipulation to create their works. This makes for some amazing results.
Bradley Wester, an accomplished graphic artist and painter, merges both of his
www.bradleywester.com.webloc
areas of expertise in creating his unique pieces. The two images above named, “Science”
and, “I Forget”, are the perfect depiction of merging both traditional fine art techniques
with computer generated techniques. Bradley digitally prints files directly onto a canvas,
then he hand paints over the printed canvas as if it were a blueprint. He then carefully
blurs out the lines between the digitally created and hand painted. Bradley likes “to
have it both ways” (bradleywester.com, 2).
David Faust, graphic and performance artist from Brooklyn, New York uses Adobe
Photoshop ad Kai Power Tools to make his digital art images.
http://home.nyc.rr.com/faustgraphics/posters.html
Robert “had an initial desire to enhance [his] hand drawn pen and ink pieces”
(faustgraphics, 4). This is the reason he was attracted to computer art generation to begin
with. This is his main method of creating artwork. These techniques do not make him or
any other graphic artist any less of an artist. Furthermore, it does make their efforts
inferior to traditional fine art.
Perhaps people have more respect for fine art because it has been around for centuries
and highly favored by mass spectators. Whereas computer generated artworks are fairly
new in comparison. It should not be about comparison or technique. Art should be
about expression, no matter what the medium. If the creator or composer proclaims it is
art, whether we admire the end result or not, we should respect it. It should not be our
mission to condemn or judge these artists’ efforts.
The world of art is universal. Practically everyone has an opinion on it and we all have
our favorites. Digital art is indeed an art form. There is certainly more to it than cutting
and pasting. Is it literally fine art? That is a question that may never have a unanimous
answer.
Works Cited
Faust, Robert. Robert’s Bio.
3/11/2008
Wester, Bradley. Statement. 2008.
3/11/2008
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