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About Me Premium Member Digital Painter ceruleanviiUnited States Recent Activity Deviant for 1 Year
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Given by `limnides
Statistics 29 Deviations
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dissin digital, periodic art identity crisis

Mon Nov 16, 2009, 1:50 PM
Being members of DeviantArt, we've probably all heard the "traditional vs. digital" battle being waged at one point or another (though I do tend to think there's a lot of digital artists on this site, based on the artworks I see).

I've done a lot of drawing with pencils, pastels, and charcoal, a little work with acrylics, zero oil painting, and a whole lotta digital. Digital painting is what works best for me right now, for a variety of reasons. So it irks me a lot when I see comments like these, both of which I saw posted in the comments sections of blogs featuring digital artwork by myself and others:

"It’s amazing what you can do on the computer these days. The only talent you need is an eye for good pictures and most children have that. I wish they would come up with a tennis racquet that would never let me miss a serve or a return of serve."

"Looks pretty but hardly drawn or painted, it's all digital! I would be much more impressed if it were actually hand done."

Not hand done?!? It just shows how many people out there just don't get digital painting. It's not - oh, I let the computer do everything for me, all I need to do is press a button. The digital painters I know put hand to pen to tablet just like a traditional artist puts hand to brush to paper. They apply the same artistic principles - knowledge of anatomy, composition, perspective, color theory. If someone can't draw their way out of a paper bag and has the color sense of a box of melted crayons, then their art will suck, whether or not it's traditional or digital.

And the other comment is a big - huh? An eye for pictures? If he's saying it's bad to use photo reference, well, there are loads of traditional artists who do so too, Norman Rockwell being a well-known example. If he's saying people are just painting over photos, well, yes, that does sometimes happen - but people who do that are a thankfully a very small minority.

Now I will admit - digital is faster than traditional. With digital it's easier to spot and rectify mistakes. With digital it's easier to be more free and experimental, rather than having to be disciplined. I don't think that lessens the value of digital art or digital artists. Hopefully one day the rest of the world will think so too :) I guess I was just surprised at this perception, living in my little digital bubble :)

And, speaking of perceptions...

I had a rather rude awakening recently. I discovered that my art is strange and possibly offensive to - most people? I guess this should have been obvious to me. But honestly it was something I just never really thought about, me all wrapped up in trying to capture color and lighting and generally hot anatomy... But what interests Del in her little Del bubble does not interest everyone else. And if I ever want professional work, I need to think differently, to think about more compelling stories with more universal appeal and subject matter.

So once again, I need to decide, do I ever want to attempt a career out of this, or just keep doing what makes me happy? Are you tired of hearing me complain about this? I seem to do so every 6 months or so, so I guess it's my bi-yearly periodic art identity crisis.

And I hate it.

The past week my artwork has slowed from a trickle to nothing. Every idea I have seems lame, weird, offensive, or has zero commercial potential. At night when I close my eyes, I see this weird continuing parade of elves warriors mechs pretty girls robots armor sexy girls giant guns explosions - all the things that are "hot" right now, all things I SHOULD be drawing. And I'm not.

I've always told myself when this becomes more frustrating than fun, time to stop. And I've reached that point. So it's time for me to take a little break and sort it all out. For the past few years improving my artwork has been a consuming passion of mine. But now I think I need to back off and re-evaluate what I want.

Anyways, would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you suffer from similar crises :)

Take care,
Del

  • Mood: Content
  • Listening to: swervedriver
  • Watching: my 3 new african dwarf frogs :)
  • Eating: flan
  • Drinking: green tea

Devious Info

  • Current Residence: USA
  • Interests: anatomy, lighting, digital painting
  • Favourite movie: Apocalypse Now, John Carpenter's The Thing
  • Favourite band or musician: Maserati, Kraftwerk
  • Favourite artist: Turner, Sargent, Michelangelo, Mike Mignola, Caravaggio
  • Favourite style of art: romanticism, medieval illuminated manuscripts
  • Operating System: XP
  • Shell of choice: nautilus
  • Skin of choice: smooth, but with a little texture
  • Favourite gaming platform: Wii
  • Favourite cartoon character: Hellboy
  • Tools of the Trade: Wacom Intuos

Your favorite artist(s) - what is it about their work that attracts you most? No "all of the above", please - just pick one! :) 

42%
250 deviants said A distinct or unique style
24%
143 deviants said Handling of color and light
21%
125 deviants said Appealing subject matter
13%
79 deviants said Technical ability

Comments


:iconniazac:
Your gallery is simply fantastic :) Keep up the great work.

--
If you like the PS3 and aren't afraid to admit it, copy and paste this onto your signature.
:iconsecretplanet:
i just finished a pic using your colouring tutorial! thankyou so much! it's my first proper digital painting! if you wanna see what you helped me create, it's here: [link] he's nude, so not safe for work!
:icon00alisa00:
Wonderful gallery! :thumbsup:
:iconceruleanvii:
thank you!

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My DA Portfolio: [link]
:iconkjcharmedfreak:
It was cool getting to speak or hear you on the phone this past weekend. I tried my best to be a good model.. Take a look at some of my gallery, maybe when you get a chance

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MM#572528
Youtube:[link]
:iconceruleanvii:
great working with you too - will check it out and thanks!

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My DA Portfolio: [link]
:iconkjcharmedfreak:
Hey, I'm one of Robert James models, and I will be working with him again. He said we may do some images for you for reference! So cool! Well nice to find you here and to see your work!!!

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MM#572528
Youtube:[link]
:iconceruleanvii:
:) I'm very much looking forward to working with you and Robert-James, I can't wait!

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My DA Portfolio: [link]
:iconkaminotsukai:
Hello there I just saw your work featured on JBM and I just had to watch you ^^ Also, I hope you don't mind me asking but do you have a y!Gallery account as well? If so please let me know, thanks.

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