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Fine Art vs Digital Art? (the present day digital creative movement pt.2)

Hello fellow bloggers, this is Jabrr back to discuss more on the topic of what is better Fine Art vs. Digital Art. Also why it appear Fine Art is becoming the stepchild to Digital Art. These blogs are in response to my individual questions I have and I needed to find out the answers to. This is my way of creating a line of communication with other artist to find out opinions they may have. If Fine Art or the style of Fine art creation is becoming phased out with the technology and methods of Digital Art creation. Most artists begin their quest learning the techniques in the Fine Arts field and then they migrate to Digital Art. Using Fine Art as a method of study versus using it as a means of Art creation. Only few artist keep a balance or decide to stay true to their Fine Art roots. Most I've seen do it for the love or as a hobby. I have seen most artists especially in the Commercial Art, Film and Comic Book field currently create there art by spending hours laboring in front of computer screens. Most of the Illustrations produced of hand drawn or painted art has some sort of computer generated look done in Photoshop, Painter, Paintshop Pro or Gimp. This is true for Illustrations done for other areas also like  Advertising, Print Magazines, Newspaper (what is left of them anyway), Novels, Graphic Novels, Animation and images produce for the Web. Most diehard Fine artists who resists using technology with a passion now suffers from not applying their techniques and the use of digital technology to enhance their marketability. 

Does this means the Fine Artist loses the battle? I will let those who read this blog decide. But I feel as one who has experienced both sides, I would say yes. Society has made a must that we adhere to using technology. Technology comsumes 70 - 80% of most americans daily lives. In the car, walking to work, on the bus, during lunch & dinner, and of course at home. So as an artist you must understand how to utilize technology in order to make yourself more viable and marketable as an artist. They are some rare exceptions, but most of this comes after years of marketing and hitting that niche market. But in today's global economy marketplace, you have to be a rock star artist with some very influential friends and associates to name your price for your art. They are very few who understand the creative effort it takes for produce art and cost module involved for pricing it.


Digital Art creation has its place and that is alongside Fine Art. A message most of this NOW generation must learn to appreciate. The rich history Fine Art has and why it is necessary to study and fully understand before honing your skills using digital art techiniques. I don’t claim to be a Renaissance Artist; but I do know as a multi-media artist I could not do one without my history applying understanding enough about the other. I love the idea of living my life as a Fine Artist, on day I plan to but economics and society steers me constantly to digital art creation. I am sure they are many who struggle with this internal battle which in most cases the digital artist wins. Though digital art is faster with more methods of application there is not like Fine Art. 

I believe I have shared enough of my points on this subject the next blog I post will contain what industry reflects and says in reference to my questions.

Please comment, I would like to know what others creative individuals think in reference to this topic.

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Is Fine Art dead? (the present day digital creative movement)

I would like to no others opinion on this subject but first this has been a question on my mind for years. I started out my Artistic exploits during my toddler years drawing, creating things using various tools such as clay, silly putty, erector sets, etch-a-stetch and various other tools to explore my creativity. This later progressed to drawing comics, comic strips, landscapes and people during my pre-teens and high school. I spent most of time exploring and developing my mind analogously. I enjoyed the serene of places my mind went while in these creative bliss filled moments. I continued these aspirations during college, until the moment of reality hit during my last year in college. I noticed a dramatic change in the Creative Field all of the industrious of creating Commercial/Graphics Art started to move in another direction. This direction was unfortunately a direction I could not alter from because it dealt with my livelihood. So my choice was to conform on to starve. 

Current day almost twenty years later, everything I do in reference to my artistic creativity some digital method aligned with it. The design work I do for the print, and of course the web, and motion video. The benefit of Digital technology integration has been great for several creative industries. Digital technology is fully integrated itself into Film, TV, Advertising and of course the god of our lives everything internet. Yet over the past 8 years of my life, I have notice in my teaching experiences and with most creative individuals I know the lack of traditional methods for creating art in the Print Design field. A field still with its value slowly is being replaced by digital technology. Now the creative ideas are going into conceptual design. The analogous means of creativity slowly dwindle in our lives because everything is becoming realized in 3D, touch screen or via some computer application installed on a device or used via the internet. During my tenure as a teacher, students rarely unless forced to want to spend time using a pen/pencil and paper especially if a computer is in front of them. My observation of life and all of my years on the internet is drawing me to one conclusion. Yes, our lives have been surrendered along with over 60% of our creativity has been surrendered to digital technology integration.

Though advancements in digital technology integration shows where our creativity is being spent. It has been for years depicted in Film, Advertising and the Internet that technology is great. Yes this is true, mostly though for the creative minds that invent these products. But the one who loses, is the traditional artist is the 40+ to 60+ artist who spent years training to now be replaced by a computer application developer. I love the possibilities technology but if digital technology integration is to be used it should be used as another medium like and artist uses rapidiograph pen, quills, paint and brushes. Art is meant to be created first in the mind, then on to a canvas (which require pen/pencil and paper), and this then can be transferred as an option into any digital technology methods to translate the idea.

This post in by no means a shot at saying digital technology integration has been a benefit to our creative lives but as with most things you have to see the bigger picture. Artist were still great without digital technology integration but now can be greater by understanding the use of digital technology as a tool.

I’ll be back on more on this topic.

This is the Jabrr signing off for now but I would like to know your feedback on this topic.

Check out some of my work on my portfolio page 
thanks for visiting check back soon for updates.