DIGITAL AS A FINE ART MEDIUM

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 By Molly Barr

Views expressed in this article are that of the author only, and are not meant to be construed as the policies and/or views set forth by any other individual or organization. 

Digital art has established itself in the field of illustration--no questions asked.  However, as fine art it continues to be controversial.  Many feel that it is a threat to the field of fine art--that the artist is somehow cheating or perhaps getting off easy and not employing true artistic skills or standards.  Then there is the dilemma of mass production.  The original (or first printed) is identical to any subsequent print produced from the file.  This remains a disadvantage to the art collector who wants something unique or one of a kind.  The question remains:  how to label and market digital prints as fine art.  The answer, in part, is to better inform artists and buyers about the medium, and to encourage digital artists and traditional artists who are expanding into this new medium, to put their work out there for everyone to see. 

As in each of the traditional art mediums such as--oil, acrylic, photography, mixed media, pen and ink—there is a range of digital art methods and styles.  These include that which I will call the “purist digital art” which is created on the computer using no other sources or means.  This type of digital art, from start to finish, is created only with the computer.  No photographs or other artwork are scanned in and manipulated.  Of this “purist” category, there are any number of styles that can result.  The artist can use the computer to ‘hand paint’ a picture using a mouse or stylus that looks very similar to a watercolor, oil, pen and ink, etc.  Or, the artist can use computer software such as a three-dimensional program, or programs, to create a scene, in which case no actual drawing skills are required, but knowledge of sophisticated software is essential … OR, the artist can combine the two.  The digital artist who is not quite the “purist” of the above example may use an outside source as a basis for the piece.  For example he or she might scan in a photograph, sketch, or painting and touch it up or make a completely new creation based on the scan.  It is also possible to create part of a piece on the computer, print it out, and incorporate it into a traditional painting, or a collage.  I suppose that these might actually be call mixed media if one were so inclined.  Between the two types of digital art, the purist and the not quite so purist, there is an endless range. 

Are these artists “cheating?”  Are they getting off easy by not employing artistic ingenuity and skills?  Far from it!  Very specialized skills are required to operate the computer and software—different, but every bit as taxing as the skills required in creating a work by any of the more traditional methods.  In any case, it will always be true that a well-composed image that employs good use of lighting, shadows, colors, etc. is the same whether it was done on a computer, with a camera, or in oils.  In many cases, it has a different look to it than an oil painting, for example, just as an oil painting looks very different than a watercolor.  It’s a mistake to compare oil to watercolor, photography to pen and ink, sculptures to two-dimensional, and digital to other media.  They each have their own look and charm, and are unique to the artist who created them. 

The objective, then, for digital artists is to create a reputable means of presenting this new medium to art lovers.   With this in mind, I have been developing my ideas and methods.  I have chosen to sell my pieces as limited edition prints to preserve their value.  The printing industry has made enormous leaps in technology in the past few years, making this possible.  Prints now have the enduring quality of traditional works; the colors are as bright and true as any painting, and a pleasure to view.  Many media for printing are now available, ranging from watercolor paper, to photo-glossy, to silk and canvas.  I have settled, for the moment, on making my prints available on two media: archival paper and canvas, both in archival inks.  The look of an image can be different depending on which medium it is printed.  This lends itself to actually having two limited editions of a given print—one on canvas and one on paper.  The first print on canvas is sold as the original, and each subsequent print as part of its limited edition.  On rare occasions a few artist’s proofs might be available if several were printed before final adjustments for the edition were made.  Certificates of Authenticity are included with the sale of each piece, and when the edition is exhausted the original file is archived or destroyed.   

Digital as a fine art medium is here, and slowly gaining acceptance.  It is my hope to promote this new medium, and help it develop a reliable reputation in the world of art.  I welcome any opinions and comments from other digital artists who are interested in promoting their work as fine art. 

Molly Barr