Hmm... Once again, I'm amazed at the amount of replies originated by this topic. I guess I really toched a controversial matter here.
Anyway, I'm back to inform all of you guys about my "digital" development since my last reply. I feel it's important to this discussion, giving a more "newbie hands-on" feel to the conversation than it would have otherwise...
Alan Davis wrote:
(...)from my experience of making images with non-digital media I would say it is impossible for the limitations and easy options of the digital medium not to affect artistic development.(...)
I'm not sure I agree. I have been trying to adapt to this new way of drawing and, while I'm still in infancy stages, I have to say that most of the work I've done - without some details that are related to the lack of proficiency with the tablet, which I hope will disappear soon - looks exactly like things I did and would do on paper. I think with a couple of weeks it will feel like second nature. Right now, there are pen tablets on the market, like the Wacom Intuos3, that have a paperlike feel. And since I pencil my own artwork the way I would normally do, the "limitations" of the digital medium are almost the same of the paper medium, and there aren't that many "easy options" to take advantage of. At least, not the way I'm doing things right now.
Row wrote:
For me the technology of programs such as PhotoShop et al will always be behind what can really be achieved on paper or canvas.
For about 95% of digital art, I'd agree with you, Row. But, like any new art form, the digital medium is creating its new masters, who create artwork as good or even better than things done on paper. I guess everything deserves a chance. It's only a matter of time.
(...)the user doesn't learn anything from them, much like tracing a photo of a person as opposed to drawing it from the ground up, you don't learn anything about the forms and how clothes wrap around a figure from tracing, because an important part...the underlying structure... is removed from the process.(...)
Not necessarily. A teacher once gave me an interesting exercise: trace a picture AND draw it separatelly. Then compare the two. You can learn A LOT with this simple exercise!
MiG wrote:
Many I've been in contact with have actually stated that they've chosen the digital way because it's, once you've learned the tricks, in actuality a lot easier than trying your hand at real ink. One of the absolute advantages inking with a computer has is that you can redo it into infinity. When you ink by hand, depending on what you're working with, you have to get it right the first time since there is no second time in a lot of cases so you really have to know what you're doing.
Time to be honest here. The possibility of erasing your mistakes was exactly what attracted me to inking done digitally in the first place. The fact is, I'm an epilleptic, and I have to be on medication on a daily basis, probably for the rest of my life. And my medication makes my hands shake. This is bad enough for pencils, which I can erase, let alone ink. That's why I've decided to try digital ink. The fack that you can simply click undo is a gift for me. But I agree that most digital ink feels cold and inhuman. But I feel that happens because most of the time it's done by line manipulation, instead of using a pen tablet like it were a normal pen. I've tried it and, while I've yet to learn a lot about inking, it didn't feel very digital in the end. The idea that now I can ink my own work is awesome!
Finally:
DungeonmasterJim wrote:
Just want to thank you guys for a civil discussion without flaming or insults. That happens all to often in other forums.
I hear you, Jim. I know exactly what you mean. It's ridiculous how sometimes a simple subject can generate controversy and get to a point where everyone is insulting the next guy's mother. Thank it didn't happen here, or I'd feel responsible for originating it in this topic.
Until next time.