After a year of being in "lurk mode" I thought I'd slip in a some comments on this one.
I have a BA degree in Fine Art & photography and have been an illustrator for 17+ yrs. In recent years, I seem to be spending more time behind my Mac then the drawing board (webdesign, DTP, etc..).
First, to define a few terms....
I never use the word "artist" to describe myself or my title. I believe "artist" is a title someone else needs to give you. An "artist" is simply someone who has, over the years of perfecting and refining, elevated his particular skill to that of an art. So, a farmer can be an artist if they excell at what they do and strive to a higher level of excellence in their field.
I guess you could then say that the farmer is out-standing in his field (had to get that in there... hehe)
creativity .... is simply "decision making". Anyone who must decide between choice A or B is using creativity in his job. Creativity is not something limited to those involved in the "arts". Perhaps a toll booth operator may be the one exception to the rule.
<BG>
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Here's a quote from an article that I found interesting and touches on some of the questions here about designers vrs. fine artists vrs. etc......:
It's crucial to remember that design is not art. It's not about personal expression running amok. Design is about solutions to real problems. Unlike fine artist who follow their own whims, designers do not solve their own problems, but rather the problems of the job at hand. They should be concerned with getting results like selling products, filling auditoriums, identifying companies and presenting information understandably. Design must grow out of an awareness of the assighnment's problems and goals.
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fine art....computer art...etc.
I still use my pens, brushes, etc. and I make use of several computer programs. I have no doubt in my mind that the computer will never completely replace "traditional" tools for illustration.
One reason...
People pay for imperfection. What would someone pay more for - a handmade plate or a "perfect" one made by a machine, a handsewn rug or a machine sewn one?
The reason for this is that humans are imperfect and having this element of imperfection in one's artwork breathes "life" into in and gives a personal human element to it. I'm not talking about "mistakes" or doing shoddy work but rather human imprefection shining through and having people relate to it. I've tried the best "natural media" software on the market and a computer can NOT create this natural human element - impressive as the 3D brush strokes may look with the preasure sensitive Wacom tablet. Don't get me wrong....I think these programs are GREAT and I am itching to try the new Mac OSX Photoshop 7 with the addition of unlimited pressure sensitive natural brushes!!
Whenever I produce artwork in the computer, I always make a point to have at least one stage of the process done by hand. For example, if I wanted to drop in colour for a b/w line drawing, I would do the drawing by hand and scan it in, then manipulate it in the computer and add the colour in photoshop. Or, for a colour pencil effect in a photo, instead of using a Photoshop art filter, I would hand draw some colourpencil effects over the photo (on tracing paper) and then scan it in and superimpose it over/under the photo (setting the photograph layer at around 60%). I even made some homemade papers (at home in the blender using feathers, flowers, etc.!) and scanned them in for backgrounds to a brochure. Went quick and was fun. ...and I found out that a computer doesn't always do every graphic job faster than by hand. It all depends...
My Mac (and painting software) is only a tool, no different than a pencil or brush. It is another tool in my bag and no one tool is the best choice for every job. There were some good points in this thread on how some students buy a fancy computer program and think that those cool effects will do the trick. The same happens with fine or graphic artists who think that the use of colour can cover a multitude of weaknesses (weak composition, drawing skills, etc.). Notice how the latest design trends tend to run parallel with the new Photoshop tools and eventually things start to look "sameish".
Another reason, I will never give up my traditional tools is that the computer doesn't appeal to my sense of smell and touch. What would I do without my wet watercolour paper smelling like a dog coming in out of the rain.
, the smell of oil of lavendar spike, or the buttery feel of my Blockx oil paints. Also, there is less frustration with my traditional tools over my computer software/hardware ... "Ahhh, I just spent $25 on that new kolinsky sable brush and they just came out with an upgrade - kolinsky sable "version 1.5 for OSX"!" It's a comfort knowing that my investment will not become outdated for at least another 150 yrs.. <g>
Well, there's my 2 cents ... actually looking at how much I ended up typing it may be more like $1.89.
Now let me get my hands on that new Photoshop 7.0!!
