outflows and inflows of creativity

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Art & Technology

Has technology changed art and the way artists create?

There is no doubt our world, and in many aspects, our way of life has changed dramatically in the last decade. Primarily, computers have connected all of us. Communicating with a person nearby or on the other side of the world has become commonplace. Through a few clicks of the mouse anyone can interact with almost anyone almost instantly. We can get in touch with fellow artists - like you are doing right now. We can, if we let go of fear and pride, collaborate with each other, learn new ideas and freshen our approach. This is vital. We must change along with our world, use every opportunity and experience to give us an edge.

Inspiration and ideas, though not any easier to communicate with the viewer or reader, are more accessible. You can still go the route of hiring models and setting up props, and according to what mode of expression you use; i.e. figurative, narrative, classic; this may be the best route for you to take. You certainly cannot get all the visual information from a photo that you get from a live model. Doesn't even compare. But, there are worlds of possibility via the internet. Take Flickr for instance. What a rich source of visual images from around the world - all for free!

Art collectors can get to know artists, and in many instances follow the creation process step by step. Patrons want to connect with us, get to know the human being behind the art. I know an artist who at her art receptions tells stories about her work. She is a narrative folk painter, and to get her point across will imitate the way a character walks and talks. She always sells at her shows. The more personable and approachable you are, the more you will connect with the viewer.

We can discover new mediums and materials. Now there are new categories, digital art being one, that would not be possible without this new technology. And as our world has changed, we must change and adapt in order to do what we are impelled to do; communicate that which stirs our souls.

"The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice,
by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Digital art courtesy of saidunsaids )

3 comments:

Ebb Tide said...

Love your post. I am amuse because I have two sons who turned out to be artists and majored in computer graphics. Many times we discussed how we did art during my time and how they do it now. I was schooled in the old-fashioned art but I also embrace the new technology. It's a different art media.

harriett said...

Thanks, Ebb! The neat thing is, as artists, we can use mediums to create art that were designed for other purposes. Centuries ago the lowly egg was used to make egg tempera - I think of Fra Angelico work and the beauty that was given to the world.

Diane Dehler said...

This is an interesting discussion and it makes one's head turn in circles to thing about the greatly enlarged "palette" of what constitutes art now.