The Effects of Modern Technology on Visual Art

Imagine this scene: A group of students take a trip to an art museum. The first exhibition they are shown contain paintings that seem to be done using a variety of media that range from acrylic paints to watercolors and pastels. As the students look at the different pieces, a guide explains to them that all the works were done entirely on a computer using a graphics program and tablet. Such a scene is not too far off from the future.

Over the last several years, graphics software has greatly impacted the production of visual art and related industries. This new era of technology and creativity has launched a wave of pioneers who will define and surpass the boundaries of art like never before. The invention and continued improvement of programs, such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter have revolutionized the ways that art is produced by allowing artists to do entire works on the computer. However, in spite of technology allowing for the complete jump from a paper canvas to a digital one, artists who use only the computer for the entire creation process are in the minority. Instead, many opt to scan in a sketch or finished line art and then use a graphics program for the coloring process.

With digital software there is a fear that artists may loose the organic feel one has with traditional media and is the reason that many traditional artists are reluctant to embrace digital art. There is also the belief that one does not have to be a talented artist in order to utilize programs like Photoshop to create great artwork. However, as the saying goes, the tools do not make the artist. In fact, many successful digital artists have found that the same skills needed to produce traditional pieces are still necessary in their digital work.