[Discussion]Traditional VS Digital Art

[Braixen]

I won't be surprised if most of you have dabbed in both formats, but what are you opinions on them? Do you think that traditional art must always be "practiced" before digital art? Does it not matter at all? What sorts of reactions do you get from your digital art compared to traditional? How do you view the art of either format? Do you treat the formats differently?

I, like a lot of people, started out with on traditional art. I spent a lot of time in this medium and I didn't share my art with others. I have sketchbooks filled with drawings and concepts that have literately been viewed by no one. I find it hard to present art to other people to look at in person, although I consider myself a person of confidence there just seems to be a barrier there for me. I don't specifically like being complimented, and I often feel "naked" for lack of a better term, when presenting my art to someone in person. I find it a lot easier to share digital art, mostly because the huge digital art community online is all about sharing art, and learning from others... or just crying over their talents that you do not yet possess/have not mastered. At the end of may I will have had my first writing tablet for a year now, and it's opened up a huge world of joy. I believe I have truly progressed from that moment and it makes me excited about what else I can learn. I won't say that digital art is less captivating but once in a while I miss the "strain" of traditional art. Getting charcoal smudges on my hands, not being able to undo a paint stroke, etc. It takes a lot of skills in practice to do well in multiple mediums of traditional art, I won't say it takes less in digital art but I do think it comes with less complications. Once you've become accustomed with pen pressure digital chalk, charcoal and paint art becomes a bit easier, and the tedious techniques will soon follow. Is this a similar experience to everyone else?

I cannot say I prefer one format over the other... but I do prefer the community that comes with digital art. Traditional art, for me, is a very independent activity. I create, view and work on my art all alone... but with digital art I can share the steps, I can discuss it, and I can present it to others. The act of "presenting" online has a lot less pressure too, people are able to view it and make a choice to respond or not, to give advice, to compliment (sincerely or not) etc... in person I believe most people will feel obligated to respond with a compliment, hesitant to give advice, and will refrain at all costs from saying absolutely nothing at all. In this way I truly appreciate the digital art format.

What are your thoughts on the formats? What is your experience with either, or both? Can you argue that one is better than the other or do they have different uses? :)