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The Digital Perspective

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The Digital Perspective

An art lover commented on a digital painting that I had posted on Facebook; she wrote, "It's beautiful. Would someone explain to me why there is any question regarding the validity of digital painting as art?" There are still those who denounce the value and deny the beauty of digital art. However, for me to be a fan of digital art is truly ironic.

As a traditional artist, I considered computer art to be counterfeit. I thought all of it was worthless. It seemed cold and lifeless. It had no soul, no history, and no tradition; worst of all, it was created by geeks who knew nothing or little about real painting. However, the more these images improved, the more I resented them. I believed that the computer did the artwork and the operator was more like a train engineer riding the rails. All my preconceptions were merely excuses to avoid my fears. I was a snob, who feared that the value of traditional artwork (which I still love) would eventually be replaced by computer software that was operated by untalented wannabe artists. Life often has a way of mocking and poking holes in my ill-constructed dogmas; and that was exactly what followed.

Following a massive heart attack, I developed chronic health issues that depleted me of the energy and strength that I needed to paint on canvas. Reluctantly, I began playing around with Photoshop. I started to learn that I could transfer my knowledge of composition and color into images that reflected the themes that I sought to create on canvas. I started using a digital camera to capture images that I could alter according to my personal vision. I began to catalogue my hand-painted brush strokes that I scanned from photographing my watercolors, acrylic and oils. I began to learn to use software tools to embellish and modify elements from my digital photos. With practice and continued effort, I developed digital techniques that have made it possible for me to choose my aesthetic interpretation of nature and humanity. Like any meaningful visual art form, I discovered that digital art also requires talent, practice, and skill.

In recent years, my fellow artists and I have developed our individual styles and techniques employing our talents and skills in the creation of digital art that is beautiful and unique. Sometimes a series of photographs are layered into an image to create a digital composite with the deletion of unwanted elements. The remaining composition can be digitally hand-painted with computer software. The outcome is a unique image entirely. These digital pictures never existed in real life as a photograph captured by the lens of a camera, nor did they require pigment, real brushes, or canvas. (I guess those who sell art supplies are not big fans of digital art either.) For me, my disability forced me to reconsider digital art. My misconceptions and prejudices about digital art have long since evaporated.

I love and respect photographic art and traditional art forms. However, the creation of digital composites and digital paintings exist beyond what the camera can capture. It is an alternative dimension of visual art that falls outside photography and outside the scope of oils, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, or watercolor. I have enjoyed watching this vital and distinct form of art gain wider acceptance and respect among art enthusiasts and fellow artists. And for those remaining stragglers, who continue to disparage digital art, forgiveness and tolerance is my best recommendation.