The computer world has recently jumped into the realm of creating fine art. This goes far beyond architectural renderings for presentations and digitally enhancing photographs; this is art work worthy of displaying in galleries.
The Apple iPad is just one tool that many artists are turning to for the creation of original digital artwork. By using applications such as ArtStudio and Sketchbook Pro, paintings that look like original oil, acrylic or watercolors are being created by artists looking for just one more way to express their artistic abilities.
This is not without controversy. Many see this trend as the downfall of original art. Is it still art if the computer is involved? Some say no. They argue that trading a canvas for a computer screen is sacrilege. Others say if the image is generated by the mind of the artist, then certainly the medium by which it is produced does not matter.
This dilemma is not new. The first controversy about art versus machine generated art was with the invention of the camera. It took many years for photography to be recognized as a form of art, and in actuality it is still trying to find its place.
Computer generated art faces the same dilemmas that photography has had to deal with for decades. When is an original an original? With reproduction possible from negatives it was determined that the artist's control over reproduction determined how many originals were created. With computer generated art, now comes the new dilemma as to the digital format that can be altered by someone else. How can this be controlled, and is it still original art? There are no rules yet, so the door is wide open. When art is created by someone who is not considered a 'traditional artist', and they mass market the result making millions, what does that say about the work created in an art studio and how does it affect value?
Another interesting twist for computer generated art is the photorealism created renderings by architects to show clients how a building will appear when completed. While this is a great tool to help clients make decisions as to whether or not they like a final design, it has created a huge problem during construction. Studies show that when a client is presented with a photorealistic view, they tend to think of it as so real that it is perfect and that when change orders come up during construction they are furious and refuse to accept these changes. When shown non-photorealistic images they assume the project is not perfect, and accept change orders without complaint.
So when is art really art and when is it just an image that imitates art? The jury is still out. Certainly this will become more fine tuned as computer generated artwork becomes more popular and mainstream. Only time will tell if this will become an accepted way for artists to express themselves in a new an innovative way.
The Apple iPad is just one tool that many artists are turning to for the creation of original digital artwork. By using applications such as ArtStudio and Sketchbook Pro, paintings that look like original oil, acrylic or watercolors are being created by artists looking for just one more way to express their artistic abilities.
This is not without controversy. Many see this trend as the downfall of original art. Is it still art if the computer is involved? Some say no. They argue that trading a canvas for a computer screen is sacrilege. Others say if the image is generated by the mind of the artist, then certainly the medium by which it is produced does not matter.
This dilemma is not new. The first controversy about art versus machine generated art was with the invention of the camera. It took many years for photography to be recognized as a form of art, and in actuality it is still trying to find its place.
Computer generated art faces the same dilemmas that photography has had to deal with for decades. When is an original an original? With reproduction possible from negatives it was determined that the artist's control over reproduction determined how many originals were created. With computer generated art, now comes the new dilemma as to the digital format that can be altered by someone else. How can this be controlled, and is it still original art? There are no rules yet, so the door is wide open. When art is created by someone who is not considered a 'traditional artist', and they mass market the result making millions, what does that say about the work created in an art studio and how does it affect value?
Another interesting twist for computer generated art is the photorealism created renderings by architects to show clients how a building will appear when completed. While this is a great tool to help clients make decisions as to whether or not they like a final design, it has created a huge problem during construction. Studies show that when a client is presented with a photorealistic view, they tend to think of it as so real that it is perfect and that when change orders come up during construction they are furious and refuse to accept these changes. When shown non-photorealistic images they assume the project is not perfect, and accept change orders without complaint.
So when is art really art and when is it just an image that imitates art? The jury is still out. Certainly this will become more fine tuned as computer generated artwork becomes more popular and mainstream. Only time will tell if this will become an accepted way for artists to express themselves in a new an innovative way.
