Last month I wrote about why I love digital media, and I ended off with some skeptic’s typical
\ncomments. Doubters like to point out that a lot of traditional media artists do not use
\ncomputer programs…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ah, but they do.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, I’m not a name dropper, so I won’t bother going down that trail. Instead, I will tell
\nyou the two reasons many traditional artists don’t use a computer program like Corel Painter.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
First, they like getting their hands dirty. As great as Painter is, you don’t have the art smell. A lot
\nof people like this. As great as Painter is, your hands stay clean. Some artists love the aspect
\nof paint all over their clothes and hands. I’m not one of them. To me, it was frustrating to wear
\na smock, yet still, find paint on my clothes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Second, and this is the biggest reason more artists don’t work in Painter. It has a huge learning curve. It is
\nhard to learn on your own, and it makes people frustrated. Instead of painting, which artists know,
\nthey have to relearn how to make the strokes they want. Typically their artwork looks horrible in
\nthis process. It is like starting at the beginning of their career. Plus, you have to learn how to use
\na Wacom, which is a different hand eye coordination skill.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When someone comes to digital media, they think it will be quick and easy. It isn’t. To get good, takes
\na lot of time. A lot of time. I have been working with Painter for close to five years now. I have spent
\nthousands of hours in it, and I have spent a lot of money taking lessons. I still don’t know it all. Some
\npeople find this frustrating, but, for me, it is satisfying because it never gets boring. Painter is always
\nevolving and growing. This year Corel introduced thick paint. Wowzers, it is complicated. With this
\nnew technology, I can’t fathom where it will be in a couple of years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is becoming more difficult to know what is a completely digital creation compared to something that
\nhas been done traditionally, and I think if you hunt around you will be amazed at how many artists now
\nwork (at least partially) in digital media.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"