THE REVOLUTION IN ILLUSTRATION: FROM TRADITIONAL TO DIGITAL
Areniz, R. Annete K[1]. Jaimes, P. Nicolás[2]. García, A. Sebastián[3].
Introduction
Illustration has undergone a major shift in the digital era, moving from pencil to tablet, demonstrating a revolutionary change in the creative field. In this essay, we mention how it has influenced the creative industry, analyzing its impact on artists.
Digital tools put in our hands almost infinite possibilities, both in terms of technique and creativity as well as job opportunities. Digital illustration is, without a doubt, an emerging art that reflects the spirit of today. For this reason today is one of the most important branches of art that has evolved steadily in the environment.
Digital illustration can convey a more emotional message that effectively surprises the viewer, providing creativity and dynamism, for this reason it has taken an important role in the development of graphic design.
According to Fuentes Martín (2015):
Shifting from traditional to digital means taking advantage of advances in technology. In a world where evolution is constant, where digitization has become a driver for efficiency and innovation in virtually all sectors, adapting to these new tools and methodologies becomes essential. This transition has allowed for greater flexibility and error correction, as digital traces can be easily undone and modified. While this shift also poses challenges in terms of authenticity and emotional connection to the work, digital drawing has expanded creative possibilities and revolutionized the way art is created and shared in the modern era.
Traditional painting methods and digital tools complement each other. Many artists start with a manual drawing before moving to the digital medium. This allows them to combine the authenticity of the traditional with the flexibility of digital, creating an enriching creative approach that takes advantage of the best of both worlds. Rather than replacing the traditional, digital technology joins it, enhancing the creative possibilities..
Development
Over the past decades, we have observed the transformation of digital art and the evolution of computer-aided drawing programs. In the 1960s, there was an incipient interest in the application of computer technology in the creative field, although at that time it was not called "digital art". Artists of that time began to delve into new possibilities offered by the developing technology.
A prominent example of this era was John Whitney, who experimented with combining music and computer-generated graphics using mechanical and digital devices. In addition, artists such as Paul Klee began using computer algorithms to bring works of art to life.
However, the 1980s marked a significant shift toward digital art rather than simply relying on computer assistance or generating art through algorithms. This period was characterized by a marked increase in the availability of computer drawing programs, as several competitors began to launch various painting applications. In the 21st century, these technologies have advanced considerably and have become widely accessible to anyone. This evolution has opened the doors to a wide range of people, allowing them to explore and experiment with digital art in its various facets.
The transition to digital illustration represented a significant challenge for many traditional artists, those who had spent years perfecting their skills in manual media such as oil, watercolor or pencil. This adaptation involved a process of change both technically and emotionally. From the technical point of view, the manual artists were faced with the need to learn to use digital programs and tools, which marked a drastic change compared to the traditional techniques they had mastered throughout their careers. Handling a graphics tablet or stylus required entirely new dexterity and coordination, and many felt challenged by this learning curve.
However, as artists immersed themselves in the world of digital illustration, they began to recognize the advantages that this new form of expression offered them. The ability to undo and redo without limits, the ease of experimenting with different styles and techniques, and the possibility of instantly sharing their work online, reaching global audiences, were aspects that they began to appreciate more and more.
Although the transition to digital illustration represented an initial challenge for traditional artists, as they adapted to this new medium, they discovered the advantages and creative possibilities it offered. This adaptation marked a profound change in the way they conceived and practiced art, transforming their creative process and broadening their artistic horizons.
For Martin Martin (2016):
Art does not abide by rules, it is based on a natural gift, the talent of genius; and to appreciate it, taste, good taste, is necessary. And here we have Kant vindicating the subjectivity of aesthetic judgment and at the same time its universality [...].
Mastery of traditional drawing plays an essential role in the ability to effectively use digital tools in the realm of artistic creation. This is because the skills acquired in conventional drawing, such as knowledge of anatomy, perspective and color theory, are fundamental to the creation of visually striking and meaningful images.
This focus on traditional rendering techniques is not limited to simply replicating what is done on paper or canvas, but rather applying these techniques in innovative ways and adapting them to the diverse world of visual creation in the digital environment. This involves exploring new creative possibilities that are only possible with digital tools, such as layer manipulation, experimentation with textures and visual effects, and the ability to undo and redo in an unlimited way..
Digital drawing is not necessarily easier than traditional drawing, since both require a different set of tools and approaches. In order to be able to draw digitally, it is important to have gone through a learning process in traditional drawing, to understand the concepts, criteria and techniques involved. The computer and software alone do not create artistic works; therefore, it is essential to have a solid knowledge of the principles of drawing, as well as color theory and traditional painting techniques that allow the creation of figurative works.
.According to Munari (2018):
In this sense, Bruno Munari argues that imagination is a means that serves to "visualize" thoughts, as well as any fantasy or creative invention. This is how he argues that "In some individuals, imagination is very tenuous; in others,very vivid; and in others it finally transcends what is thought".
Thus, it is worth concluding that technologies, in the field of digital means of expression, are here to stay, as part of this process of creation. What makes digital drawing stand out is its speed and flexibility. The process is faster, and the artist has total control over when he considers his work to be finished; the only limitation is his imagination.
Conclusions
- Drawing still retains its relevance in the creative process. This is because it serves as an immediate tool to log ideas, facilitates the development of visual ideas and strengthens observation skills, as these skills are intrinsically linked to the act of drawing. In addition, drawing is also revealed as a valuable tool to practice through the method of trial and error, thus playing a fundamental role as a catalyst in the creative process.
- The application of certain elements of frequent illustration, allows to interpret the images as usable, possible, legitimately usable in the development of a system of pictograms. It was also agreed that not all concepts can be synthetically expressed with images, at least with a high degree of recognition.
- The debate about the impact of digital tools on the creative process reveals two predominant perspectives. On the one hand, there is the vision that considers these digital tools as simple instruments aimed at the final execution of work, accelerating processes and facilitating communication. This perspective tends to limit its influence to the technical field. On the other hand, there is a current that emphasizes the importance of hand drawing and the elaboration of sketches as elements that stimulate creativity, conceived as independent of the tools used. This discussion highlights the diversity of opinions regarding how digital tools are integrated into the creative process, but stresses that creativity continues to occupy a central place, regardless of the technology used.
- This ends with the statement that we are in a period of transition between the analog and digital, the material and the virtual, where we must work with each other, without exclusions or reciprocal substitutions.
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