Art and TechnologyHow technology has changed the methods available to artists

Photographs and personal experience from an art major

By Sammy Vankrevelen

Painting a picture

New method:Acrylic Paint

Old method:Oil Paint

How Technology is involved: In the past oil paint was the main technology used for painting. The oldest oil paint remains were found in caves in Afghanistan's Bamiyan Valley and where from 650 A.D. Now there is Acrylic paint which became available in the 1950’s. It has many advantages and the two types of paint have different qualities.

Acrylic paint close up

The main difference between the two types is drying time. Acrylic paint dries within minutes while oil can take days, weeks or months to dry depending on what color paint you use and what mediums you add to the paint.

Acrylic paint is good for creating layers and textures. For example, painting leaves, fur or hair. Oil paint is good for creating smooth gradual layers and allows you to work on anarea days later because of its slow drying time. It is good forthings such as skin and fabric.

Oil paint Acrylic paint

Acrylic paint is water based meaning you use water to thin the paint. But oil paint is oil based and you need to use turpentine to thin the paint. Turpentine is more toxic and expensive than water.

Oil paint also takes more training to use. You need to use thefat over lean rule. Thicker layers dry slower and you want to Reduce cracking.As an art major I have learned both ways but prefer acrylic.

Oil paint close up

Printing a photograph

New Method:Digital camera and printer

Old Method:Film camera and a darkroom

How technology is involved: The first photographyprocess happened in the 1820’s and digital photography was invented in the last quarter of the 2oth century. The new technology and the old technology both have advantages. For example, with a digital camera printing a photograph isnow quick and easy.

Digital camera and printer close up

If an artist today wants to print a photograph they can do it easily with a digital camera and printer. But in the past a filmcamera was the only technology available. To print a photograph with that technology you need a darkroom,chemicals, time and knowledge. It is such a complicatedprocess that most people today don’t know how to do it andwould need to take a class to learn how.

An advantage to using a digital camera is that you can see theimage you have taken right away. For film photography youhave to develop your roll of film before you know for sure if animage turned out. For digital images it is easy to fix an imageusing Photoshop but to fix a film image you have to spend time manipulating it and using a enlarger.

There are advantages to film photography. Forexample, it has greaterresolution and can capture details in dark blacks and light whitesthat digital can’t. Butdigital cameras are less expensive and can capture more images for less. As An artist I use both technologies and there are good thingsabout using both.

Film and enlarger

Photoshop

Film camera and darkroom close up

Using source material

New method:Using a digital image

Old method:Working from life

How Technology is involved: Before the invention of photography artists had to work from life. Now it is easy to print out a photo from a digital camera as a reference. Using this technology makes available new subject matter and allows artists to work at any time.

Using a digital image close up

The ability to work from photographs has drasticallychanged the methods in which artists work. Before artists had to work from life, memory or sketches. If an artist wantedto paint a landscape he would go outside. If he wanted to paint a person he would need a model. If he wanted to paint a still life he would have to paint at the same time of day eachtime.

Working form a photo allows artists to work at anytime of the day or time of the year. It is cheaper to use a photograph of a person than having to pay a model. And models can move slightly and can change. For example, they may get a hair cut or lose weight.

The vast amount of digital images on the internet allows for a greater amount of subject matters. An artist can paint a picture of a place he has never been too. If he wants to painta tree he can look at many reference photographs of treesinstead of just looking at the tree in his backyard. Because printing a digital image is so cheap it is available to most artists.

Digital photography may influence the type of art that artists choose to make. There are probably fewer landscape artists that work entirely on site anymore. Even abstract painting has been influenced. In my painting class the beginning students has an assignment to pick a digital image to inspire them to create an abstract painting.

I work from digital photographs a lot. I make paintings of animals and pets and work from photos of my pets because they move to much to work from life. I also useimages found on the internet that others have taken.

Working from life close up

Planning an image

New method:Planning usingPhotoshop

Old method:Making thumbnails

How technology is involved: Before artists had to sketch out thumbnails to decide how they wanted a piece ofart to look. Now artists can also use programs like Photoshopto see possible compositions.

Planning using Photoshop close up

Making thumbnails is a method that is used when working from life. In basic studio drawing we would have a large still life to work from and we would make thumbnail sketches to decide how we wanted the composition of our pictures.

But that is an old method and if you are going to work froma digital image you can figure out the composition usingPhotoshop. You can crop the photo different ways or you cancombine more than one photograph to create a new imageto work from.

Drawing created from life and planedout by making thumbnails.

Digital image made fromcombining pictures usedto plan a painting.

This is a digital image I madeand than turned into a painting. I used parts of theabove photographs to createthe plan for the painting in Photoshop.

Painting plan

Painting

Making Thumbnails close up

Getting a canvas

New Method:Buying onefrom the store

Old Method:Making your own canvas

How technology is involved: Today people who don’tknow how to use technologies like hammers and saws can buy a canvas at a store. The mass production of canvases also allows anybody to try out painting. It means less work and timespent on making your own.

Buying a canvas from the store close up

There are many sizes and types of premade canvases that you can buy from the store. The availability of these canvaseshas some benefits. It saves you time and effort that it wouldtake to make your own. Some people may not have the toolsor know how to use the tools to make their own but this allows more people to try out painting.

There are some disadvantages to buying a canvas from the store. For example there may be a certain size canvas that you want but they may not have that exact size. And makingyour own can be much cheaper. I prefer the texture you get from stretching your own canvas. I have both made my own and bought canvases. It is easier to buy one and I’m glad that mass production exists but it is just one option.

Making your own canvas close up

Framing a picture

New method:Buying a frame

Old method:Making a frame

How technology is involved: The frame evolved from boarders that where on vases and tomb paintings 3-4,oooyears ago. It protected and emphasized a piece of art. Todayif an artist has to frame their art they don’t have to make their own but they can buy a frame.

Buying a frame close up

Traditionally wood has been used to make a frame and it is still the most common material today. Artists who make theirown frames have easy access to lumbar yards and home improvement stores to be able to buy wood. Making your own frame can be nice because you can get the exact color and size that you want. If you need an uncommon size making your own can be cheaper than paying for a customsized to be made.

There are advantages to buying a frame. It saves you timeand work. It gives you the option of buying a metal frame ora different material that would be hard to make yourself. People may not have the tools, knowledge or space to maketheir own frame so mass production allows more peopleaccess to be able to frame pictures.

Tools to make your own frame. ( If you don’t buy your ownyou have to clean upyour work area afteryour done.)

Making a frame close up

Showing your work

New method:Showing workon the internet

Old method:Showing work in a gallery

How technology is involved: Before the invention of the internetartists would show their work in galleries and meet with buyersface to face. Now by showing work online it gives more peoplethe opportunity of seeing it and lets people out of the area contact the artist.

Showing work on the internet close up

Showing your work online gives artists the opportunity for way more viewers than they would get for a gallery showing. For example, every year the senior art show makes a catalogfor the show. More people actually view the catalog on Blurb,a self publishing book website, than actually come to the show.

Having your work on the internet lets people see all of your work not just what is in a gallery. And it lets people see it anytime not just the hours and weeks the show will be open.

You can have viewers and buyers from all over the world notjust the areas you show work. If you have a website it mayhelp promote your work and you may be invited to show ina gallery that way. There are many online art galleries andyou may be asked to join a popular one.

Senior Art Exhibit catalog on Blurb

Showing work in a gallery close up

ConclusionsPainting a Picture:New technology: acrylic paint. Before only oil paint was available.How it affects me as an artist: I know how to use both typesBut prefer acrylic. Printing a Photograph:New technology: Digital cameras. Before only film was available.How it affects me as an artist: I use both methods.Using source material:New technology: working from a digital image. Before artists had to work from life.How it affects me as an artist: I work both ways but mainlyfrom digital images.Planning an image:New technology: Photoshop to plan a project. Before youhad to make sketches and thumbnails.How it affects me as an artist: I have learned both ways but use mostly Photoshop.Getting a canvas:New technology: Mass production of canvases. Before youalways had to make your own.How it affects me as an artist: I make my own and also buy.Framing a Picture:New technology: Mass production of frames. You can now buy or make your own.How it affects me as an artist: I use both ways.

Conclusions continued:

Showing your work:New technology: The internet and showing work on it. Before only galleries were available.How it affects me as an artist: I use both ways.