The Digital ‘Crutch’

I used to think that drawing/sketching/painting digitally was cheating.

It’s not authentic.

You’re not a ‘real’ artist if what you created was done on a computer.

Plus, how can you sell your art if the only place it exists is on a screen?

I’m not so sure I feel that way anymore.

I no longer think I’m cheating.

I’m creating no matter what the medium. And a computer or Tablet is just another medium in an artist’s arsenal.

Both digital and ‘hands on’ art making have their place, but I find myself leaning more and more towards the former.

Pros and Cons of Digital Drawing as I see it……

Tablet: Pros:

Portable: I like that I’m not tethered to the computer in a room cut off from other people. I like that I can take it outside and to places to sketch.

Tactile: I like that you sketch ON the tablet, like sketching on paper. As opposed to sketching on a tablet while looking at a screen elsewhere. The whole patting you head while rubbing your stomach thing.

Erase-ability:  rather than having to trash a drawing/painting I can just erase.

Layering ability: really cuts down on ‘mishaps’. You can try out different ideas and if you don’t like them just delete the layer!

Apps: much less expensive than full computer programs.

Cons:

Battery: dying in the middle of a sketch. (Sometimes I forget to recharge Tablet……….)

Limited memory: this then limits drawing programs.

Apps: can be glitchy.

Media: can’t always do what you want it to do. (I would like a watercolor app but haven’t found a decent one.)

Learning curve.

Computer: Pros:

Memory: HUGE  capacity.

Power source: unless we have a power outage, not an issue.

Programs: many more available and what they can do is much more than a Tablet, although they can be overwhelmingly cost prohibitive.

Layering ability: Photoshop (the program I use most of the time) does have layers, although I find them less intuitive than Sketchbook Pro on Tablet.  (I thought I’d be an optimist and put this in the pro list.)

Erase-ability:  Photoshop has ‘step backward’ button also an eraser but again it’s less user friendly.

Cons:

No Mobility: tethered to the computer. (I have a desktop.)

Hand eye coordination: drawing on a tablet while looking at the screen is tricky to get used to.

Both have their merits.

And each serves a purpose.

Although I lean more towards Tablet the one thing I like about BOTH of them is I don’t get my hands (clothes, floor, walls……) dirty!  

What do you think? Have you jumped on the digital drawing bandwagon yet?