1. Art and Technology How technology has changed the methods available to artists Photographs and personal experience from an art major By Sammy Vankrevelen
2. 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.
4. 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 an area days later because of its slow drying time. It is good for things such as skin and fabric. Acrylic paint Oil 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 the fat 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.
6. Printing a photograph New Method: Digital camera and printer Old Method: Film camera and a darkroom How technology is involved: The first photography process 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 is now quick and easy.
8. 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 film camera was the only technology available. To print a photograph with that technology you need a darkroom, chemicals, time and knowledge. It is such a complicated process that most people today don’t know how to do it and would need to take a class to learn how. An advantage to using a digital camera is that you can see the image you have taken right away. For film photography you have to develop your roll of film before you know for sure if an image turned out. For digital images it is easy to fix an image using Photoshop but to fix a film image you have to spend time manipulating it and using a enlarger. There are advantages to film photography. For example, it has greater resolution and can capture details in dark blacks and light whites that digital can’t. But digital cameras are less expensive and can capture more images for less. As An artist I use both technologies and there are good things about using both. Film and enlarger Photoshop
10. 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.
12. The ability to work from photographs has drastically changed the methods in which artists work. Before artists had to work from life, memory or sketches. If an artist wanted to 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 each time. 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 paint a tree he can look at many reference photographs of trees instead 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 use images found on the internet that others have taken.
14. Planning an image New method: Planning using Photoshop Old method: Making thumbnails How technology is involved:Before artists had to sketch out thumbnails to decide how they wanted a piece of art to look. Now artists can also use programs like Photoshop to see possible compositions.
16. 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 from a digital image you can figure out the composition using Photoshop. You can crop the photo different ways or you can combine more than one photograph to create a new image to work from. Drawing created from life and planed out by making thumbnails. Digital image made from combining pictures used to plan a painting.
17. Painting plan This is a digital image I made and than turned into a painting. I used parts of the above photographs to create the plan for the painting in Photoshop. Painting
19. Getting a canvas New Method: Buying one from the store Old Method: Making your own canvas How technology is involved: Today people who don’t know 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 time spent on making your own.
21. There are many sizes and types of premade canvases that you can buy from the store. The availability of these canvases has some benefits. It saves you time and effort that it would take to make your own. Some people may not have the tools or 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 making your 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.
23. 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,ooo years ago. It protected and emphasized a piece of art. Today if an artist has to frame their art they don’t have to make their own but they can buy a frame.
25. Traditionally wood has been used to make a frame and it is still the most common material today. Artists who make their own 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 custom sized to be made. There are advantages to buying a frame. It saves you time and work. It gives you the option of buying a metal frame or a different material that would be hard to make yourself. People may not have the tools, knowledge or space to make their own frame so mass production allows more people access to be able to frame pictures. Tools to make your own frame. ( If you don’t buy your own you have to clean up your work area after your done.)
27. Showing your work New method: Showing work on the internet Old method: Showing work in a gallery How technology is involved: Before the invention of the internet artists would show their work in galleries and meet with buyers face to face. Now by showing work online it gives more people the opportunity of seeing it and lets people out of the area contact the artist.
29. 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 catalog for the show. More people actually view the catalog on Blurb, a self publishing book website, than actually come to the show. Senior Art Exhibit catalog on Blurb 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 any time not just the hours and weeks the show will be open. You can have viewers and buyers from all over the world not just the areas you show work. If you have a website it may help promote your work and you may be invited to show in a gallery that way. There are many online art galleries and you may be asked to join a popular one.
31. Conclusions Painting 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 types But 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 mainly from digital images. Planning an image: New technology: Photoshop to plan a project. Before you had 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 you always 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.
32. 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.
