What is Digital Art?
Digital art refers to any type of art that is created using digital technology. This includes a wide range of forms of creative expression, including digital paintings, digital drawings, digital sculptures, digital animations, and more.
Digital art is created using digital tools such as computers, graphics tablets, and software programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Blender. With these tools, artists can create digital images and animations that are highly detailed and interactive, and can be easily shared and distributed online.
Digital art has become increasingly popular in recent years, due in part to the growing accessibility of digital tools and the rise of the internet. This has allowed artists to reach a wider audience, and has also created new opportunities for artists to sell their work and earn a living.
In the art world, digital art is still a relatively new field, and its value and legitimacy as a form of art is still being debated. However, as digital art continues to evolve and gain popularity, it is increasingly being recognized as a legitimate and valuable form of artistic expression.
Simplified Example
Digital art is like coloring with a special pen that never runs out of ink and can create any color you want, but instead of paper, you color on a computer screen. Just like how you can color a picture of a house or a tree, you can use digital tools to create pictures, animations, and designs that can be saved on the computer or shared with others.
History of
The term "digital art" encompasses artistic creations made using digital technology and tools, spanning from the late 20th century to the present day. Its origins trace back to the emergence of computers and software capable of producing visual graphics. In the late 1950s and 1960s, early pioneers like A. Michael Noll and Frieder Nake began experimenting with computer-generated art. Some credit artist Harold Cohen with coining the term in the early 1980s. He used the term to describe his computer-generated drawings and artworks, emphasizing the distinction between these new digital creations and traditional art forms.
The late 20th century saw significant advancements in computing, leading to the creation of software platforms and tools specifically tailored for digital art, notably in the 1980s and 1990s. This era witnessed the rise of digital painting, pixel art, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and the exploration of digital mediums by artists globally. As technology evolved, digital art expanded into various forms, including multimedia installations, virtual reality (VR) art, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaining widespread recognition and transforming traditional notions of art creation and ownership.
Examples
Pixel Art: Pixel art is a form of digital art that is created by arranging small squares of color, known as pixels, to create an image. Pixel art is often used in video games and other forms of digital media, and is characterized by its blocky, low-resolution appearance. Pixel art is created using specialized software, such as graphic editors or game engines, and allows artists to create images with a high degree of detail and precision.
3D Modeling: 3D modeling is a form of digital art that involves creating 3D representations of objects, characters, or scenes using computer graphics software. 3D modeling is used in a wide range of applications, including video games, animated films, product design, and architectural visualization. 3D modeling allows artists to create highly detailed and complex digital art that can be viewed from any angle, and can be animated and rendered to create lifelike images and scenes.
Digital Painting: Digital painting is a form of digital art that involves creating 2D images using a digital tablet and stylus, or a mouse, in combination with digital painting software. Digital painting allows artists to create images that mimic the look and feel of traditional painting, and provides a wide range of tools and techniques for creating realistic and abstract images. Digital painting is used in a wide range of applications, including commercial illustration, concept art, and fine art.
These are just a few examples of the many forms of digital art that are possible with today's advanced digital tools and technologies. Digital art has become an important part of modern art and culture, and is shaping the future of how artists create and share their work with the world. With the continued growth and development of digital technologies, it's likely that digital art will continue to play an increasingly important role in the world of art and creativity.
Related terms
Digital Asset: A digital asset is a type of financial asset that exists only in digital form and is stored and traded on electronic networks.
Security: A security is a financial instrument that represents ownership in an asset, such as stocks, bonds, or real estate investment trusts (REITs).