1. Tara Pawlyk
Ms. Gardner
Honors English 12
February 20, 2013
Technological Influences on Art
Art is around every corner despite how unaware people are of its lingering presence.
Living in a society that is technologically fueled, technology has impacted the art field
tremendously. Whether that impact is considered harmful or beneficial is an ongoing debate.
Although many consider technology to take away from art, it can actually expand the art field by
opening up new doors full of possibility.
Many agree that digital art and traditional art are not the same. People tend to place a
higher value on traditional artwork in comparison to the newer, digitally created, modern
artwork. The reason for the higher value is many assume traditional artwork takes more skill. In
reality, one does not require more or less skill but rather a different skill set, according to graphic
designer Mandy Thornton (Thornton). Any medium whether digital or traditional requires a
unique skill set. Painting and sculpting are not the same although both are considered traditional
art. The same goes for digital art. Instead of viewing art as digital versus traditional, what
should be focused on is each specific medium.
Often artists do not use one medium exclusively but rather a combination of multiple
mediums. Technology effected mediums, such as photography and digital art, are frequently
mixed with traditional mediums such as sketching. For example, many artists sketch out a
design with paper and pencil and then scan the image into the computer to be enhanced digitally.
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Many see art as old, or traditional, and new, or digital, when art is actually a combination of the
two (Maeda). A common way to see the transition from traditional art to digital art is by
observing the artistic process.
When preparing for a new art piece, every artist begins with an idea. Once the artist has a
feel for what he or she wishes to create, a medium is chosen, whether digital or traditional in
method. Since the first step of the artistic process is to visualize rather than to create, the two
contrasting art forms are actually quite similar. Visual arts focuses on two things: the desire to
learn and the desire to produce artwork for others to see (Glassford 3). How artists choose to
convey their image does not affect whether or not the piece is visual art. Technology has simply
allowed for a greater diversity of media to select from.
Technology has introduced many new mediums that can convey an artist’s idea. A large
portion of digital art is photography has been made possible by the technological advances in
cameras (Salisbury 111). Photographs are uploaded onto a computer to be modified by the artist
interacting with the computer. Art itself has also now become interactive. Digital artists have
been able to create visual art that is not only appealing to view but reacts to noise by shifting
shape (Maeda). What happens is a simple design is created on the computer. This design is then
programmed through coding to react to any noise picked up by the computer’s microphone.
Digital art also allows the creation of art by using software such as Illustrator or Photoshop in
order to create completely original pieces without the mess that can come with traditional art.
Artists use computers to simplify art by reducing clutter and manual labor. Computers
have made work easier for many illustrators such as Bee Willey by allowing her to “get rid of an
area of pure labor” (Salisbury 61). Instead of repeatedly drawing over and over again, the
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computer allows replication of images. Textures, such as fabrics or wood grain, can be scanned
in and digitally placed in whatever spot desired by the artist, which creates a near perfect
replication of the desired texture (Salisbury 61). By working so closely with technology, many
concepts such as adding texture that were once considered too difficult are now possible.
However, computers and technology do not function alone. A skilled professional must know
how to put the image on the screen. These professionals are called graphic designers.
A graphic designer is an artist that uses technology to create art with a purpose. Graphic
arts are simply a “subcategory of visual arts” which includes both traditional and digital
mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and computer generated art
(Riley 416). The use of new digital mediums allows graphic designers to create art the has a
function such as book covers, album covers, and the packaging of consumer goods as well as
book illustration and advertising (Gomez-Palacio 273). The use of graphic arts has certainly
increased the value of digital art due to the introduction of art with consumerism.
The way a product looks on the shelf draws people to the item. Once a customer has
been convinced, the person is more likely to purchase the product. When wandering through a
book store or music shop, people are drawn to the visual covers. All of these visual attractions to
products and items are created by graphic designers. The graphic designer’s job is to bring
together all of the artistic elements in order to establish a “coherent, aesthetically pleasing
whole” (Salisbury 118). The labels on almost everything people buy are created by graphic
designers through the mixing of technology and art to form a digital piece that serves a purpose
in society.
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Technology contributes to more than just the covers when it comes to books. Within the
children’s books industry, illustration is “inextricably linked to developments” in technology
used to reproduce documents and graphic material (Salisbury 9). Many illustrators now start
with a few sketches which are scanned into the computer to be completed digitally by adding
color, texture, and many other elements of design. Technology also makes the very creation and
distribution of books possible. Edmund Evans ushered in the “Golden Age” of printing when
color printing was developed in 1865 (Salisbury 10). The technological advances in printing
have allowed books to be mass produced, color printed, and to add texture to not only the cover
but the very pages of the book.
Mixed Medium Digital Art
Original Photo Sketch Up
Digital Piece
(Salisbury)
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Printing is not the only technology advance to go hand in hand with the art field. Other
more contemporary art forms such as tattooing continues to grow as technology is advancing.
New tattoo guns are constantly perfecting the art of tattoos by increasing the precision of the
needle. Tattoos are nothing more than art that is permanently placed on the body. The tattoo gun
started out spasmodic creating rough lines and tearing through the skin. Now, however, the guns
allow much smoother lines, less pain, and higher sanitation standards to prevent infections and
the spread of disease.
Printing advancements now allow the printing of tattoo stencils which are placed on the
body as guidelines for the tattoo artist (Newton). This, partnered with advanced tattoo guns,
takes tattooing to a whole new level. Instead of artists doing just simple two dimensional
drawings, they now introduce shading to create depth both within grayscale and color tattoos.
Tattoos now also have increasing detail and exhibit more complex techniques. The new
technology has created another expansion in the art field through the tattoo industry.
Tattoo enhancement is not the only form of art expansion due to new technology
developments. One thing many people do not consider is the duplication of original, traditional
pieces. Many have taken an artistic piece and created duplicates to be passed off as originals.
By doing so, they are able to fetch a higher price than what the duplicate is worth. Technology
has helped to end the piracy of traditional artwork by advancing the authentication process.
Authenticators take a picture of the artwork in question which is then uploaded into specific
“Computer Image Processing” programs (Irwin). The program then analyzes the brush strokes
through depth, angle, size, and pattern. After an analysis, each section of the painting is assigned
a number based on the contrast of brush strokes in each area (Irwin). The numbers throughout
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the original paintings make them near impossible to replicate the painting and still maintain the
same numbers. By using this new technology, phony art is obvious therefore protecting the
value of the true masterpieces of the art field.
Traditional art also meshes with the use of technology through art restoration. Like any
other field, professionals as well as historians still stick to the roots of art. Original works of art
considered to be masterpieces today such as the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da
Vinci are restored so they can be studied and cherished for generations to come. By taking
extremely high resolution photos of the works professionals are able to zoom in and analyze
every element of the piece for replication. Once replicated, the image now appears as it did
when it was originally created, allowing people to better study and analyze the artist’s techniques
and overall artwork.
Art restoration is not only used in masterpieces but also in modern day works such as
photography. Many people find old photographs or writings that have faded over the years or are
damaged. These can often be restored digitally and reprinted to create an almost identical copy
for the customer. Another use of technology is actually adding color to old black and white
photographs. Now people are able to enjoy these images of old family members and bring back
a piece of heritage. While technology’s hand in art mediums has certainly helped to preserve the
old, it has also helped to create the new.
Technology has done something absolutely astonishing with the creation of cartoons and
movies. Many never realize that cartoons and movies are simply art that has been brought to
life. Mickey Mouse, created by Walt Disney, was the first cartoon to air with sound, displaying
the “long-term potential for this kind of entertainment” (Finch 58). Later came Snow White, also
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by Walt Disney, which was the first full length animated film in color (Kaufman 10). Disney
then continued to dominate yet again with the release of Toy Story, the first computer-generated
imagery (CGI) film. Many wonder what movies and art have to do with each other to begin with,
unaware that the combination of technology and art is why movies such as these are even
possible.
Whether the movie is cartoon animation or CGI animation, both start with the same
traditional sketches. Every frame in a movie or cartoon must have a frame containing cells
which are several small boxes. Each cell is made up of the desired images. These images are
sketched out in the traditional art fashion with pencil and paper. They are then re-sketched,
inked, and painted on the cells (Finch 54). Movies also have story boards which are compiled
sketches of various movie scenes. The production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs brought
“remarkable artistic growth” by taking all the rough sketches and making them move and interact
with each other (Kaufman 27). Throughout the movie process, these sketches are then brought to
life by recreating the sketches digitally.
The technology making CGI animation possible has furthered the growth of the art field
by once again allowing another realm of possibility. Disney has been the “top dog” ushering in
new animation mediums, but even Disney has resisted technology at some points along the way.
John Lasseter, former employee of Disney, was actually fired for “trying to push Disney into this
new world of computer animation” (Finch 350). Disney later however realized the potential in
furthering the use of technology in art and eventually partnered with Pixar to specialize in CGI
animation. Glen Keane, an animator, acknowledges the benefits in technology when pointing
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out that the classic style of Disney hand-drawn animation is a product of technological
limitations that Pixar has done away with (Finch 355).
Art even has a role in the special effects of movies by turning imagination into visual
representations beyond belief. George Lucas, producer of the Star Wars Trilogy, used the same
CGI technology Disney originally rejected to make his films possible (Finch 351). Many of the
special effects used in movies, even with live actors, are created digitally by graphic designers
and animators who have learned to take a simple sketch and enhance it to the point of being part
of reality.
Rather than taking away for the art field, technology has pushed the art field to new
levels never thought to be possible by unlocking limitless possibilities. Whether directly creating
art or aiding in the expansion of previous techniques, technology has opened many new doors.
The technology era is effecting the world across the board and art is just one of the many fields
to be expanded. With everything that has become possible so far due to technology, imagine
what is still to come.
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Works Cited
Finch, Christopher. The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and
Beyond. New ed. New York, NY: Abrams, 2011. Print.
Glassford, Carl. Pen and Ink. Volume 6. Tustin, CA: Foster Art Service, 1985. Print.
Gomez-Palacio, Bryony, and Armin Vit. Graphic Design Referenced. Beverly, MA: Rockport
Publishers, 2009. Print.
Irwin, Dean: Art Authentication. Dir. Dean Irwin. PBS, 2 July 2008. NOVA Beta. Web. 3 Mar.
2013.
Kaufman, J.B. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Art and Education of Walt Disney’s
Classic Animated Film. San Francisco, CA: The Walt Disney Family Foundation Press,
2012. Print.
Maeda, John: How Art, Technology, and Design Inform Creative Leaders. Perf. John Maeda.
June 2012. TED: Ideas Worth Spreading. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
Newton, . Hildbrandt presents the brand new Thermal Express Tattoo Stencil Printer and Copier.
2012. HIldbrant. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
Riley, Kevin. “Graphic Arts.” Encyclopedia of Recreation and Leisure in America. Ed. Gary S.
Cross. Vol. 1. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2004. 416-417. Gale Virtual Reference
Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
Salisbury, Martin. Illustrating Children’s Books: Creating Pictures for Publication. First ed.
Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, 2004. Print.
Thornton, Mandy. Personal Interview. 17 February. 2013.
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