About Digital Fine Art

Fine artists are embracing the use of computer tools and expanding the limits of their visual exploration. Digital Fine Art produced on the computer and printed archivally [not video, animation or multi-media art] falls into three basic categories: digital painting, digital photography & darkroom, and fractals. In those categories are several subcategories. And of course, the computer allows the artist to mix all of these practices together to the delight of the artistic soul.

Digital Painting

2D: The artist creates 2D images totally in the computer virtual environment with the use of painting tools that emulate natural media styles. Sometimes referred to as "Natural Media".

 

3D: The artist uses 3D modeling and rendering software to essentially sculpt in virtual space. This method also makes use of all of the other methods.

  
  

Digital Photography

The artist uses a digital or conventional camera. The photographs are digitized and translated to the computer environment where the artist uses image editing and special effects software to perform darkroom type manipulations.
 

Photopainting

This combines the disciplines of photography and painting. The artist uses image editing and paint software to go beyond dark room techniques to add further expression to the image.

 
Digital Collage

This is a technique of combining many images from varying sources into one image. This is most commonly achieved by the use of layering techniques in image editing and paint software. The artist may also use images from x-rays or radar to produce images that the eye does not normally see, which expands the realm of human perception.
  

 Vector Drawing

The artist uses vector drawing software and creates the image totally in the virtual environment. This makes use of shapes which are outlined and can be filled with various colors and patterns. This tends to produce a harder edged or graphic look.
 

Algorithmic/Fractals

This is art produced exclusively by mathematical manipulations. This is the so-called "computer generated" art. The art here lies in the invention of the mathematical formulas themselves and the way the programs are written to take advantage of the display capabilities of the hardware. The art also lies in the creative intentions and subsequent selections of the artist/mathematician.
 

Integrated Digital Art
   or Digital Mixed Media

This is the "mixed media" of the digital art world. Artists combine any number of the techniques described here to achieve unique results. The digital environment is much less restricted than conventional mediums in this type of integration and manipulation.

GOING DIGITAL: The Practice and Vision of Digital Artists
     by [DFAS Member] JD Jarvis and Joseph Nalven
     Published July 2005
   Excerpt [7mb pdf]     Purchase
 

Articles on Digital Fine Art:
 - Digital Fine Art
       by JD Jarvis for Collector's Guide of New Mexico
 - Essays at International Digital Art
 - Toward a Digital Aesthetic
 - Articles at Dunkingbird
 - Articles at Digital Arts Group
 - Painting the Market: Digital Fine Art
 - Digital Prints: A Roundtable at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

___________

"Within the digital creative matrix is a human consciousness that must utilize the traditional processes of understanding line, color theory and subject matter - its linear function is the same by definition as traditional processes and must be judged and valued accordingly."

- Steve Danzig
Founder
InternationalDigitalArt.com