ooh goodness this is lovely :>

Acrylic and sandpaper is my newest fetish, it's true.

Its so good. Don't hurt yourself :)

I like the expressiveness of the materials!
It's beautifull ^^

Thanks! It was fun :)

Dude, using gold leaf is such a fucking cop-out. There's no way to get actually reflective metallic gold in digital media.

Also beeswax. Also fire.


How do people making those comments not feel ridiculous for demanding that all media be interchangeable? Isn't the whole idea behind having multiple media to create in the fact that all of them let you do different things? You could use watercolors to look like oils, or oils to look like watercolors if you're good enough at them, but why would you?

I guess it's the same sort of inane loyalty and insecurity that breeds Mac/PC wars or Xbox/Playstation flame marathons. People view two totally distinct and legitimate options as opposing sides in some imagined conflict and act out a brainless feud. I guess there's a sense of community to be had in the us/them dichotomy? Although I would think the healthier community identity to be had would be "artists," "computer users," or "gamers."

Maybe I'm just too anti-competition and conflict-averse to understand ^_^

I like your take, it does seem healthier, and removes a lot of the annoying (and unnecessary) boundaries.

I mean, its one thing to be invested in the tradition of the medium and explore the opportunities that has to offer. But one of the beautiful things about different options in front of you is being able to choose them. One could paint watercolors to look like oil, if you wanted, and I could totally see merit in that, its a little odd in that it doesn't necessarily employ the strengths of that medium, but I could see it being interesting. I think what has really been at stake, especially with digital media (in the fine art context) is that people are having this "I don't know how to feel about it" mentality, like they did with the advent of photography. Especially with work that doesn't necessarily look "Digital". I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask what medium Im using.. watercolor, gouache? Oh.. digital! Oh... so you just draw on top of a photograph, right? Ooh.. so you just hit a button and use a filter. Its a kind of mechanism used to identify how one should respond to the work. Im finding that Digital media is going through its own right of passage, and because of that people are particularly sensitive to the medium, and having this awkward push towards "Well why are you hiding your medium, you should embrace its digital-ness and make work thats more reflexive"

I guess what bothers me is that its a critique that comes generally from people who aren't engaged in either practice, but want to exercise this controlling force. In any case, I don't think becoming more PO-MO is the answer. Using the medium you are using to talk about the medium seems a little gauche (potentially even a cop-out) ;)

There's even a weird contradiction in the two claims you've mentioned. If 1) digital media are "cheating" because they make rendering certain textural effects too easy, and 2) the practitioners of a medium should create work that showcases the strengths and essence of that medium, then the highly textural work you're doing IS embracing digital-ness.

I think that any system of thought that prescribes/proscribes an artist's choice of medium or subject matter is inherently unconstructive. As you say, there's something meaningful to be found even in the strangest of pairings of medium and mode, and if art is to be considered a conduit for self-expression at its core, the role of any outside observer or critical agent of the process must be secondary to that of the artist himself.

And my experience also bears out the claim that these sorts of arguments come mostly from people who aren't engaged in the act of creation themselves. Critical assertions and devaluating statements are used as a way to make the speaker both feel involved in the discourse and empowered to control or dismiss the artist. It saves them the time and the effort required to create themselves.

Total cop-out <3

i see the beeswax :D really cool effect~

you definately proved those people wrong, photoshop and stuff have nothing on traditional <3

Thanks man!

Actually I think that as a medium digital is just as legit as traditional work.
Don't get me wrong, I love traditional work, I just don't see digital work as being
on a "lesser" playing field if that makes sense. I think its interesting that the schism
is between Traditional and Digital. Traditional as a term is coded with history &
time honored practices. But when paired with digital it's not necessarily a fair binary.
What would make more sense would be something more along the lines of
Traditional vs. Non-Conventional so that it could be more inclusive of all non-canon
or standard art practices.

Best,
Creeley

Oh god that eye!

I love this! Some real interesting textures goin' on.

Hahah I know. I love how artificial and weird the eye came out. Was fun trying to create some of the textures I use frequently with digital painting but in a watercolor context. good times. Thanks :)

Ooo this makes me uncomfortable! Which is another way of saying I LOVE it! Really creepifying... Well done, bud.