Digital

Arts and
Illustration
(BMA 214/L)
Introduction
& History
TOPIC
OVERVIEW INTRODUCTION
What is Digital Art?

HISTORY
From the Beginning to
Rise of AI art
Intro-
ducion
01
Digital art is a creative form that harnesses
the power of technology to produce visually
stunning and innovative works, blurring the
lines between traditional and digital
mediums.
What Is
Digital Art?

Digital art, created using tools like

computers and digitally encoded
information, shares the fundamental
purpose of all art forms: to
encapsulate the creator's message,
ideas, or emotions, and present
them for the enjoyment of both the
artist and others.
What Is
Digital Art?

Similarly, digital paintings are a way for

artists to express their feelings and can
be considered as an art form.

Digital art can include many

subcategories, such as digital
paintings, photographs, videos, and
animations.
What Is
Digital Art?

Digital art emerged in the 1960s and has

undergone various name changes over
the years, such as multimedia art or
computer art.

It is commonly classified within the

broader category of "new media art,"
which encompasses digital photography
as well.
What can it be Digital art has diverse applications
in the art world:
used for?
• Some artists draw, paint, model and create
work entirely using digital applications.

• Others scan and edit their physical artwork

using computer programs.

• Finally, some might be entirely computer

generated, using data, fractals and
algorithms.
types of
digital art

Digital drawing
Digital drawing substitutes a pencil
for a stylus and a sketchbook for a
tablet. As in the physical medium,
digital drawings are based around
lines and shading.
types of
digital art

Digital painting
Digital painting is the process of
painting on a tablet and creating
artwork digitally on a computer.
types of
digital art

Digital sculpting
Digital sculpting, also known as
sculpt modeling or 3D sculpting, is
the use of software that offers tools
to push, pull, smooth, grab, pinch or
otherwise manipulate a digital
object as if it were made of a real-life
substance such as clay.
types of
digital art

Animation
Animation is a method of
photographing successive
drawings, models, or even
puppets, to create an illusion
of movement in a sequence.
types of
digital art

Vector art
It consists of vector graphics, which
are comprised of points, lines, curves,
and shapes defined by mathematical
formulas. When you resize a vector
image, it remains high quality without
any loss of resolution, allowing you to
adjust its size as needed.
types of
digital art

Pixel art
Pixel art is crafted using software,
utilizing tiny image elements called
"pixels," which are closely linked to 8-
bit and 16-bit game consoles.
types of
digital art

Photography
Digital cameras and post-production
software make it easier than ever to
enhance, manipulate and generally
get creative with your photos.
types of
digital art

Video Art
Video art is an art form which relies
on using video technology as a visual
and audio medium.
Is digital art
‘real art’?

Yes, it is absolutely a real art — it’s just a

different way of working!

David Hockney made the jump to digital

paintings as far back as the 1980s. Writing
in 2008, he proudly noted both the
convenience and artistic rigor of using
digital software.
Is digital art
‘real art’?

Though it might not involve physical materials, digital art still requires serious creative skill.

“In order to be a true digital artist, you must learn the

same types of skills to perform digital artwork that you
would for traditional artwork”.
~Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
What Is the Difference Between
Digital and Traditional Art?

There are many similarities between

digital and traditional art since
digital art often replicates
conventional art styles. However,
there are also many differences
between the two art forms.
What Is the Difference Between
Digital and Traditional Art?

Digital art offers artists greater flexibility in

rectifying mistakes, as they can easily undo
and try again when errors occur. In
contrast, traditional artists working on
canvas don't have the same convenience
when it comes to correcting mistakes.
What Is the Difference Between
Digital and Traditional Art?

Digital art appears cleaner since it relies on

intangible digital tools rather than physical
implements.

Furthermore, delivering digital art is

remarkably convenient, often requiring just
a few mouse clicks to send it worldwide.
What Is the Difference Between
Digital and Traditional Art?

One major contrast between traditional

and digital art lies in the capacity for
mass reproduction. Digital art's ease of
replication can lead some to perceive it
as less valuable due to its abundance.

Yet, this doesn't necessarily diminish the

artistic merit of digital creations in
comparison to traditional ones.
Which Is Better: Digital Art or
Traditional Art?

Art is always about capturing the composer’s

message, emotions, and visions first and
everything else like the medium used comes
second.

There are pros and cons to both traditional and

digital art forms, but you cannot place one
above the others.
Which Is Better: Digital Art or
Traditional Art?

Art is art, and a good piece of digital

illustration can bring up the same feelings
as any other traditional painting.
Is Digital Art Easier Than
Traditional Art?

Both traditional and digital art demand skill and

talent, but their differences necessitate distinct
mindsets and approaches. Nevertheless, digital art
can be just as challenging as its traditional
counterpart.

Younger generations are more likely to learn digital

art during school, but that doesn’t stop older artists
from embracing digital art as well.
Is Digital Art Easier Than
Traditional Art?

While digital art offers the advantage of correcting mistakes,

creating high-quality digital art still demands significant hand skill,
experience, and knowledge.
It can be just as intricate as traditional art, with exceptional digital
illustrations often requiring many hours or even days to complete.
Can Digital Art Replace
Traditional Art?

Traditional art has existed for centuries

before technology and will continue to exist
despite the rising popularity of digital art.

It was once feared that photography would

completely replace painting and drawing.
Instead, the mediums have found a way to
co-exist.
Can Digital Art Replace
Traditional Art?

Art history has taught us that

when new mediums are
discovered, the older ones still
remains and are appreciated.
 02 History
The history of digital art traces its roots to the 1960s
when artists first began exploring the creative
possibilities of emerging computer and digital
technologies, laying the foundation for the vibrant
digital art landscape we see today.
History
1960s
Digital art has a rich history that
spans several decades.

The earliest forms of digital art can

be traced back to the 1960s, when
artists began experimenting with
computers as a medium for creating
visual art.
History
1960s
One of the first artists to work with
digital technology was John Whitney,
who used a computer to create
abstract animations in the 1960s.
History
1960s
Whitney’s work laid the foundation
for the development of digital
animation and set the stage for other
artists to explore the potential of
computer technology.
History
1960s
Frieder Nake is a mathematician,
computer scientist, and pioneer of
computer art.

Frieder Nake’s ‘'Hommage à Paul Klee

13/9/65 Nr.2’ (1965), a plotter drawing was
considered one of the most complex
algorithmic works of it day.
History
1970s
Artists such as Harold Cohen and Vera
Molnar began to create digital art
using early computer graphics
software, such as the IBM System/360
and the Evans & Sutherland PS-1.
History
1970s
These artists were among the first to
explore the possibilities of creating art
using mathematical algorithms and
code.
History
1980s
The 1980s saw the rise of digital
photography, which allowed to create
computer images that closely
resembled traditional photographs.
History
1980s
Artists such as Robert Rauschenberg
and Nam June Paik began to use
digital photography in their art, and
the medium quickly gained popularity
among artists and photographers alike.
History
1980s
Artists such as Robert Rauschenberg
and Nam June Paik began to use
digital photography in their art, and
the medium quickly gained popularity
among artists and photographers alike.
History
1980s
The 80s also saw the development of
new technologies, such as the
Macintosh computer, which made it
easier to create digital artworks.

Many artists that have been working

with digital technology for the past 20
years, continued to explore new
possibilities of computers, and began
creating various animations using the
Macintosh.
History
1980s
Adobe Photoshop was first released in
1988 and since then has become an
industry standard for digital image
editing and manipulation.
History
1980s
It was followed by Corel Painter
which was released in 1989 and gave
the ability to simulate traditional
painting techniques such as oil
painting, watercolor, and pencil
sketching, on a computer.
History
1990s
The 1990s was characterized by the
emergence of more powerful digital
technologies and the increasing
popularity of computer art among
artists and audiences. First online art
galleries and cyber museums began
to appear during this decade.
History
1990s
A number of important digital art
events took place for the first time
ever, like the first Special Interest
Group on Computer Graphics
(SIGGRAPH) conference on
Computer Animation that was held
in 1990, as well as the first
International Symposium on
Electronic Art (ISEA) that was
organized in 1993.
History
History
1990s
Artists like as David Hockney and
David McLeod began using digital
tools to imitate traditional art forms.
These artists used software such as
ZBrush to create art on a computer
that closely resembled art from the
physical world.
History
1990s
Artists like as David Hockney and
David McLeod began using digital
tools to imitate traditional art forms.
These artists used software such as
ZBrush to create art on a computer
that closely resembled art from the
physical world.
History
1990s
Digital paintings, sculptures, and
even TV shows started to gain
momentum.

Of course, the most notable

development of the 90s was the
debut of the World Wide Web in 1991
which connected and changed the
whole world forever!
History
1990s
3D Studio Max was originally released
in 1990; it is widely used in the film,
television, and video game industries.
History
1990s
Adobe Flash was first released in 1996
and was essential in the early days of
the web for creating interactive
websites, animations, and games.
History
1990s
ZBrush, it was released in 1999 and to
this day it is a go-to digital sculpting
and painting program that allows
artists to create highly detailed,
organic models.
History
2000s
The 2000s saw a largescale
emergence of connected digital art
technologies, communities, and
platforms.
History
2000s
Websites such as deviantART and
Behance allowed artists to share
their work, collaborate with others,
and receive feedback on their art.
History
2000s
Social media platforms like Facebook
and Instagram also played an
important role in the development of
digital art by providing a way for artists
to showcase and promote their work.
History
2000s
Another significant development was
the rise of video art, a form of digital
art that uses moving images and
sound to create a work of art.
History
2000s
In the 21st century, digital art has
become a global phenomenon, with
many artists using evermore powerful
digital tools to create a wide range of
art forms, including video art,
installation art, and interactive art.
History
2000s
With the advent of the internet and
social media, digital art has become
more accessible than ever, allowing
artists to share their work with a global
audience.
History
NFTs
NFTs have transformed the digital art
market by enabling artists to monetize
their work in unprecedented ways.

Prior to the rise of NFTs, digital art was

susceptible to easy copying and
distribution, making it challenging for
artists to manage distribution and
profit.
History
NFTs
Now, with NFTs, digital art can be sold
as unique, one-of-a-kind pieces,
backed by a secure and verifiable
blockchain record of ownership.

This NFT technology has also driven a

substantial increase in the value of
digital art, with some pieces fetching
millions, including a staggering $69
million.
History
The Rise of AI Art
AI art generators are software that use
artificial intelligence to automatically
create images.

AI art became increasingly popular in

2021, with the debut of OpenAI’s DALL-
E, which gave anyone the opportunity
to create realistic AI art using prompts.
Thank You
RESOURCES
Websites

● https://www.eden-gallery.com/news/traditional-art-vs-digital-art
● https://worldart.news/2023/01/23/brief-history-of-digital-art/
● https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/illustration/discover/digital-art.html