Art in the Age of Technology

Art in the Age of Technology: Exploring Digital Art

Digital art is a versatile and accessible form of artistic expression that utilizes technology at any stage of the creative process. It can range from illustrations and paintings that mimic traditional media to 3D modelling and animation. Here are some tips for improving your digital art skills:

1. Learn from others' mistakes: When it comes to digital art, there are common mistakes that can be easily fixed. For example, not altering traces enough can make the artwork look unfinished, while relying too much on custom brushes and textures can hinder the development of traditional drawing skills. It's also important to avoid spending too much time copying photos and neglecting the fundamentals of art, such as colour theory and lighting.
   
   
2. Divide the process into chunks: To speed up the digital art process, it's helpful to divide the normal steps into chunks, such as thumbnailing, rough sketches, tightening up, background, colour or line art, etc. Setting strict time limits for each chunk and sticking to them can also help improve efficiency.
   
3. Improve digital line art: To improve digital line art, it's important to practice mark making, which is a foundational skill for all artists. Professionals usually do a first line art and then turn the opacity down to create a new layer for cleaner line art. It's also helpful to draw neater sketches or clean up the sketch before inking, and to use a brush that's the same size as the lining brush for consistency.
   .
4. Learn to render: Rendering is a broad term that refers to making the piece flow without just throwing an overlay layer on top of everything. To learn to render, it's helpful to look through resources on Ctrl+Paint and to start with simple steps, such as defining the light source and shadows, adding highlights and details, and doing colour correction. It's also important to keep it simple and have fun.
   .

Overall, digital art is a fun and rewarding way to express oneself, and with practice and patience, anyone can improve their skills.