Differences between Digital Art and Traditional Art

There is a big debate about whether or not you need a skill to do digital art. In my opinion, yes, but we are not talking about that today. Today we are going to discuss the differences between digital art and traditional art and their advantages and disadvantages. At the end I will also add my opinion on this topic.

What does 'digital' and 'traditional' mean in the art world?

First of all, what does digital art and traditional art mean? Maybe some people are not familiar with these terms, so in order for everyone to get the same idea I will explain it in short words. Traditional art has been a thing for centuries, their art is part of the culture of a group of people whose skills and knowledge are passed down through generations. But traditional art is mostly just art that you have physically drawn in real life. Digital art is a new art form that has been available since the 1970s. It is an artistic work where the artwork is made using technology. In traditional art you usually use paper and pencils, but in digital art you usually use a computer, software, and a tablet. The prices of equipment of these two mediums may vary. I will talk about this again later.

Now that you have a rough idea of what traditional and digital art is, let's talk about some of the pros and cons of each.

Benefits Traditional Art

1. Traditional art materials have been used for centuries and have improved over time, making them feel special.

2. Physical and original. An original work of art is often worth more than a print or digital file.

3. The feeling of having something original in your hand. Some people enjoy the feeling of having or owning something valuable and original in their hand.

4. The imperfections. The 'flaws' of a work of art created by hand have an authentic value.

Disadvantages Traditional Art

1. Mistakes are hard to remove. If you've ever drawn something and made a mistake, you either have to embrace it or cover it up.

2. Replicating or duplicating is not a possibility. Of course, this could also be an advantage since this artwork is unique, but if you want to try other colors, you cannot copy the piece without a digital medium.

3. Materials can get expensive. If you run out of materials, you'll have to go out and buy more, which can be expensive, but the price also depends on what materials you use.

by Monika Zagrobelna

Advantages of Digital Art

1. Easier to start and quick to work with.

2. The Undo button. You can undo mistakes using buttons, which means mistakes are not permanent.

3. Fewer accessories. As I mentioned above, you don't need to buy much to get started. All you need is a computer, software and a tablet and you're good to go.

Disadvantages of Digital Art

1. Unlimited possibilities.

2. Not an original/physical copy. As I mentioned before, an original piece is often considered more valuable than a print or file.

My own opinion

I use both mediums. I love drawing traditionally and digitally. I personally don't prefer one over the other. Sometimes I enjoy drawing digitally more because I also like to make animations, but sometimes when you have an idea it's easier to sketch it out on paper and let out the emotions you may have been keeping to yourself. I often do a mix of both. I sketch my idea or doodle and if I like it I finish the sketch digitally and add details. So if you ask me which I prefer I wouldn't be able to answer as traditional art and digital art have their own unique artistic characteristics.

-Ivana Vajagic