The Effects of Modern Technology on Visual Art

Imagine this scene: A group of students take a trip to an art museum. The first exhibition they are shown contain paintings that seem to be done using a variety of media that range from acrylic paints to watercolors and pastels. As the students look at the different pieces, a guide explains to them that all the works were done entirely on a computer using a graphics program and tablet. Such a scene is not too far off from the future.

Over the last several years, graphics software has greatly impacted the production of visual art and related industries. This new era of technology and creativity has launched a wave of pioneers who will define and surpass the boundaries of art like never before. The invention and continued improvement of programs, such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter have revolutionized the ways that art is produced by allowing artists to do entire works on the computer. However, in spite of technology allowing for the complete jump from a paper canvas to a digital one, artists who use only the computer for the entire creation process are in the minority. Instead, many opt to scan in a sketch or finished line art and then use a graphics program for the coloring process.

With digital software there is a fear that artists may loose the organic feel one has with traditional media and is the reason that many traditional artists are reluctant to embrace digital art. There is also the belief that one does not have to be a talented artist in order to utilize programs like Photoshop to create great artwork. However, as the saying goes, the tools do not make the artist. In fact, many successful digital artists have found that the same skills needed to produce traditional pieces are still necessary in their digital work.

The influence of modern technology can easily be seen in the entertainment and advertising industries. The evolution of visual art is not only due to programs like Photoshop and Corel Painter, but also 3-D programs like Maya and 3ds Max. Some advanced artists have also gone as far as to use both 2-D and 3-D graphics to create surrealistic images that instantly captivate an audience. There is the potential to create work that is not possible on a paper canvas.

It is without a doubt that entertainment has become a niche in which the limit of digital software is stretched time and time again. The video game industry is virtually dependent on it. Photoshop in particular has become one of the industry standards because it is both cost effective and efficient. Artists and designers of software companies and in-house studios can use these programs to quickly produce a finished art piece in less than a week, without the mess traditional media presents. This is a necessity since many gaming companies have time as a factor when releasing games.

The movie industry is now starting to follow in the same suit as many gaming companies, in particular with animated movies. Much of the 2-D animation produced is now done using various digital media because of the fast turn around time. Digital technology has erased the need for animation studios to spend thousands on the cost of materials once needed to produce a feature. In recent years there has also been the boom of 3-D animated movies. One of the first major attempts was done by a video game company called Square Co. (now know as Square Enix). Even though, the movie bombed by Movie industry standards, it brought attention the fact that there was a new realm in movie making to be explored.

Fast-forward a few years later and there is now the success of 3-D animated movies by studios such as Pixar and DreamWorks. The push for more 3-D animated movies led to Disney closing all its 2-D animation studios at one point. Reasons for why graphics software has been such a dominate force are the vision and drive from people such as Ed Catmull. As Pixar's founder and president, he is now the head of a company that is considered a 3D animation giant. With movies such as Finding Nemo, Toy Story, and The Incredibles underneath their belt, Pixar now in conjunction with Disney have proved time and time again why they are the best in the business.

Looking back at the past, one can only imagine what else modern technology has in store for the visual arts. As computer software and hardware continue to improve, there are those who will experiment and continue to create, pushing the envelope of what has been seen before. Ultimately, the boundaries are limitless.