Does Graphics Software Weaken Drawing Skills?
In contrast to the story of my last post about the Electric Paint exhibition, a recent article in the Washington Post talks about how university instructors today are lamenting students' use of graphics software, saying it weakens classic drawing skills.
Computer graphics allow artists to move briskly. By contrast, drawing on paper can be frustrating, forcing concentration, introspection and revision as an idea or vision takes shape. The process hones essential skills and sensitivity and personality that make artwork unique, instructors say.This statement seems to suggest that because computer art may make some aspects of the creative process quicker, it must have less value. In essence, the author is saying that creating art with a computer is never frustrating, and doesn't require concentration, introspection or revision. I think the readers of this site would disagree!
However, I do agree with Charles Pyle, director of the School of Illustration at the Academy of Art University, who says, "The trick is to improve drawing to develop a solid foundation for digital skills... If you don't draw and think well, your art career will be short and unpleasant."
There's no question that traditional techniques and art theories are important aspects of any art curriculum, regardless of whether the artist chooses to work on paper or in pixels. Drawing skills are certainly essential to anyone seeking success in any creative medium, but to say that working with computer graphics weakens drawing skills? Nah… I don't buy it. Perhaps these instructors need to accept the tools of the 21st century and incorporate them into their classrooms. Is this just another case of technophobia? What do you think?
Painting Poll: Do Artists Need to Learn Traditional Techniques?
Suggested Reading:
• Myths About Being an Artist
• Beginner's Drawing Lessons
[via PhotoshopNews]
Image Credit: © 2005 Harley Weibling (membername: harleyweibli)
Comments
Oh, gimme a break! Of coure it doesn’t weaken drawing skills. Their reasoning makes sense as much as saying that we should still move heavy rocks with slaves, instead of using proper machinery. After all, it weakens people’s muscles if we use machinery.
The problem here is something else. The problem is that people think that design software does everything, like you mentioned, and this is exactly what these drawing teachers think too, otherwise they wouldn’t say that graphics software weakens drawing skills. There are people who are good at drawing and can’t use graphics software for the life of them and vice versa. Software is just a different tool, that’s all. The principles are the same. There are those who are better with pencils and others with paint. And then there are those who do best with a piece of software.
Whichever you use, you need to know the basics of communication.
Software is NOT art and yes, it does weaken skills. If someone can’t use a REAL brush then they shouldn’t be “painting”. If they’re using the computer, they are creating not painting.
Of course the use of graphic software by itself doesn’t weaken classic drawing skills. Software doesn’t even use the same skill set that classic drawing uses. As Elisabetta Bruno points out, software is merely a different tool with which to create art.
What does weaken the classic drawing skills is non-use of those skills. To the extent that someone uses software INSTEAD of the classic drawing skills, yes, the classic drawing skills may be weakened. However, if one uses the classic drawing skills AND software, there is no weakening of skills because of the use of software. How do I know this? I use software AND do some old-fashioned pencil-and-paper sketching too. I see improvement in my pencil sketches with almost every sketch I make. Conversely, I also see improvement in my graphic creation skills with software. Perhaps the two mediums enhance each other as long as one is not neglected.
If you think graphic creation with software is not frustrating and does not force concentration, introspection, and revision, then just try drawing in vectors with your mouse. It’s NOT easily accomplished nor does vector drawing allow every artist to move briskly as implied by those who have not tried it. Sure, an artist who has practiced vector drawing for a long time might be able to move a bit more briskly than someone who hasn’t tried vectors, but so can an artist using traditional drawing and painting skills move more briskly if he/she has practiced long enough to be proficient.
Sassafras, while I agree that software itself is not art, what one creates with that software can be just as much art as what someone creates with paint and brushes… or in my case, colored pencils (the water-soluable kind) and paper… and sometimes brushes too.