Digital Art is Art

I keep coming back to the question of "Is digital art REALLY art?" and I'm going to continue saying that yes, it is indeed art. I saw another artist share that they felt like when they made digital art they were cheating because it was so easy to fix errors in the art making. Yes, that is true - and it is something that I do deeply enjoy. But, there is also a significant amount of learning that goes into the process of making digital art. 

I used to really struggle with this question. I felt like digital art made me lazy, somehow. But then I started thinking about what "lazy" really was. Why did I feel that way? Was it because making digital art wasn't physically demanding? That I didn't spend hours bent over a creative space? Digital art doesn't make me hurt in the same way that making physical art does. Is it because I felt like I wasn't doing ENOUGH work to create something? And that because there wasn't enough physical work it made me idle, somehow? And then that goes back to my internalized capitalism, that I SHOULD be doing something productive and if I'm not physically producing something then I'm not actually doing what I SHOULD be doing. Which is bullshit. 

I did, truly, think that the skills that I had in making physical pieces of art would mean that I could make digital art without any issue. That was not the cast at all. I was only able to take my understanding of color and shading to this new medium. Everything else I had to learn anew. How do I blend here? How do I create depth here? I can't use my fingers the way that I can on a physical canvas, so what can I use in its place? 

I've said this before and will say it again - digital art has allowed me to continue creating during this time in my life. I had initially believed that I would be able to take my new son into my studio with me and that he would happily sleep or play while I worked. My velcro baby has absolutely not allowed that. And he moves too much for me to wear him. Instead, creating art on my tablet while he sleeps has been the way that I can continue to make art - and to explore different styles. 

This piece is a digital, colorful free-tail bat. It's one of a new series that I'm currently working on and I'm so excited to share it! I've been printing these digital pieces on aluminum and oh my goodness - the color is incredible! I've been so very pleased with the quality of those prints. Each time I see one I'm surprised at just how cool it looks. And that's not necessarily something that I'd be able to create on a physical canvas in the same way. 

All of this to say, I guess, that if you're making digital art it is just as valid as traditional mediums. It's just a little different.