Digital vs. Traditional Drawing: Exploring the differences for artists and teachers
Fei Yi
This thesis by Fei Yi was conducted as a part of Pratt ADE's capstone class, Curating Learning.
Curating Learning showcases the work of ADE seniors at the culmination of the program as they curate their experiences as artists, cultural producers, and learners. The research projects and related artworks created, emphasize student interdisciplinary connections and reflections on how knowledge is constructed and facilitated through teaching, learning, and curating.
Students integrate theory and practice through reflection and research in the field of art and design education. Students develop their voices as emerging professionals as they synthesize their learning in studio, liberal arts, art and design education, and pre-service teaching as well as co-curricular experiences in both formal and informal settings. Working across media and informed by their own research they created projects that ultimately highlight their perspective on integrating their learning across the studio, classroom, and community.
Curating Learning showcases the work of ADE seniors at the culmination of the program as they curate their experiences as artists, cultural producers, and learners. The research projects and related artworks created, emphasize student interdisciplinary connections and reflections on how knowledge is constructed and facilitated through teaching, learning, and curating.
Students integrate theory and practice through reflection and research in the field of art and design education. Students develop their voices as emerging professionals as they synthesize their learning in studio, liberal arts, art and design education, and pre-service teaching as well as co-curricular experiences in both formal and informal settings. Working across media and informed by their own research they created projects that ultimately highlight their perspective on integrating their learning across the studio, classroom, and community.
Artist Statement
Digital vs. Traditional Drawing: Exploring the differences for artists and teachers
Way Home
24’’ x 18’’
Watercolor
04/15/2021
297mm x 210mm, 300 px
Photoshop
04/28/2021
In the early 20th century, technology grew rapidly. Before tablets and iPad were invented, artists used brushes and other realistic art materials to create art. After the invention of the computer in 1937, John Whitney, who is considered as one of the “fathers of computer graphics” later, started creating "the world’s first computer generated art” in 1960. The first digital art was created in 1965 and marked the start of the digital art era. Because of the invention of tablets and iPad, more and more artists started doing digital drawings. I got my first tablet as a gift from my cousin when I was in high school and started learning digital drawing. I sent all of my works which are traditional drawings to my parents through mobile phone apps and they would also send digital drawings and some traditional drawings by some famous artists back to me, and told me that they still liked traditional drawings more. From this discussion about my work with my parents while studying abroad at Pratt, I was inspired to further explore the differences between digital and traditional drawing. Because I'm trying to be a better digital drawer these days, I’ve researched and seen many gorgeous digital drawings which inspired me to try really hard and spend years of study to improve my skills and approach that level of refinement. As I was thinking about how to create better digital works, I also thought about how teachers can guide their students to learn about digital art because I learned to do digital art by myself. I watched lots of online video tutorials and followed their steps as a way of self-teaching. Sometimes the results are different, but it’s also teaching me how much I need to work on. In this study I set out to explore the differences between digital drawing and traditional drawing for art teachers and artists. As an art teacher, what’s the difference between teaching digital art and traditional art? How do strategies change with these two media? And as an artist, how is the experience of digital art different from traditional art making? -Besides that, the mentality and aptitude of an artist is also different when engaging in digital art making. For artists who do both digital art and traditional art, how does this different media affect them and their work? This is important because digital art is still growing as the technology is constantly evolving. The convenient digital brushes and effects increase everyday. Nobody knows if digital art would take the place of traditional art.
Way Home
24’’ x 18’’
Watercolor
04/15/2021
297mm x 210mm, 300 px
Photoshop
04/28/2021
In the early 20th century, technology grew rapidly. Before tablets and iPad were invented, artists used brushes and other realistic art materials to create art. After the invention of the computer in 1937, John Whitney, who is considered as one of the “fathers of computer graphics” later, started creating "the world’s first computer generated art” in 1960. The first digital art was created in 1965 and marked the start of the digital art era. Because of the invention of tablets and iPad, more and more artists started doing digital drawings. I got my first tablet as a gift from my cousin when I was in high school and started learning digital drawing. I sent all of my works which are traditional drawings to my parents through mobile phone apps and they would also send digital drawings and some traditional drawings by some famous artists back to me, and told me that they still liked traditional drawings more. From this discussion about my work with my parents while studying abroad at Pratt, I was inspired to further explore the differences between digital and traditional drawing. Because I'm trying to be a better digital drawer these days, I’ve researched and seen many gorgeous digital drawings which inspired me to try really hard and spend years of study to improve my skills and approach that level of refinement. As I was thinking about how to create better digital works, I also thought about how teachers can guide their students to learn about digital art because I learned to do digital art by myself. I watched lots of online video tutorials and followed their steps as a way of self-teaching. Sometimes the results are different, but it’s also teaching me how much I need to work on. In this study I set out to explore the differences between digital drawing and traditional drawing for art teachers and artists. As an art teacher, what’s the difference between teaching digital art and traditional art? How do strategies change with these two media? And as an artist, how is the experience of digital art different from traditional art making? -Besides that, the mentality and aptitude of an artist is also different when engaging in digital art making. For artists who do both digital art and traditional art, how does this different media affect them and their work? This is important because digital art is still growing as the technology is constantly evolving. The convenient digital brushes and effects increase everyday. Nobody knows if digital art would take the place of traditional art.
Digital vs. Traditional Drawing: Exploring the differences for artists and teachers