| The Internet has become a worldwide marketplace | | | | encountered these same perceptions as a single |
| where virtually everything is peddled online ranging | | | | photographic negative or slide is capable of creating |
| from books, movie tickets, and kitchen gadgets to | | | | countless identical copies of the image. While a digital |
| automobiles, luxury cruises, and fine art. No matter | | | | artist could theoretically mass produce digital art, many |
| what you’re in the market for, you’ll find it online. | | | | digital artists have adopted the same techniques that |
| When it comes to browsing online art galleries, | | | | photographers and lithographers have used |
| you’re likely to come across examples of both fine | | | | successfully: limited editions. |
| art and digital art. But what’s the difference? And is | | | | The way that viewers interact with fine art and digital |
| digital art “real” art? | | | | art is different as well. For the most part, looking at fine |
| To better understand the differences between fine | | | | art is a static experience. Sure, the piece may evoke |
| and digital art, let’s first define fine art. According to | | | | strong emotions as you look at it, but the experience is |
| Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh | | | | primarily visual. Digital art often incorporates multiple |
| Edition, fine art is defined as: Art (as painting, sculpture, | | | | images, transitions, audio, and video; the artwork may |
| or music) concerned primarily with the creation of | | | | change based on the viewer’s actions or |
| beautiful objects. | | | | movements, especially if touch screens or integrated |
| Now, let’s define digital art. The Columbia Electronic | | | | video cameras are involved. |
| Encyclopedia explains that digital art is a contemporary | | | | While fine art is displayed on walls, book shelves, |
| art form where computer technology is manipulated to | | | | pedestals, and other areas where you can enjoy it, |
| create distinctive works. | | | | digital art often requires electronic displays. Static digital |
| With those definitions in mind, a beautiful oil painting is | | | | artwork can be printed on paper or canvas and hung |
| considered fine art while a breathtaking collage of | | | | like traditional fine art paintings while multimedia artwork |
| electronic images would be considered digital art. While | | | | needs a suitable display such as a computer. Digital |
| you may be able to reach out and touch the | | | | picture frames and flat panel TV’s with suitable |
| brushstrokes on a painting or feel the contours of a | | | | inputs open digital artwork display possibilities that |
| sculpture, digital art tends to be less tangible, often | | | | didn’t exist just a few years ago. |
| appearing on a computer monitor or video display. | | | | Clearly, fine art and digital art have their differences. |
| Thus, the question often arises as to its legitimacy as a | | | | But is digital art real art? To answer that question, ask |
| “real” art form. | | | | the following questions when looking at a piece of |
| Digital art also suffers from a perception that, because | | | | digital art: Is it beautiful? Does it evoke emotions? If you |
| the artwork is created on a computer, it has less value | | | | answer “yes” to either of these questions, the |
| than a one-of-a-kind object of fine art. Photographers | | | | digital art is indeed real art. |