In my last blog I outlined my reasons behind my move to digital abstract painting . In this piece I would like to touch on some of the unplanned benefits to my creative process.
When I paint traditionally with acrylics on panels or canvases, my process generally follows a process of input relating to providing materials, inspiration and an output of further materials, exhibiting and then hopefully sales.
TRADITIONAL
o Purchase panels, canvases, paints and brushes
o Gain inspiration
o Painting until satisfied with result or send to storage for over painting in the future
o Add to physical storage
o Purchase frame and make ready for exhibition, framing and hanging materials
o Exhibit
DIGITAL
o Gain inspiration
o Experiment and produce a number of options, sometimes up to 4 or 5 versions
o Select an option to finish until satisfied or store digitally for future use
o Decide on preferred output, materials, frame and hanging method
o Purchase the print, frame and hanging materials or exhibit on an on-line platform
o Exhibit
These comparisons simplify the processes but perhaps you can see some key differences :
o Painting digitally my costs appear after I have something worthy of an exhibition
o Exhibiting a digital painting on-line can incur annual costs for the platform, but a collection can be 100s of paintings so costs are minimal
o Storage only increases after I have decided if I am going to physically exhibit the painting
o The time I spend creating a digital painting is always a period of learning and each period of creativity is unique and often involves switching painting tools and using a variety of those available to me. To me every dabble, doodle or experiment is pure creativity.
So in conclusion; I reduce the demand on storage space, I’m not committing money until I’m happy with my painting and my creativity is back on an upward curve.
That said, I remain a fan of painting plein air and will always have my acrylics to hand for those adventures.
M.