Why Digital?
Up until my second year at SCAD, I worked with traditional media. To be more specific, acrylic paint, gouache, watercolor, ink, colored pencil, graphite, pastel, and charcoal. However, as courses shifted to digital platforms like Zoom and Blackboard during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided it was time to dive into a new medium.
The first semester of virtual learning was the final trimester of my freshman year, during which I learned the anguish of uploading traditional work to digital files. I found photographing my large-scale drawings difficult- details were often missed. Even with minor adjustments to the work using Photoshop's editing tools, small nuances were lost, resulting in grades I felt would be higher had I been able to showcase the projects in person.
Sophomore year was when I started taking illustration courses. I noticed a 50/50 split between students who worked in traditional vs. digital mediums. As I got tired of scanning and photographing my work, I looked into purchasing an iPad. I felt it would benefit not only my workflow but also my wallet; purchasing high-quality gouache paint tubes and cold-press watercolor paper would not be cheaper in the long run.
It was a huge adjustment. I was used to the feel of traditional materials, so at first I lacked control over it. I found it time-consuming because the number of tools available to me at once was overwhelming. Oftentimes, I get stuck researching how to utilize the plethora of tools in the art applications. In wanting to experiment, I often found it left my illustrations feeling chaotic and overworked.
After spending more time with the medium, I felt more comfortable working solely digitally by my senior year at SCAD. The biggest “pro” was the ability to keep my workspace clean. I realized a lot of the stress I felt from working traditionally was how cluttered my workspace would get. I recall accidentally spilling (and yes, even drinking) my paint water.
Becoming comfortable with digital media was one of the best choices I could have made for my career. It allows me to stay organized, experiment, and make adjustments to my work in a timely fashion.
