Over the many years I’ve been producing computer Art I’m often asked – “How did you do that?” which invariably refers to a piece of computer Art work I’ve just completed and posted on some art web site, forum or magazine.
What makes it so extraordinary is that it’s a question that as an artist I simply would never ask!
If I saw something that was really good, I might say, “Goodness, I wish I could use the paint like that – I wonder how he does that?”. But I would never ask point blank because I know art is just not like that. It is after all a progression – a personal journey. If I had seen that piece I would then attempt to figure out a way – and I would.
- Monet flowers
So to that bald question – my answers have always been seen by some to be maybe somewhat convoluted or even vague. And I have to confess, purposely so – after all – it’s my art, borne out of my head, so why should I “share” my methods, my hard won experience with anybody.
However having said that, closer examination of my response might just show up an oblique reference in general terms as to the methods I use in an image’s construction.
I’m not refusing to tell, but rather trying to get that person to use their ability and figure it out as I had to over many years.
Believe me it’s worth it.
But so often immediately comes back the response – “But can’t you do a tutorial or a script, so we can do what you do?”
What the enquirer never realises is that if they read my answers fully and think about it, rather than just wanting an A, B and C step by step – how to DO a watercolour – they might just learn something.
But I have to say that it is disappointing and a little tiresome, when I see the enquirer obviously hasn’t got the message. Of course the very fact that they have not received let alone understood that message is a validation of my initial response. That person so often is as artistic as a brick! The techniques would be utterly wasted, used in parrot fashion and would inevitably produce distorted travesties and poor copies of my own Art and without a vestige of originality in one pixel.
- Venice expression
Now I’m not saying this because my Art is better than everyone elses, far from it, nor am I being mean and selfish, but as I say it IS my Art. And it’s certainly not universal Art, though more people seem to like than dislike it and perhaps to a degree understand the work – it is basically how I see things, how I interpret the world and by definition therefore is a personal expression.
Indeed I have nothing against a tutorial on the mechanics of using a piece of software for example – that’s fine and once learned THEN you can begin the process of using it to best advantage.
So my answers are always couched in what appears to be generalistic terms, but within the text there are intentional hints and pointers as to method, but without spelling it out as meaningless de-artified simplified template stuff to achieve what they would consider a result.
To those who after reading my responses suddenly realise – “Hey, that IS interesting – I didn’t know that” – these people perhaps are the more artistic ones. The folks who are capable of “seeing” beyond the page and can visualise what they themselves are actually striving for in their personal Art expression.
Of course those enlightened folks are NOT the ones who actually asked the inane, “How do you do that?” question, but rather the more circumspect ones in the background, who have come across the question/answer thread and read with interest.
All this of course just confirms my opinion that Art is something you either have or have not. Those that have it will always find a way of expressing the Art that’s inside each and every one of them. In fact they don’t WANT an A,B and C mechanical do this, do that, chart – maybe a helping hand with the basics and some gentle indicators will suffice.
In this case, how the software works or the often un-realised effects of filters and image resolution or simplification of photographic images, or how colours react together and many other little “tricks” of the Art process.
It’s a bit like the theory of the “thirds” which applies equally to photography as to Art and the composition of a work or photograph. When someone says to me “I don’t understand this thirds thing, what’s that about?”. I cringe – because an artist, photographer or painter who doesn’t understand that visual compositional concept and doesn’t use it unconsciously from the off may well struggle in artistic terms.
The only tutorials I ever read on the computer were “How Windows works” and when I got my first Paintshop Pro v6 software programme, I read the first few pages of the instruction manual and I was away!
My computer Art simply evolved after that with trial and error, though I always knew what I wanted to achieve. That plus dogged perseverance brought me right up to the current day.
One point I haven’t mentioned of course is that having been an artist (oh yes….) that is one who used pencil, pens and brushes and things, I see painting as just that. Not Graphic art computer painting, but Art as an artist sees it on a canvas.
So often I hear and see this insipid expression – “Oh it’s so painterly” – when commenting on an image, that to my mind looks no more like a true painting than fly in the air! In truth what I see is invariably a badly composed, blurred, distorted, blocky and indistinct image which I have to assume must have been better as a photograph.
Art painting? – well not to me it isn’t.
- Legacy
In fact regarding some of the work I do people do remark on it and say, “That’s a real painting isn’t it? – That’s not done on a computer is it – you’re having me on!” – so at least some can see the difference between Graphic and Real Art, even if they are maybe fooled by that particular image.
And this is what I try to achieve now that I don’t dabble for real any more. And I strive to paint that “for real” look on the computer and one thing I have learnt —- it is very difficult to achieve.
There IS no magic bullet as every photograph and every picture is different and no “set piece” computer software filter or script or art programme provides the answer.
And of course no-one “sees” what my Art is anyway – as I said – it’s translated though my eyes and it’s personal. It’s also true Expressionism and to my mind it’s odd when so many peope say – I don’t understand that stuff……
Well I think they do – but they just don’t know it yet.
Note – This article re-posted as “page” item – Original posted as “That Art question” in 2009.
