So You Think You Can Draw?: The Graphics Tablet and the Digital as “Mediums” of Art
The Graphics Tablet: What is it and why use it?
In an ever-changing world of new technologies, software, and gadgets, have you ever wondered if all this could change the way that artists draw and produce their art? Imagine drawing on a graphics tablet (digital drawing tablet), rather than on paper or canvas; that’s the new way to art these days.
There are multiple benefits to using this technology for drawing, in addition to reducing the amount of paper used. Unlike using a computer, where the mouse does not allow for the freedom that is possible with pen/pencil/brush and paper, the graphics tablet is comprised of the tablet (surface) and the stylus. This makes it possible to do very detailed work. For animators and designers, this is a great way to produce many drafts and to be able to make changes, while being able to also directly digitise the image and edit it in various programs. The computer and graphics/drawing tablet are extremely powerful tools for artists, offering a clean workplace that does not require cleaning brushes, and allowing you to change colours and effects quickly and easily. There are many ways that this tool can be used, either on its own or in combination with traditional drawing techniques and/or materials.
Digital Drawings I: Mixing Digital Media with Traditional Mediums
The results of using graphics tablets and visual software to create images can have many varied results. Some artists, such as Cynthia Kaufman Rose, apply a combination of digital images, pencil, ink, acrylic, and paper on wood to have the effects you see in the image above. The results are a stunning combination of what may be considered “traditional” mediums of art with the possibilities of digital forms and editing.
The art of AJ Frena, on the other hand, offers another way of combining “traditional” mediums of art with Photoshop. The image above of Ragged Wood is acrylic on watercolour paper, and finished with Photoshop. It is a typical piece of Frena’s, showing a surreal image that depicts a wolf and cardinals in a frozen moment in time.
Digital Drawings II: Animations and Dream Worlds
The most obvious application of the graphics tablet and computer drawing software is in animation, comics, and the graphic arts. It is here that the clear lines, the editing, digitization, and many other possibilities that the present technology gives the user an advantage. Artists can draw clear lines, add colour, change from line to shading, and much more. The stylus (digital pen) allows the artist to use various filters and brushes in quick succession, and editing is easy once the image is finished. The ability to edit quickly and easily is especially important for graphic artists working with editors and directors who may want change.
Sergio Mancinelli, a Naples-born artist, is a great example of an artist who works with digital media. He studied comics and digital painting, and now applies his skills as a character designer layout artist for animated films, while also producing illustrations. Mancinelli states that “I’m specifically passionate about animation film where I find all the features more significant to me, such as dynamic, simple yet powerful shapes, and emotional chromatic choices.”
Food for Thought: Do We Even Need More than Technology?
Since the introduction of computers, graphics tablets, and the many related software, the possibilities of rendering images seem to be endless and may appear much “easier.” Why should we keep drawing and painting on paper and canvas, when amazing results can be achieved on a graphics tablet? In recent years there have been great discussions, studies, and academic articles on the pedagogical benefits of the digital drawing tablet in art. The conclusions are greatly positive, but they have not excluded traditional mediums of paper, pencil, ink, etc. Practice with different mediums allows for an understanding of their visual possibilities, which can be only enhanced and expanded upon with the use of the digital.
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