Comparing the value of works of computer painting and traditional painting

Abstract

In fine arts teaching, I have exposed myself to traditional painting and the niche, computer painting. I have also applied the two types of tools in my painting practice, and examined the similarities and differences of the two ways and the features of their products. In my teaching, I find out many students are attracted by the new way of expression, some of who even plan to abandon traditional tools and focus on computer painting. Admittedly, with the development of technology, computer painting demonstrates very strong potential in visual expression. The works of computer painting can even compete with traditional fine art to some extent. It is not only more operational, but also evolving into a variety of patterns in expression. However, despite of better attainability in presenting and storing the works, the limitations of computer painting cannot be ignored, which would greatly affect the value of the works. From a comparative perspective, this essay analyzes a few works by various famous artists from different periods and discusses the issues related to the value of computer painting works. 1. The differences and similarities between computer painting and traditional painting Computer painting is aided by the techniques and skills through computer, which is very different from frame painting. With the basic painting skills, a painter can also produce a good work through computer. The greatest difference of the two ways of painting lies in genre. Evolving for centuries, traditional frame painting has shifted from the imitation of the explicit figure or form of an object to the expression of the aesthetic emotion of a theme. Taking various approaches, paintings of different genres have been presented. Thus, traditional painting outweighs computer painting in terms of the expressive power and profound meanings. However, immerged in the modern time, computer painting takes certain special techniques and has strong sense of contemporaneity--sharp color, pure and smooth, alluring high gloss, aided by digital techniques—thus makes it more powerful in presenting the texture of the objects. A definition of computer painting is more close to pop art: popular (designed for the mass), contemporary (short-term plan), easy to be forgotten, cheap, mass production, young (targeted at the youngsters), buckish, sexy, attractive, and in a way of large enterprises. A painting taking a few months, even a few years, can hardly agree with the fast-paced contemporary life. Thus computer painting as a fast culture is more and more welcomed. It can produce real, smooth and steerable color; it is also very convenient to change the color and the figure; replication, enlargement and downsize are more accessible. What is more, the production period is shorter; the words can be easily preserved and transported. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the biggest shortcomings of computer painting: the works relies too much on printing and can be easily replicated (which is a double-edged sword); it can hardly present the texture like frame painting. These fatal shortcomings lead to the difficulty in fully presenting the value of computer paintings.