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Article : Think Digitally by Kirsi Salonen
Click any pictures to enlarge - Hit 'X' or Close to close the view
I’m sitting here writing this article with serious back pain from having just spent many hours creating art, so it's presently appropriate to say that, “through pain you recognize a true artist.” I'm very excited IT'S ART has invited me to share thoughts about this industry we're all part of so the pain is worth it.
The topic I’m about to approach is the process of thinking, and the lack thereof, in modern art forms. I will also discuss the possible ethics on which they are created, for what reasons and why do some subjects seem to dominate many general channels in today's digital art industry. All ideas are based on my own personal study and observations. I don’t want to put labels or blame on anyone in particular; I only want to mention my concerns and explore the positive that can be born from this era we're living in.
"We all want fame and for people to remember who we are, to get recognition for what we've accomplished as an artist."
Today, an artist who works in a genre of art, such as action games, fantasy, fiction or role play, is constantly reaching out to new horizons to expand his/her skills and techniques while trying to create something that has never been done before. At least, that is the goal of so many of us. There are so many things an artist needs to be aware of when pursuing a lasting and recognizable career. One must have some sort of unique stamp to create his/her legacy in the world. We all want fame and for people to remember who we are, to get recognition for what we've accomplished as an artist. And to hopefully make this world we live in more magical and open to all kinds of dreaming and possibilities.
Movies, games, music, books and comics generate dreams and bring them to life. Technological breakthroughs have made it easier for us to bring to life the things we've dreamed of throughout our childhoods. This technology is available for almost anyone who has the desire and drive to succeed. The question we must ask now is: On what grounds you are ready to succeed?
There is so much information and so many visual images that we are bombarded with each day that it's not easy to ignore or resist the affect it all has on each of us. What concerns me, as it does many people I know in this industry, is the lack of encouragement to do something completely different than what is expected. Since we can't control the trends and the artists who are on top showing us how we should/could/would do art. Going with the flow and 'copying' the well-known experts is so easy.
"The key is for us all to realize how we can uphold ourselves as 'unique' and endure the pressures of society's political, social, religious and moral directions. It's all about identity."
For example, some artists may say to themselves: “If I make a series of comic heroes, some cool orcs and wizards and landscapes of nuclear holocausts, then everyone will see that I pay attention to the trends of our time.” or ”If I make series of beautiful women and really study to achieve almost absolute photorealistic pieces, then everyone will see how good I am?”
Those two statements will no doubt make some people frown, but it is also a reality to many striving young artists who seek themselves in the sea of others. The key is for us all to realize how we can uphold ourselves as 'unique' and endure the pressures of society's political, social, religious and moral directions. It's all about identity.
Questioning trends and current perspectives about the general streams is difficult, especially since there really isn’t much concrete evidence that it ever pays back. But even still we should ask ourselves whether it has ever worked for the old masters? We must look at how William Blake, who painted The Great Red Dragon, was treated at first. In life he was ill-famed and only achieved his respected status years after his death. Today he is known as an iconic painter and his subjects seem to be the driving element behind most of today's trends. Demons, darkness, aliens and grotesque beasts are as common in our field today as images of Virgin Mary and saints where in medieval times. Then it was the church what depicted most of the images what were shown to the masses – and their way was to 'educate the uneducated and simple.' Sounds harsh, but that was the reality then. What about today? Are those times really behind us? Are we really free to do as we wish?
If we do create what we wish to then why is the world we see both inside this industry and outside more and more sinister and dark. It's constantly more difficult to see the light and hope of tomorrow. And why is this trend continuing on and on? Today, artists tend to turn evil into something good and the good itself into evil. Is this the artistic freedom we all wish for? Are we really creating freely? Are we, the creators of today’s visual landscapes and characters, giving the right direction to our future? Are we actually creating the havoc we are trying to stop in the world?
