The Place of Traditional Art in the Future

 The rise of digitalization in self-expression raises the question – does traditional art, and more specifically, paintings and sketches, have a place in the future and where is it?

 

A big part of mankind's history has been influenced through the paintings of many - from cave paintings to the Renaissance works of the masters, art has been an intrinsic part of human nature.

Digital tools have become the preferred tools of expression for a significant portion of the art community ever since the introduction of programs such as Photoshop, Procreate, Clip Studio and the like. Many of the art related professions have been converted to a digital format to fit the increasing demands of modern industries. The development of AI and its growing use has made people believe that anyone can generate art, simple or complex, with little to no effort or previous experience required. 

This revolutionized the general public's perception about art and its creation. The notion that only artists can create art and that it is reserved for the highly skilled. The ease that digital tools provide and the welcoming of AI are taken as an alternative to the time-consuming aspects of art, even for digital artist.The opinion that these technologies will replace traditional art has been on the rise, parallel to their growth.

However, technologies evolve fast. Many are starting to mistake digital art, which, despite the ease in tools, still requires a certain level of skill and effort, for AI generated. That provides itself to be at odds with digital art and artists. The ever-changing nature of file formats, programs and software leaves no guarantee that whatever you have created digitally will remain the same through time as something like a painting, for example.

That on its own highlights the proven timelessness of traditional art. The paintings of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and the many before and after them still remain the same and, most importantly, are seen. The doodles and sketches from the known and unknown from centuries ago are still displayed in museums, which proves that they have retained their value for humanity throughout the ages. The fight for authenticity that arises in digital arts becomes irrelevant in the case of the traditional mediums. 

So to answer the question, yes, traditional arts do have a place in the future. Traditional art, besides being a lasting form of expression, showcases a level of skill, effort and talent that has and will always be appreciated. Digital arts are already an undeniable part of art culture and will further serve to accentuate the importance of traditional art. It cannot and will not be replaced as it is a fixed part of art itself and it will continue to prove that anyone can create something significant even with something as small as a pen and paper. Because of that, traditional art will still have a part in shaping the future of the medium and future as a whole.

By Kamelia Kirova