some old digital images: variations on a theme

Digital images - created with the computer and not existing in any other form. Vivien Blackburn

I haven't done quite so much of it just lately but I do enjoy creating images on the computer, they aren't reproductions of anything, they just exist in their own right. These are some I did as part of my degree (done as a mature student).

These 2 are further variations - season, weather, time changing the view.


These take as long as a painting to produce as they were originally made up of many layers with many techniques and tools used along the way.

I made digital images like this very limited editions with small print runs to take away the mass-produced perception of digital art. I believe it can be extremely creative - it's about what you do with it - rubbish in=rubbish out - but put some work into it as you would a painting and I think they can be amazing.

What do you think?

Comments

Shirley Anne Sherris said…
Hi
Hurray - these are the kind of images I like to see. Love them.
Cheers
Shirley
8:57 pm
Anita said…
Now these are gorgeous - fabulous colour and some of those wonderful images that hover on the edge of realism and abstraction. Wonderful suggestion of landscape in the shapes. Just delicious! I was surprised when you said digital - could so easily be print. Amazing to see what can be done on a computer. Getting my tablet out now - need to learn to do things like this.
4:40 am
Sarah said…
I agree, all of my illustration is done digitally, with a light pen on a graphics tablet and there is very little difference, like you say, rubbish in rubbish out, it still needs work and skill and shouldnt be dismissed...although I do have a problem with these fold who take a photo, pass it through a paint programme and then sell it as a fine art print.
7:14 am
daviddrawsandpaints said…
As I've only recently found what the 'zoom' buttons do, I wouldn't know where to start making images like these on a computer :o)
I really love the shapes and intensity of colour. Great images!
6:22 pm
Kelly M. said…
Very powerful! And yes, digital artwork is demanding. Why not giclee prints? It would be a shame leave on the digital "shelf!" Do you think these breakaways help train the eye differently or make us see afresh what may have gone stale?
7:28 pm
dinahmow said…
Couldn't agree more, Vivien! Currently,some printmakers are showing photoshopped snaps and calling them prints. It's a thorny issue!
I LOVE the orange-y toned one.
10:23 pm
vivien said…
I thought you'd be pleased Shirley!

Thanks Anita - that's what I love that edge between reality and abstract :>)

I need a tablet ... maybe, I just work with the mouse and haven't got around to getting one. One of my students doesn't like hers because she says there is a delay between the drawing on it and things happening on the screen - I don't know if they are always like that?

Sarah and Dinah YES! I too get annoyed when people apply a filter/effect to a photo and think that's digital 'art' Z:>(

David I think you'd love it if you had a go - with the work you are doing at the moment, you could work through ideas and come up with new ones ....

Kelly I have done limited edition digital prints of some of the images but of course not all galleries are interested in that kind of work and they didn't 'go' on Etsy.

I do agree that working round ideas in this way brings up stuff that feeds into paintings - and there are the accidental things like with paint that send me off in new directions :>) Because of the way I use layers it had a profound effect on the way I use paint too.
11:21 pm
ian said…
I started creatively with digital images, using my own and found images as the trigger. I've moved from there into 'conventional' printmaking which I love, but still enjoy the feel of the digital image.

So far I have refused to do limited editions, because in practice it made no difference to the sale price. I'm still outside the gallery circuit, so selling direct. They don't go on Etsy either.

www.panchromatica.etsy.com
1:15 pm
caseytoussaint said…
I agree - these are incredibly cool.
9:19 am
Billie Crain said…
Vivien, i think these are scrumptious! i have heard that really good digital art is difficult and time comsuming and thesee are really good!
4:00 pm
vivien said…
thanks Casey and Billie :>)
9:12 pm
Anonymous said…
These are glorious; the colours are so saturated and lovely. I agree 100%, it's about process, care and creativity, not just about materials. They *are* art and I would be proud to have one on my walls.
8:00 am
vivien said…
thanks Cath :>) and yes it is
11:10 pm
Charlene Brown said…
I agree that random filtering of a photograph can hardly be described as art, but was surprised to see little mention of producing digital images by 'Photoshopping' a painting or print. Then I had a look through some of your 20 blog posts labeled 'digital image' and found some delightful experiments and variations, where you've begun with your own artwork. Now I'm intriqued about how exactly you start from scratch on a computer tablet to produce one of your fantastic 'implied' landscapes...? Perhaps I'll find the answer if I delve deeper into those 20 posts...
5:52 pm
vivien said…
Hi Charlene

maybe there's a book in that subject ....

It's such a complex, intuitive and lengthy process that I've never had the patience to write it up! I haven't got a tablet though I'm seriously considering investing in one. I simply use the mouse.
5:27 pm
Unknown said…
It is stunning! And I can't believe it's digital, particularly the forst one... I think it's the first time I really like a digital piece!!!
6:57 pm
vivien said…
thanks :>)
8:07 pm
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