Blank It

Recently I inked one of the Blank It strips on the computer as opposed to by pen. I wonder if you can pick it out. It took me a little longer than usual, but not enough to make it a big deal. But this wasn’t anything new. I’ve been using fancy-ass tablets for almost a decade now.

The point is this. There’s a bit of back-and-forth about the lovely wonders of inking digitally these days. Or even just drawing digitally. As if it’s better. And while these discussions are constructive, they are often weighted with the unspoken; easily confused as arguments between people who are unable to adapt to a new medium (the old farts) and the folks who do things the new way simply because it’s new (the neophytes). And as usual, my stance on it is complicated and in the middle.

I’ve been drawing on the computer my whole damned life. Since the days of CGA graphics on monitors, single-button mice, Mario Paint, you name it. Google the words Degas Elite and you’ll know the programs I’ve worked with. So for me, digital art is just as “old school” as pens and paper. So I’m already going to sign out of that side of the argument.

The other debate is the versatility of digital art versus the permanence of inks. The problem is, it’s not an exclusive factor. I draw by pen, and whenever I mess up, I write “FIX” on the page, right next to the boo-boo. I scan it, and make the repairs in Photoshop when I’m doing all my coloring and post-production. Heck, sometimes my art is cut off, so I’ll make modifications once it’s digital. Anyone who’s watched the Ustream show can attest to these techniques.

I think the cost debate is moot. I even deleted my paragraph on it.

And my last and final point is not having to spend every. waking. second. of my life in front of a computer screen. I work in front of a computer. I game in front of a computer. In between these times I browse on a computer. If I didn’t have a commute, and I know some artists who don’t, I’d be hard pressed to do anything away from a computer. So preserving my hobby as an organic experience is really rewarding. I can look at a piece of paper and not rot my retinas.

So here’s my verdict. I think the people who argue for digital inking are the folks who have found out how awesome it is, and are trying to convince the people who don’t do it to try it. But what they miss is that there are people, like me, who have been happily in the middle for this entire time, and want to remind everyone supporting digital inking that art is art, you do it how you want, and chances are you’ll find the way you like to do it best. Try every way. Draw in charcoal. Paint. Watercolor. In fact, go do your webcomic in chalk on the sidewalk and photograph it. The quality of your work will come from what you invest in it and what you get out of it.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 4:32 pm and is filed under General, Lemmo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.