By Sydney Sheehan ’14, Staff Writer

Since the beginning of the technological world, spreading ideas and opinions through the web has become a popular mode of sharing.  Whether it’s commenting on a Facebook or Twitter post, or writing a blog, we have become dependent on technology more than ever. If all of these ideas and opinions can be shared with the world with technology as the main catalyst, then why not art? If we can type up a paper rather than hand write it, why can’t we paint or draw on the computer as well?

The concept of digital art is creating or displaying artwork-using digital technology. Most of us have had experience with this, whether in the simple things like finding a background for our computer or actually creating the picture someone would use for a background.  With technology becoming so important in our daily lives, digital art is just the most obvious next step. Digital art can not be compared with a live painting, but must rather be considered as a new medium of art on its own. Ms. Dixler, NA’s very own digital art specialist, stated, “I think that Digital Art is just another tool for making art… it’s becoming as valid as the other art tools, like a paintbrush or pencil… I think its enhancing art greatly because like other forms of art it’s what’s in your mind, and how it’s done that matters.”

With websites for sharing art online like Deviantart.com, artists are able to critique each other’s work through an easily accessible medium.  Additionally, programs such as Photoshop or Corel painter actually emulate sketching and painting tools. Armed with these new technological weapons, the scope of an artist’s vision increases exponentially.

Critics of digital art are quick to jump to the conclusion that the new, technologically savvy medium is stripping art of its aesthetic quality. However, the more informed art lover should see this new medium as a forum to reach new depths of artistic expression, and as a catalyst to spread new ideas in our increasingly technology dependent society.