Re: For the artists: RIP

[Allan Smith <fossilsmith@hotmail.com>]

All,

Great discussion, it's great to see the artists getting in on a bit of the 
action. I had to get my two cents worth in:

I work in the graphic design industry... an industry that has moved 
completely moved from traditional hand-done techniques to almost exclusively 
working on the computer. At first, we all thought that we would be out of 
work being replaced by a computer. But quite the opposite has happened - 
very talented artists have learned to use the computer in creative ways that 
no one had ever imagined possible, it's been quite the ride.

But, having said that, at the end of the day, when all is said and done 
nothing can ever take the place of the fluid strokes of the brush, or the 
way paint leaves a certain texture when applied to canvas. Or, being able to 
hold a sculpted figure in your hand, hold it up and watch how the light 
interacts with the textured surface.

Those things can and will never be replaced by the computer. It's been 
proven over and over again... produce anything online and then offer the 
same publication in hardcopy, people will almost always go out and purchase 
the hardcopy. It's part of the human experience, we need to hold it and 
touch it. Computer art is just a neat addition to the toolbox of the artist, 
nothing more.

That's may take anyway... have a Merry Christmas!


Allan D. Smith
Fossilsmith Studios
http://www.fossilsmith.com