A while ago I found myself asking, why is it that some writers still write with pen and ink, or a typewriter, instead of a computer?
I don’t think it’s because the paper “feels more real” or has some sort of undefinable quality. In reality it’s because the limitation of not being able to undo your mistakes forces the brain to think carefully about each sentence, work around problems, see the whole picture before one line is finished. It’s more than a mental exercise; it changes your perception. There’s a reason the haiku has such a strict structure and why Shakespeare didn’t write in free verse.
I find the same is generally true for unforgiving traditional media like ink. Sometimes when I feel very uncreative I toss away my pencils and go at a drawing with pure ink, knowing if I make a mistake I’ll have to redo it or draw something else.
I’ve often mentioned that digital art lacks most physical limits. You can make the canvas any size, you can use any amount of paint. You aren’t limited by color and paint texture and the chemical properties of the medium, and yes, this can allow for theoretically unlimited creativity. But that’s where a lot of digital artists find they’re missing out. The challenges wrought by a physical medium are also helpful, if not integral, to the creative process.
To get this same effect in digital medium, I have had the interesting mental challenge of creating limits for myself. “One layer” is a common one. “No eraser”. “No undo.” “No guidelines”. “No color picking.” “Mix all colors from 3 basic ones.” “One brush.” “No blend modes.” I go outside of these guidelines when the job is on the line, but for my personal artwork I try to impose them on myself whenever possible. My brain has to stretch and leap and jump to get around these challenges and solve the problems of the work at the same time.
Anyway, if you’re a digital artist struggling to stay creative, my advice is to set similar limits for yourself. There’s no real difference between artificial and physical limits if you have a lot of willpower and self-discipline.
This sounds pretty egotistical but as part of the “internet generation” and someone who’s grown up using digital media to create art, I feel a bit like one of the pioneers of this new form of creation. We’re still discovering all the new ways to use this technology and one way is not any less valid than another. It might seem silly to some to impose limits on technology that has almost limitless potential, but I can think of a dozen ways they’ve helped me out.
I also have some of these self-imposed guidelines – mainly working on very few (max 3) layers and using a minimum of brushes (usually just a basic brush and very few texture brushes). Though I must admit I mostly do it because my working flow benefits from it. Too many layers are slowing down my computer. And too much organizing and switching between brushes is slowing me down. So yeah, I’m probably just lazy. XD
I do the same to be honest, when I’m colouring in Photoshop, I won’t let myself colour out side the lines.
But I draw on paper with blue, un-eraserable lead, and then I have to ink that. So I have to be really careful in how I draw. And I don’t like wasting paper.
tl;dr : I agree. XD
I swear, its like every other word out of your mouth is a gem of wisdom. They plop out, all polished and shiny and ready to be used. And they do get used, which is more then can be said for others. The theories you have about art aren’t soaked in that annoying “holy-er then thou” attitude that crops up when good information is passed on, and I automatically know that the next time I’m drawing a picture your idea will pop into my head.
I’m so going to make a 1 layer picture now. (As well as a 1 brush picture, a no eraser picture, and a 3 basic colors picture.)