Leaning Back Into Traditional Art

Now if you ask me, I'm a big fan of the Undo button -- so much so that I've caught myself instinctively hitting an imaginary Ctrl+Z on the table while working on a traditional piece!

From time to time, I'll take a step back from the digital space and hone my craft in the "real" world for a few different reasons (only one of which is to wean off of that undo button dependency). Nowadays, in a world where AI art exists, this practice is becoming all the more important to do on a regular basis.

Why exactly would that be? Let's dive into all the reasons it benefits your art, as well as provides a way to win the trust of those who seek to find authentic artists in the age of artificial intelligence.

Authenticity

An obvious reason has to do with the proximity to human touch. Nothing speaks to that more than seeing evidence of a beautiful piece coming straight from your fingertips. Add in the fact that the entire process is more high-stakes, too. When that paint or ink goes on, it's not so easy to undo -- which means that every stroke has to be the calculated work of a knowledgeable artist. There's no pretending with that level of skill, and people who are hungry for authenticity love to see it. In fact, some viewers in this day and age refuse to engage if they don't see evidence of traditional media. Of course, digital art is still ever as legitimate, but there's no better way to lock in the trust of your viewer than putting that human touch on display.

Furthermore, don't forget that those who seek to follow your work for its authenticity see art as a form of communication. Just as clearly as these words can be read and convey meaning, so does every choice you make in a piece of art. People love to see that come to life, and they love the one-of-a-kind value that your work provides. Which leads to the next point...

Uniqueness

Pivoting to traditional art has excellent benefits for those looking to create income through their art as well.

I've long loved to dabble in various creative pursuits, including Etsy shops selling all sorts of different crafts -- sewn goods, crocheted gifts, and jewelry being among the mix. Surprisingly, do you know what sold the most? Not items meant for the buyer themselves, but gifts for others -- especially those with a personalized spin.

As much as I enjoyed making certain pieces, especially those with all sorts of dainty details, they didn't sell quite as well as items that were made with a certain individual in mind. Hey, great flower you got there -- but actually, could you make a chicken for my friend who runs a farm? These were the pieces that my buyers loved the most, and that brought in the best business.

Consider how you can use a combination of traditional art and your viewer's personal interests to bolster the visibility of your work.

Accelerated Progress

Going back to that Undo button that I may be a bit dependent on, now! One of the best things I've experienced with returning to traditional art is finding a way to wean off the button, as handy as it may be. Sure, it allows us to experiment endlessly, and speeds up certain processes considerably. But more often than not, it can be difficult to commit to your pen strokes when they're first placed -- which ultimately draws out the length of time that a piece can take. With traditional art, in contrast, you're often beholden to the first stroke you place, especially when drawing with pen or painting. While this may amount to more mistakes in the short-term, you ultimately create a greater number of pieces in a much shorter timeframe, especially in the context of a sketchbook, which is where the real progress tends to happen. More repetitions means more feedback, more muscle memory, and more improvement -- much more quickly, at that! Furthermore, you provide yourself with the ability to trust yourself and the lines you choose more easily -- something that carries with it dividends as you return to the digital space for a future piece, if you so choose.

Of course, traditional art compared to digital art comes with its own pros and cons, which we'll get to in a future post. But in the meantime, consider what a renaissance to traditional artwork can do for you -- increasing your trust and authenticity with viewers, providing a means of income through work with a personal touch, and providing an accelerated path toward becoming a better artist.