Painting Or Photograph

Yes. Many. It's been discussed , from both 'painters' point of view of that practice; and 'digital artists' point of view.......... conclusion?
No idea.
My wish: Digital Artists to label their artwork "digital painting" , to get out of the way of 'painting' on real surface...vs a file/no 'original'........ad nauseum.

I didn't post this thread.........!!!

I agree that digital work, even actual paintings that have post production computerized enhancements should be labeled as digital paintings. Although, there are many artists that can produce work that looks like a photograph but were completed with analog, old school brushstrokes. So, some of what you see and think are digital may not be. And, there will always be cons who list their products as something they are not - like the fake iphone case I bought off amazon, thinking that amazon was a reputable retailer (not always so if it is not fulfilled and shipped by them).

Often its photographs that are called 'painting' or 'digital painting', usually when they have had a filter chucked on them without thought. Sometimes a photograph will be untouched and still called a painting. Anything goes if you look too closely!

people think other people are stupid. they run a photo through a painter program set the medium to acrylic then actually write it in there as if people would be fooled. and people are fooled. that's the sad part, sadder is that many painters are fooled. but it's only the customer that needs to be convinced and its all paper in the end.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I usually draw into my paintings and have had a critic say they are more about drawing then painting. I could care less as the way I see it is it is all about creating art. What the artist calls it means very little.

Well quality is an issue with the clarity of images and I think labeling should have integrity behind it. Its not a good idea to misguide customers. Building a reputation is done with integrity of our product is it not? If its done with a digital program it should be labeled correctly just as a clear image is required for printing acceptance

True, Ronald.
But, using 'painting' for digital art here at faa does affect every one who paints with physical paint/paper/canvas/pencil.....because.....digital art,painting,whatever, is different to painting on canvas, but the SEARCH can't tell the difference......and artists could/should designate via "Medium", what their image is........either Digital, or not.........and get seen in Digital Art here/Search, not in Paintings here in search........imvho- that's how to keep it truthful,for the viewer , the artist, anybody with a brain.

K, makes sense.

Ronald were talking about materials here. If you say your painting on paper and its canvas would this not be an issue? Its like saying carrots are peas. If you mix drawing in with painting then its mixed media

It's tricky.
I have seen " Oil on canvas " when clearly it was a photograph "painted". We also compete amongst these styles in let's say a "Strictly watercolor " contest - in those type of incidences I do not think it is appropriate.

But to list it - here is what the dilemma is : What will your buyer think it is. If it's a photo that's digitally enhanced ( "painted" ) that has to be clearly explained too - because they may be surprised to see a 40" painting.

The thing is I just don't believe buyers have a grasp on what Digital Art entails - if you asked me as a laymen , I would say " Hmmm ... computer graphics for a video ? "

Some people are misleading - others are just desperate for an answer to the appropriate way to be found.

If you are talking about titles then yes an artist can call it what they like.

Sort of, in the case of my work I don't call it mixed media since it is predominately paint. Do agree with you for the most part. Not only that but calling it an acrylic painting might indicate the artist is embarrassed that it is a digital work. Why that would be I have no idea.

Ronald. Yes if there is a very small amount of pencil then I agree. I don't know exactly what the guide is for mixed media however I understand that if you are using multi-media then that's what you label it. I think its about sales. One may be trying to sell it as a painting because perhaps painting is a more viable market to them. Embarrassment I doubt has anything to do with it.

If not embarrassment then just being able to ask a higher price?

Yes. Being able to ask a higher price as in a marketing strategy. Fine accept quality then is an issue. We cannot call people out for there not so clear images and then not call people out for bad labeling. Where do we draw the line?

These day, drawing the line.........hmmmm..........I think too few care all that much, sorry to say. Symptomatic of pod discipline......whereas, Galleries with Originals do have to tell the whole story...........

You get what you pay for.

The number of people who label themselves as artists has increased dramatically with the rise of digital technology. These new artists utilize these new tools to emulate traditional methods with paint filters, digital brushes and canvas prints, ironically suffocating the traditional methods being reproduced. Traditional artists simply can't produce the same volume of work as digital, so yes, proper labeling would be nice to see, yet too much to expect. When it comes to cash, honesty is less of a virtue.

Joe Burgess

You make a point. I do see in critiques that clarity & keywords are the focus. The ones mislabeling probably won't ask for a critique. I find it irritating and wonder when it becomes such a big issue with customer discontent that we will need to address it.