Final Paper
Digital Art
Digital art is a relatively new medium, only possible by the
advent of computing technology. Over the past thirty years, software programs
have evolved and aided in the exploding market that’s is digital media. The
market is continuously expanding with new outlets, like game art, interactive
art, three-dimensional art and so on. I would like to focus on two different
artists, both of whom are popular in the digital art world. Digital art
currently is a blanket term or classification for any type of art created
digitally, whether it is two-dimensional or three-dimensional, commissioned or
for fun, or game art or digital portraits. Digital art and digital media cover
a wide variety of subgenres and styles of art created digitally. The two
artists I have chosen specialize in digital painting, one of them focusing on a
historical pop fusion and the other on unique landscapes.
Jason Heuser, known by his handle SharpWriter, is a digital
artist that has been producing popular artworks depicting American presidents
in scenes of action. But, these depictions show a fusion with current or future
technology and deadly animals, sometimes dinosaurs. His works include Benjamin
Harrison and William Henry Harrison shooting automatic weapons, Donald Trump
riding a tank up a beach, George W. Bush parachuting while riding a shark,
George Washington with an eagle and a large automatic gun, Nixon fighting a
saber tooth tiger, Clinton with a crocodile, Obama on a Lion, Astronaut Kennedy
riding a robot unicorn and so on. There are more variations with other
presidents and other dangerous creatures, but the style and theme remain constant.
In this piece of artwork, President Reagan is depicted
riding a velociraptor while firing an MP7 with a bazooka strapped to his back.
Closer inspection reveals a tattered American flag being held by the raptor, a “Property
of the United States” tattoo on the raptor’s right arm, an American flag saddle
with a knife connected to it, a bible in one pocket, and two stickers, a
D.A.R.E. sticker and a Captain America shield sticker. A cowboy hat can be seen
behind Reagan, presumably having fallen off in the heat of battle, as well as
shell casings falling from the gun and an F22 Raptor jet in the distance. It is
hard to make out, but I believe the other object in the saddle pocket is a pack
of cigarettes and that Reagan’s belt loop is also an American flag.
There is some very strong symbolism in this painting, which
adds to the narrative. We see the American flag appear numerous times, which is
a symbol of strength and pride. We also see symbols of strength and aggression,
like the velociraptor, the firing MP7, the Bazooka, the knife, and even Reagan
himself is dressed in a suit, which is a symbol of power. The interpretation of
this image is easier with the artist’s description, “Mr. Gorbachev, I tore down
that wall" The famous speech President Ronald Reagan gave after he
destroyed the berlin wall. He rode he most trusty steed into battle...a raptor
which he had the CIA clone for such an occasion.” This take on history shows
pride in America’s strength in foreign affairs as well as pride in the military
strength we as a country have.
Cyril Rolando, also known by his handle AquaSixio, is a
digital artist that has been producing popular artworks depicting unique
landscape scenes. These landscape scenes generally depict one person posed in
the middle of a dance, or has small figures traversing a plain of some body
part. One has a couple kissing across the lips of two large mouths kissing, on
has a picnic on two interlocking fingers, another has a figure dancing on the
sea in front of a cliff and another has a figure dancing in a field with leaves.
Many of his landscapes have vibrant colors and have a lot of movement.
In this piece of artwork, there is a couple walking on a crashing
wave. We see the couple from behind, holding an umbrella, with two seagulls
flying on the opposite side of the painting. The wave and the couple are
varying shades of blue, purple and white. The seafoam and spouting water, along
with the change in color bring movement to the painting, almost if you were to
look long enough, you would see the wave crashing down.
The symbolism of the wave can mean anything, but seems to
express the relationship of the couple walking, or perhaps life, how it may
crash and beat down the couple. The umbrella would then signify the strength
and the effort put in to keep them dry.
Like most art, this painting is open to interpretation. The
artist provides a brief dialogue for the description:
-Don’t be afraid, this is just a wave. There will be lots of
others along our path.
- But I DO feel anxious ! How can you be so confident ?
- Well, we will get a bit wet…, but I have an umbrella. Just
stand by me.
- Of course, I will stand by you all the while, I chose to
follow you.
- That’s why, we will cross over, together.
Both of these artists have used digital means to produce
these works of art. The content, meaning and symbolism in these paintings differ
greatly, but they both represent a breakthrough in art, and the possibilities
of this new medium.
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