Both digital art and traditional art are still capturing market demands. But with the trends that constantly shift, which of digital art vs traditional art is more profitable for the artists?
This discussion walk you through the important comparisons, aiming to help you see and decide the most suitable one for artists’ need to make the end meet.
Traditional art embodies an artist’s expression in different techniques and adheres to traditions. For example, oil painting originated back in the Renaissance era when painters relied on egg yolk. But Jan van Eyck found a high-quality mixture of oil in a drawing. And until now, the technique has kept evolving.
Additionally, traditional art typically needs a physical medium, such as painting knives for oil painting and brushes for watercolor.
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Digital art is getting more popular in the digital era. Unlike traditional art, digital art requires fewer tools, typically a tablet and a stylus (a pen tab). Some artists even rely on their fingers to draw. So, it is very convenient.
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So, digital art vs traditional art, which one will bring fortune and good prospects in the future? After all, apart from the satisfaction artists experience from doing what they like, they cannot overlook the need to make ends meet. So, here are the advantages and disadvantages of digital art and traditional art.
As traditional arts require physical mediums, some aspiring artists struggle to acquire the tools. For example, pencil colors can roughly cost up to $75; however, it depends on the brand, quality, and color variations. On the contrary, you can create digital artwork by owning a gadget which is a good long-term investment. This allows them to use both digital tools or their fingers, versatile and more efficient of budget and materials.
Traditional artists have a deep knowledge of their tools: the proper material, the quality of ingredients, and the performance. However, traditional art is not time-efficient, as the artist needs to set up their workplace before drawing and having all the different materials.
Meanwhile, digital art has a higher possibility of finishing quickly, as drawing can be done anywhere and everywhere. Moreover, there are many helpful features in drawing apps, like an undo button.
Yet, there is room for creativity in traditional art, such as developing new techniques. The reason is the familiarity of the physical tools rather than using the default ones, created by the drawing app developers.
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Plagiarism is a concerning issue in digital art. If an artist forgets to put a unique watermark on the artwork, someone else can steal it easily. Moreover, copying art is easier with the help of advanced tools and features in drawing apps.
On the other hand, traditional art is harder to mimic; each artist strokes his or her brush differently. Even if someone duplicates the artwork, there is a high possibility to spot the difference more easily.
The traditional art market is quite exclusive. You usually have the chance to sell your art piece at art events, exhibitions, flea markets, and festivals. But, thankfully, galleries all over the world have opened virtually. One of the renowned ones is Saatchi Art.
You can sign up and upload your artwork image in the best quality. Then, you can fill in the description, like the material and size. Afterward, you can set up the price carefully because, like an auction, the deal price can be higher. However, you will divide the profit by 60% and 40% for Saatchi Art’s service.
Compared to traditional art, selling digital ones is easier. One of the most likable platforms is Etsy. You can sign up and open your shop to showcase your catalogs. There can be competition between sellers so you must learn the market demand first.
One of the most popular forms of digital arts is PNG files. The profit you can get is varied and influenced by many factors, such as your experience and techniques. However, it is reported that a seller earns $2.410 in a month just for one PNG file for shirts.
Still, if you wish to create art with less advanced tools, you can simply create printable journals and worksheets with Canva. Furthermore, you can always promote your digital products through social media; according to Kendyll Hillegas, a famous artist, an illustration can get between $700 and $1.600.
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So, digital art vs traditional art, which one is better? There are pros and cons for each of them, but digital art seems to have a broader opportunity in the market. However, you can consider them and your expertise first before choosing one as your focus.
