Join me on a quick exploration of digital media!
Digital media was something I got a chance to do maybe once or twice during school, and it was only in AP Art & Design. I was introduced to it at an older age, but I can't help but wonder if introducing it to me at a younger age would've helped blossom a passion for it sooner. I don't work much with digital media now since I prefer physically engaging with the mediums rather than doing it digitally. However, I've learned that digital tools can help you achieve effects that would be nearly impossible to do with traditional mediums, and that's what's exciting!
MATERIALS
For my exploration, I used Procreate with an iPad and an Apple pencil
All options suggested by my professor, Dr. Sheridan...
FREE VERSIONS available/online tools or not a lot of processing power:
Krita
Pixlr
Photopea
GIMP
Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark)
3-D modeling tools (e.g., Tinkercad, Blender)
Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)—links drag and drop programming with illustration/animation
Assorted stop-motion tools (Stop Motion Studio Pro –cheap not free)
Procreate (cheap but only works with Apple products)
Expensive but professional:
Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere etc.)
Autodesk Maya
Unity
Lightburn
Procreate Exploration
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Designing a Stamp
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One of my old digital artworks was a design of a USPS stamp. To explore Procreate beyond its painterly brushes, I decided to focus on digital effects. I first created a black and white layer of paper airplanes, then clicked on the adjustments tool located in the upper lefthand corner to discover the available effects. With bloom, halftone, and the gradient map, I was able to add contrast and texture to my stamp's background image!
Procreate Techniques (Effects)
Bloom - An option to create a glow from the highlights of the piece
Halftone - You can create a retro-style print effect to your image or layer
Gradient Map - Allows you to recolor your artwork. It can take the grayscale values of your image and apply a new color scheme to it. You can create your own color scheme or choose any of the available presets.
Chromatic Aberration - This can be added to an image to mimic distortion and add a rainbow-like appearance
Perspective Blur - This can add dramatic zooming and directional blasting effects to your artwork.
Personal Thoughts
I believe there are greater advantages to using digital tools with young children in art classes than there are disadvantages, though there may be others who disagree. Because of the continuously growing digital world and technological development, it’s impossible to avoid the use of technology in a classroom for any subject, art included. Digital creation tools allow for a digital, aesthetic playscape. Several children depend on their parents’ phones or their own iPad for entertainment, so why not introduce them to digital media so they use that screen time to engage in artistic activities? Children are inherently playful and curious, therefore they would want to explore digital mediums and expand their artistic knowledge. Additionally, digital art tools are also a means of building community and breaking any barriers whether it be age, language, and culture. Digital mediums are also inclusive of those who are not “good” at traditional art, or those who have a hard time communicating verbally. It is an extension of how to express yourself, so it allows kids to “play” while also explore and create.
With mediums such as Procreate (only $13 on the app store), students can mimic similar effects of more expensive options like Photoshop. It's also a great way to play without fear, meaning that you can explore effects without worrying about messing up your work because you can undo and/or create multiple versions. It even allows for a broader exploration of collages in my opinion, for you can continuously build on layers and change things up whereas traditional medium is more permanent. Lastly, it's an amazing and quick way to add texture to original pieces through filters or adjustments.
Additional sources for help!
Exploring my Theme - Cat Characteristics
Inspiring digital artists: Laura Price (worked on the incredible Spiderverse movies), Kate Pellerin (storybook illustrator)
Procreate Remix
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For my digital media exploration, I chose to remix my old drawing of "cat" Gwen from the Into the Spider-Verse movie. She can be characterized as brave and fierce! I added a gradient map, chromatic aberration, halftone, and perspective blur effects onto a city background to match the colors of cat Gwen's style, as well as create the illusion of movement. Through this exploration of digital media, I was able to add stylistic dynamic choices to an otherwise "still" piece, which would have been very hard to achieve with traditional mediums.
For the Classroom...
Age appropriateness & behavioral expectations:
Different apps require different age groups. For apps like Procreate, I would recommend middle/secondary schoolers since it requires an iPad. For a middle school digital art class, I would probably let them do the basics of Procreate with minimal layering and line art, whereas with high school students, I would teach them how to keep everything organized and ask them to create more complex designs with shading. Procreate even has some free lesson plan ideas that art educators can use to teach children here.
Students should follow any rules implemented by their teacher regarding technological safety. This may include never sharing private information, not using restricted sites, etc.
Students should handle their school-assigned laptops or personal tablets with care
If in a computer lab, students should not keep drinks near devices
Students should not be using non-art assigned apps or websites during class
Accommodations
Project Ideas
Safety & Health
Reference:
Hafeli, Mary Claire. Exploring Studio Materials: Teaching Creative Art Making to Children. Oxford University Press, 2015.
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