When You Can't Click the Undo Button
The Pros and Cons of Painting Traditionally
With my illustration practice, I love to paint traditionally in watercolor as opposed to digital because, for me, there is something rewarding and special about putting brush to paper that doesn’t hit the same with a pen to a screen.
I hope that these pros and cons will provide some insight on why one may choose to paint traditionally over digitally and give you a better understanding of my practice.
PROS
It’s educational. May it be acrylic, oil, watercolor, or gouache, each has its own technique to learn. Watercolor can be difficult to control because it requires the right ratio of paint to water. Though, how rewarding is it once you’ve learned to master it?
It encourages personal growth. Working traditionally opens up new challenges, particularly in working through mistakes. There is no undo button that allows you to keep working until you get it just right. There is a different kind of practice involved that helps you accept mistakes as a pathway to improvement.
The original paintings can be sold or displayed in a gallery. There is a certain impression you leave when people know that you painted it by hand. It’s an excellent way to battle AI and preserve the dignity of imagination and hard work. Your work doesn’t have to solely live inside a book, but the originals can be a special addition to one’s home.
It’s a break from technology and connects you to the past. It’s amazing to reflect on the master artists who had to study and work through the same challenges. Without photo references or tutorial videos, they truly had to study their subjects and learn how to work with media through live experience. Working hands on becomes satisfyingly meditative through swirling a brush through paint and water or feeling the sticky texture of clay. Plus, you save yourself some eye strain from staring at a screen.
It’s fun to shop for art supplies! Picking up new pencils and paints or working with clay brings me back to childhood where I can experiment and play. Often, it’s during play that we discover exciting new ideas and ways of working.
CONS
There is no “undo” button. If you make a mistake you have to learn how to improve next time. If it’s bad enough, you might have to start over. There’s a risk that it won’t turn out the way you envision. I don’t consider this a true con, though. I think it’s all apart of the journey; there is no straight path…wouldn’t life be boring if it was?
It takes more time and effort. Again, this isn’t necessarily bad. You do have to spend time ordering supplies, measuring and cutting paper, mixing paint and scanning or photographing the finished piece, but there is value in taking those extra steps that shows devotion to one’s craft. With how fast and convenient things are nowadays, I find myself craving “slow living;” to take time to find inspiration, play with ideas, and develop those into a beautiful piece of art. It’s like building your own garden, planting seeds, and nurturing them as they grow into a harvest. Art is often more about the practice than the finished piece.
It’s more expensive. For me, this is the truest con. Quality art supplies aren’t cheap! Though, you really don’t need anything fancy to be a “real” or “good” artist. I appreciate the simplicity of pen or pencil to paper.
I enjoy both methods and choose one over the other depending on the type of project, though traditional painting will always have my heart.
In such a technologically focused world, working hands on is a great break, and to me is more rewarding because of the different kind of skill one has to master in working with a particular art medium. While challenging, it is also fun! Art is such an adventure in so many ways. As a follow up to this, I’ll share a list of my most used art supplies soon.
If you’re looking for a special piece for your home, check out my original paintings!
I also take custom commissions.
Do you have a creative practice? I would love to hear how you prefer to work!
Step into a whole new whimsical world…with my very own coloring book.
