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From Digital to Traditional: The Journey of Simulating Traditional Paintings Using Advanced Animation Software

 

From interactive installations to Art Apps on mobile devices, advanced technology pushes boundaries and expands the possibility of how artists approach their work. The author’s experience with digital media started when he began to experiment with animation software in 2006. There were only a handful of visual artists who employed this technique during that time. Animation software was primarily for major film productions. The software became a part of the author’s work. He found himself increasingly interested in creating images using his new art medium.

 

The author has been fascinated by figurative masterpieces; it is his mission to capture and recreate the sensitivities of traditional painting on the computer. The author discusses his twenty digital images from 2011-2019, representing a long journey of creating the appearance of traditional paintings using animation software. The figures and scenes are modeled in 3DS Max. The software allows users to simulate the properties of real-world materials, natural and artificial lights, and physical cameras. Good light setup and well-crafted material properties mimic the appearance of a painting by old masters.

 

The finished pictures are printed on canvas. The retrospective works show the evolution in the expression of ideas, styles, and techniques. The recent pictures are more dramatic, narrative, and communicative. The images reflect the dark side of socio-cultural factors and the inner mind. The search for a perfect way to simulate traditional paintings using digital media is an ongoing process. It gets better with time.

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Keyword: Image techniques, The image as art, Visual arts practices