Adobe Photoshop Expert = True Artist?

Question

Ever since Myspace came into existence, it seems like anybody who can use Adobe Photoshop to some extent and who make a few pictures or graphics look good then they think they are bonafide artists. Now some of them may actually be artists or be creative but trust me, most of them aren't and just want to be "cool". As a real, old school artist who makes art by scratch (paper, paint, pencil, imagination), it is hard for me to to try to do everything with Adobe. Some things but not everything.

Now it's like because someone hyped up some photos and made them super colorful with Adobe then they are an artistic genius when they probably are experts in law! LOL! It's such a fad. It's just like when creative people feel moody at times, they claim they're "bipolar" as if it's some trend when they're not the real thing.

But if these people wanna to label themselves when it's not in them, then more power to them.

Have anyone noticed this Adobe Photoshop craze?

Answer 1

After I manipulated some photos, printed them and framed them, people said I was "great".  I humbly disagreed.  I had a program that made me look good, but it wasn't ME that did it.  I just learned a few neat tricks.

Several years ago I won an art photo contest for a black and white that I made from a shot I took of my son. I developed the film, printed it in the darkroom, manipulated it manually with my hands and a few paper tools.  I did it from scratch, so to speak.  That one I'm proud of and know I earned the accolades.

But photoshopping alone does not an artist make.  You're right.  It's a fad.  When ten million people have become "true artists, the glory will fade.

Answer 2

I see it as less of a craze, and more indicitive of the future.  Artists and so-called artists have always gone through stages of experimentation.

Acrylics were thought to be the "death knell" of traditional oils, but ended up being an alternative media of choice.  Rapidograph pens were, for a while, the "only" pen a professional artist would consider.

Photoshop is, merely, another tool in the entire arsenal of tools available on the market.  Pros use it because it has some definite advatages, in some applications over other, traditional media.  But, as you said, it does not ALWAYS apply.

There have always been "poseurs" in the art world.  Such as those "one trick ponies" that can do, only one thing, or one style and manage to make a few bucks.   I can refer to those wide eyed "Keane Kids," popular in the late 60s, that, after one has seen the same faces on mods, cowboys, uniforms and backgrounds, they begin to lose their cutsey charm.  And, where are the Keans now?

I remember, when I was in school, in one class or another, I'd run across a girl who could draw the cutest little pony heads.  She'd be able to whip one out in minutes, colored and decorated in all kinds of fashion.  But these girls never managed to develop any other skills.  Ask them to draw the rest of the horse, and they'd be lost.  I, once, asked one to draw the head facing the other direction.  Guess what?  She couldn't.

I stopped concerning myself over these young women and went on to develop my own craft.  I'm sure most of them went on to become successful housewives, secretaries, cannery workers and postal carriers.  But I knew, that while none of them had a real creative bone in their bodies, that I would, someday become a professional artist.  At the time, I envisioned myself working for Disney.  It turns out that, instead, I am a freelance desiner, but, what I AM is a very VERSATILE freelance designer.  And, of that, I can be proud.

Answer 3

I think it all depends on the type of stuff you're looking at. A lot of animators and illustrators use photoshop to create their works. If you go onto websites like Deviant Art you can see artists that actually do "Digital Painting", and while they aren't using a real paintbrush and canvas, the concept is still the same, it's just a different of medium.

Graphic design has been accepted as a legitimate form of art, and there are courses that you can take to specialize in it. In order to be a real graphic artist, one should have a decent concept on the principals and elements of design.

I guess this all rolls down to what we think 'real art' is, if there's really such a thing. If a twelve year old draws you a picture and sticks it on the fridge, it's tehcnically art. There might not be any deep conceptual meaning behind it, but it's a piece meant to be looked at, thus makes it art. Just like how that same twelve year old kid could be making banners and layouts for websites. They may not be appealing, and that kid may not be putting any artistic thought into it, but it's still graphic design.

I have noticed the sudden increase in the use of Adobe Photoshop, but why shouldn't they be a bit excited? If they're good at photo manipulation, then all the power to them and let them get a job in video editing or something. I don't think there's anything wrong with having fun in playing with photoshop.  I went to a college-level art course and we were encouraged to do photo manipulation as part of an assignment.  

Answer 4

It'a a tool. Someone can be a fingerpainting artist.

Answer 5

photoshop is ok for crating art, yet it is more designed for editing photos or digital images, elements is also more for adding to images,

~you are best to do art with pen & pencil or markers, then scan to computer for digital enhancement and/ or continuing editing, there are other program better for drawing and designing with like painter and illustrator,

Corel Painter X  

http://apps.corel.com/painterx/us/index....

portalgraphics openCanvas

http://www.portalgraphics.net/en/

Pixarra : TwistedBrush

http://www.pixarra.com/

SAI SYSTEMAX

http://www.systemax.jp/sai/



Adobe - Illustrator  

http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrato...

CorelDRAW  

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/c...

Anime Studio - 2D Animation Software

http://my.smithmicro.com/win/anime/index...

Pixologic Zbrush

http://www.pixologic.com/home.php

DAZ  3D

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/software/bryce/

..

Answer 6

As a Photoshop expert and also an artist in numerous other mediums professionally, I would like to point out that not everyone good with Photoshop is a hack. :) I assure you that good digital painting takes no less skill than painting with oils or watercolours (having done all of the above).

I do agree with you to some extent. However, in many ways I like the fact that image editing is now so accessible to everyone. Everyone should try some form of art - it's fun! If you are familiar with digital art to any degree, it's easy to tell the difference between a simple photo manipulation and a piece of work which took work and skill. If it took work and skill, it was done by an artist, and if it didn't, it was made by someone who was just playing around in Photoshop (and no, this person doesn't have any reason to give themselves airs as an artist, but you will find people doing that everywhere in every field - honestly, they are just making themselves look like an idiot to anyone with any intelligence). It's possible for people to "cheat" their way into looking good to people who don't know much about art in traditional media as well - by tracing a photograph, for example, or copying another artist's work. It's not really ethical to accept praise disproportionate to the amount of work one put into something, but people are people and will do it anyway! Just ignore them and be proud of your own hard-earned skill. If you are or plan to become a professional artist, this really shouldn't bother you - people draw a great distinction between a professional artist and a "hobby artist", and if your art earns you money you are automatically in a whole different category to those people. :)

Also, if you prefer traditional media and are interested in getting into digital art, I recommend trying Corel Painter rather than Photoshop (find a good tutorial on the 'net to get started with it). It simulates natural media and I find it far more satisfying than Photoshop - it's such great fun to paint with it.