Digital dabbles

I have mixed feelings about using digital devices to create art - I know some people are brilliant at it and I like many others was really inspired by Hockney's ipad drawings when I saw them at the RA. Here is an example of one of his which I love.
 
Believe me this takes hours and is built up in multiple layers and is, needless to say, backed up by tremendous drawing skill.

Contrast this to the freedom and spontaneity of mark making found in Barbara Rae's sketch book.

Barbara Rae

Here's the rub for me - essentially I feel I am missing out when I'm not sloshing the ink, mixing the paint and smudging oils pastels about. It's the physical involvement. Old school, as my son would say.

I have used the Brushes App and found it interesting - it makes me think in layers and to think them through before I start.(a sometimes greatly needed skill for painting anyway). It also brings out a graphic element to my drawing - interesting as I trained in graphic design. It allows video playback of the drawing's creation too, which is fun.


Here are some of mine - produced using my finger on screen all in under an hour.
They are all screenshots which is why the titles are there (explanation later)

I wish I could show you a video of one of them being drawn but technology won't currently permit... which brings me to a small warning:
Like thousands of others I was dismayed when I upgraded the software on my ipad and found that I could no longer even open around fifty drawings I had done. That's why the drawings above are screen shots. Alas, it's a situation that is still not fixed and probably never will be. I can tell you it put me off for quite a few months. The nagging question is will the next upgrade do the same? Its a free App so there is no come back.

I take photos with my ipad or phone when out and about to use later and have just heard of an App (Adobe Color CC) that enables you to take photos on your iphone and create colour swatches from them - now that excites me as it dovetails with the way I work. Will let you know how it goes.

So at the moment this is where digital drawing/painting sits for me - as a good tool, but I'm not sure I'll ever fall in love with it.

It reminds me of a university class I read about - digital artists who had a printing module on their course using real paper and a press. They were blown away by it! Some of them even switched courses. Life is strange, but I know how they feel.

Here is an example of a drawing I did on the ipad that I used as reference for a monotype print using oil paint on paper.