5 Practical Ways to Incorporate Technology in Your Artistic Practice and Push Creative Boundaries

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 7 min read

As an artist, finding ways to incorporate technology in your artistic practice and push boundaries can open up new avenues for creativity and expression. In this blog, we'll explore five practical approaches to integrating technology into your art, from digital art platforms to creative coding.

1. Explore Digital Art Platforms

One of the easiest ways to incorporate technology in your artistic practice and push boundaries is to try out digital art platforms. These tools allow you to create, edit, and enhance your artwork using a computer or tablet. Let's take a look at three popular digital art platforms:

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud offers a suite of powerful applications for artists, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. By using these tools, you can:

Manipulate images with advanced editing features.
Create vector illustrations with precision and ease.
Design motion graphics and visual effects for videos.

Adobe Creative Cloud is a versatile and widely-used platform that can help you push the boundaries of your art.

Procreate

Procreate is a popular drawing and painting app for iPad users. With its intuitive interface and extensive brush library, you can:

Sketch, paint, and illustrate directly on your tablet.
Experiment with different styles and techniques using customizable brushes.
Export your artwork in high-resolution formats for print or digital sharing.

Procreate is an excellent choice for artists seeking a portable and user-friendly way to create digital art.

Corel Painter

Corel Painter is a powerful digital painting software that emulates the feel of traditional media. With its realistic brushes and textures, you can:

Paint with oils, watercolors, and other natural media.
Experiment with unique tools like particle brushes and pattern pens.
Customize your workspace to match your workflow and artistic style.

Corel Painter allows you to push the boundaries of digital art by combining traditional techniques with innovative technology.

2. Experiment with 3D Printing

3D printing is another exciting way to incorporate technology in your artistic practice and push boundaries. By designing and printing your own 3D objects, you can bring your ideas to life in a tangible way. Let's explore three accessible 3D modeling tools that can help you get started:

Tinkercad

Tinkercad is a beginner-friendly 3D modeling website that allows you to create and share your designs online. With its simple drag-and-drop interface, you can:

Design 3D objects using basic shapes and tools.
Learn the fundamentals of 3D modeling through interactive lessons.
Export your designs for 3D printing or share them with the online community.

Tinkercad is a great starting point for artists looking to experiment with 3D printing without the need for complex software.

SculptGL

SculptGL is a web-based sculpting application that lets you create 3D models using digital sculpting techniques. With its intuitive interface, you can:

Shape and manipulate virtual clay with brushes and tools.
Add fine details and textures to your 3D models.
Export your sculptures for 3D printing or further editing in other software.

For artists who enjoy working with their hands, SculptGL offers a natural transition from traditional sculpting to digital 3D modeling.

Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D modeling software that offers a wide range of powerful features. With Blender, you can:

Create complex 3D models, animations, and visual effects.
Render your artwork with realistic materials and lighting.
Learn advanced techniques through a vast online community and resources.

Although it has a steeper learning curve, Blender is an excellent tool for artists who want to push the boundaries of 3D printing and digital art.

3. Create Interactive Art with Arduino

Interactive art is another exciting way to incorporate technology into your artistic practice. By using Arduino, a popular open-source platform for building electronics projects, you can create artworks that respond to their environment or audience. Let's take a look at how Arduino can help you push your creative boundaries:

Arduino Uno

The Arduino Uno is a versatile microcontroller board that can be programmed to control various sensors, motors, and lights. With the Arduino Uno, you can:

Develop a wide range of interactive projects, from simple LED displays to complex robotic installations.
Learn the basics of electronics and programming in a hands-on, accessible way.
Expand your creative possibilities by connecting Arduino to other hardware and software tools.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, the Arduino Uno can help you bring your interactive art ideas to life.

Project Ideas

Need some inspiration for incorporating Arduino into your artistic practice? Here are a few project ideas to get you started:

Create a light installation that reacts to sound or movement.
Design a kinetic sculpture that changes shape based on user interaction.
Build an interactive display that generates patterns or images based on sensor data.

These are just a few examples of the many ways you can use Arduino to push the boundaries of your art and engage with your audience in new and exciting ways.

Resources for Learning

Ready to dive into the world of Arduino and interactive art? Here are some resources to help you learn the basics:

The official Arduino website offers a wealth of tutorials, guides, and project examples for beginners.
Online communities like the Arduino Forum and Reddit's r/arduino can provide support and inspiration from fellow artists and hobbyists.
Books like "Arduino for Artists: A Practical Guide for Creative People" by Paola Guimerans offer a comprehensive introduction to Arduino in the context of art and design.

By exploring these resources and experimenting with Arduino, you can discover new ways to incorporate technology in your artistic practice and push your creative boundaries.

4. Incorporate Virtual Reality into Your Art

Virtual reality (VR) is another innovative way to incorporate technology into your artistic practice and create immersive experiences. With VR, you can design and explore virtual environments, allowing your audience to engage with your artwork in a whole new dimension. Let's take a look at some popular VR tools that can help you push your creative boundaries:

Tilt Brush

Tilt Brush is a VR painting application developed by Google that enables you to create 3D artwork in a virtual environment. Using Tilt Brush, you can:

Paint with a variety of brushes, colors, and textures in three-dimensional space.
Experiment with scale, perspective, and depth to create unique compositions.
Share your VR creations with others, allowing them to explore and interact with your artwork in an immersive way.

Whether you're a traditional painter or a digital artist, Tilt Brush can open up a world of possibilities for your creative practice.

Gravity Sketch

Gravity Sketch is a powerful VR design tool that allows you to create 3D models and designs in a virtual environment. With Gravity Sketch, you can:

Design and sculpt 3D objects with intuitive tools and a user-friendly interface.
Collaborate with other artists or designers in real-time within the virtual space.
Export your creations to other software for further development or 3D printing.

Gravity Sketch is a versatile tool that can help you bring your artistic visions to life in the realm of virtual reality.

Quill

Quill is a VR drawing and animation tool developed by Oculus that enables you to create hand-drawn illustrations and animations in a virtual environment. With Quill, you can:

Draw and paint with a range of brushes, colors, and effects.
Create frame-by-frame animations or use the built-in timeline for more complex sequences.
Share your VR artwork and animations with others, offering an immersive and engaging experience.

Quill is an excellent choice for artists looking to explore the potential of VR storytelling and animation.

By experimenting with these VR tools, you can discover new ways to incorporate technology into your artistic practice and push the boundaries of your creativity. So, why not give virtual reality a try and see where it takes your art?

5. Explore Creative Coding and Generative Art

Creative coding and generative art involve using programming languages to create visual art, interactive installations, and dynamic animations. This approach allows artists to harness the power of technology to create intricate patterns, complex systems, and interactive experiences. Let's take a look at some popular tools and platforms that can help you incorporate technology into your artistic practice and explore the world of creative coding and generative art:

Processing

Processing is an open-source programming language and development environment specifically designed for artists, designers, and educators. With Processing, you can:

Create 2D and 3D graphics, animations, and interactive applications.
Learn the basics of programming through a visual and artistic context.
Access a vast library of resources, including tutorials, examples, and community-driven projects.

Processing offers a gentle introduction to the world of creative coding, making it a great starting point for artists looking to expand their digital skillset.

p5.js

p5.js is a JavaScript library based on Processing that enables you to create graphics and interactive content in your web browser. With p5.js, you can:

Design visual art, animations, and interactive applications directly in your browser.
Integrate your creations with other web technologies like HTML and CSS.
Share your work easily with others by embedding it on websites or social media platforms.

p5.js is an excellent choice for artists who want to explore the possibilities of creative coding in an accessible and web-based environment.

openFrameworks

openFrameworks is an open-source C++ toolkit designed for creative coding and multimedia applications. With openFrameworks, you can:

Build complex, high-performance applications for a wide range of platforms, including desktop, mobile, and embedded devices.
Access a large collection of libraries for tasks such as computer vision, sound processing, and data visualization.
Collaborate with a thriving community of artists, designers, and developers.

openFrameworks is a powerful and flexible tool that can help you push the boundaries of your artistic practice through creative coding and generative art.

By exploring these platforms, you can find new ways to incorporate technology into your artistic practice, create dynamic and engaging experiences, and expand the possibilities of your art. So, why not dive into the world of creative coding and generative art and see what you can create?

If you're intrigued by the connection between music and visuals, don't miss the workshop 'Creative Crossovers: Music & Visuals' by Jarrett Lampley. This workshop explores the fascinating relationship between these two art forms and provides insights on how to create captivating projects that blend the best of both worlds.