Check out the number on this website!
As you can see, there are approximately 3,323,595,000 global Internet users at this moment (when I am writing this blog). And in just 1 second, 10 more people around the world will gain access to Internet. While the Internet users are growing exponentially, the topic “Are we using the Internet, or is the Internet using us” became popular in the last few years. Each side of this debate defend itself with cogent points and strong evidences, but I guess more people are starting to realize that Internet has both pros and cons: there is no absolute right or wrong to this question.
Research shows that 5% of Internet users do not have the discipline to control how much time they spend online- and this is what we call “Internet addiction”. These addicted people tend to get less sleep and spend less time face-to-face with others. “Internet addiction” may lead to serious consequences such as disease and crime. However, simultaneously, Internet also enhances our daily life by creating convenience in the transform of knowledge, saving our time and energy…
Now, lets make this topic more specific. Are ARTISTS using the Internet, or is the Internet using the ARTISTS?
“Mom! I want to study art in university!” -when I was just 6 years old, I knew I want to become an artist. For me, being an visual artist meant you paint on the canvas, you paint on the paper, or (the worst case I could think of back then): you paint on the street.
The key was, you paint. In my mind, Artist = painter.
That was 10 years ago.
Today, when I stare at the admission page of the websites of those art schools, all I am thinking is: they count these as ART majors???
(●０●！) …“graphic design”
(⊙▽⊙！) ……“web design”
(O口O！) ………“digital and media”
(◎皿◎！) …………“communication design”
……………………………!!!
Well, yes they do. These are all modern forms of art that has become popular among the industries in the last decade. Ever since its arrival, Internet has become a platform for film, music, and especially ART industries to market, promote and share ideas and productions. The advent of Internet has changed the process of art-making and the whole art field. Artists use it somewhat differently, but they main reasons to use it are:
1. To gain inspirations. Believe it or not, even the most professional artists may have time when their imagination just get clogged up. When these situations happen, Internet works as a handful way for them to gain inspirations because it consists the most sources and comments from all around the world. Sometimes by just looking at news online gives you new ideas. Deviant and Pinterest are all great websites to start up with.
2. To sell their art and to gain popularity. A research in 2004 shows over half of the artists surveyed (58%) use the Internet to market their art. The majority (73%) of those marketing their art over the Internet also disseminate their work online. I guess the reason be hind this is that since art is so subjective, it is hard for some amateur artists to get accepted or receive appreciations from the community around them at the beginning of their career. But Internet allows the whole world to see your art: a person on the other side of the globe could be a huge fan of yours! Who knows!
3. To create new forms of art. Digital collage, creative websites, screenshots, humorous Youtube videos, other extreme combination of mediums…are all art forms that appears in the past decade. In fact, all the GIFs you guys are using are somehow a form of “Internet art”- because it cannot appear in other media in other situations but the Internet.
4. To feel encouraged. For some artists, Internet is a helpful place to communicate with their fans and stay in touch with loved ones and friends when they feel discouraged. Research shows that 23% of all online artists and 36% of Paid Online Artists report the internet has had a big effect on their connection to the local arts community.
… In soooooooo many ways, Internet benefits artists and the art industry.
I spend most of my online time browsing the websites of the artists I like. When I look through their newest works, I learn more about them and get inspired by their works. I sometimes comments on their personal websites too, and I will get really excited when I receive their encouraging responses. As an "art creator", I have sold some of my paintings to the local community through the Internet as well.
By now it should be incredibly clear that the Internet can both help and harm- it really depends on the people in use and how it's used. For artists, Internet is a useful and dependable platform in various ways. While many are still skeptical about Internet art (it is true that Internet can create issues such as copyright-ownership violations), it is undoubtedly an important new lane in art history.
“Internet creates a golden age of opportunity for artists and the creative industry.”
—— Never before have you been able to get your work in front of so many people, at such a low cost, with so few gatekeepers barring the way. With a laptop, some free and cheap software, and a healthy dose of imagination and perspiration, you can find a global audience for your work. Find enough true fans, get permission to contact them regularly, and make it easy for them to buy your work or attend your shows, and you could find yourself earning a decent living from your creative work.
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